By Andrew Warshaw
April 18 – For the second night running, the Champions League threw up the most extraordinary of stories as underdogs Tottenham Hotspur, without their injured talisman Harry Kane, went through to the semi-finals in remarkable circumstances against the might of big-spending Manchester City after one of the most stirring, nerve-wracking ties in the history of club football.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 17 – Almost a full week after the second most powerful official in African football was sacked from his post, paying the price for corruption allegations swirling around his boss, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has finally acknowledged the change in a brief statement – but without any mention of the circumstances involved.
April 17 – They began their challenge back in the qualifying rounds when they were 250 to 1 outsiders. But now Ajax of Amsterdam, the pioneers of total football back in the 1970s, are just one round and two matches away from an unlikely place in this season’s Champions League final.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 16 – John Delaney’s colourful and controversial career as an influential voice in European football administration is under severe threat after the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) announced he had offered to step aside as its executive vice-president with immediate effect amid increasing criticism over an authorised loan he provided in 2017 that called into question serious governance issues.
April 15 – Having been stripped of hosting rights for this year’s Africa’s showpiece event, the African Cup of Nations, Cameroon have instead been handed the consolation prize of the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals in place of Ethiopia.
April 15 – Six players have been banned from taking part in the U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania after failing MRI tests to determine their age and eligibility for the competition.
April 15 – Morocco, Ivory Coast and South Africa, alongside Namibia, were paired in the group of death at the draw for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. The hosts Egypt and reigning champions Cameroon were handed favourable draws.
April 15 – France’s Ligue 1 match between Dijon and Amiens was held up last Friday after visiting captain Prince Gouano was the target of monkey chants, adding to a string of recent racist incidents across Europe.
April 15 – Standard Liege’s home league game against rivals Anderlecht was abandoned in the Belgian top flight plays-offs after just 30 minutes following flares thrown by visiting supporters. The Brussels-based team will be slapped with a fine and potentially a 5-0 forfeit score.
By Paul Nicholson
April 12 – CAF president Ahmad Ahmad, surrounded by multiple allegations of financial corruption and confederation mismanagement, is also facing multiple charges of sexual harassment from both CAF staffers and consultants brought in to work on CAF events under his tenure as president.
April 12 – The 24 participants in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations will learn their fate at the tournament’s draw in the Egyptian capital Cairo this evening. The draw comes amid growing allegations about financial corruption and sexual harassment by CAF president Ahmad Ahmad.
April 12 – Atletico Madrid’s notoriously controversial Spanish international striker Diego Costa has been banned for no fewer than eight games for a foul-mouthed rant against a referee.
April 12 – Tottenham have been charged by UEFA after a spectator ran on to the pitch during their Champions League win over Manchester City on Tuesday.
By Paul Nicholson
April 11 – As Confederation of African Football (CAF) administrators gather in Egypt for the AFCON 2019 draw and executive committee meetings, more detail of the corruption allegations swirling around their president Ahmad Ahmad have emerged amid insider reports that he is planning a purge of full time executive in Cairo.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 11 – The second most powerful official in African football was sensationally sacked from his post today, seemingly paying the price for corruption allegations swirling around his boss, under-fire Confederation of African Football supremo Ahmad Ahmad.