UEFA’s youth tournaments attract bid from 17 countries to host
March 28 – Seventeen counties have expressed their interest in staging one of UEFA’s youth tournaments in 2021 and 2022. They must submit their bid dossiers by June 28.
World Football
PFA overhaul: Taylor, England’s highest paid union boss, steps down over £2m salary
March 28 – Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) which represents players in England and Wales, is to step down after 38 years amid heightened criticism of his reported £2 million annual salary, believed to be one of the highest in the world for a trade union official.
Chapecoense crash survivor Henzel dies of a heart attack playing football
March 28 – Rafael Henzel, a radio reporter who was one of only six survivors of the plane crash that killed most of the Chapecoense football team in 2016, has died of a heart attack at the age of 45.
Belgium Pro League to launch new U21 club competition next season
March 28 – Belgian football will be getting an U-21 league in the 2019-2020 season following approval of the additional competition by the country’s Pro League.
ECA starts talks on revamp of Champions League for 2024
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – The head of the umbrella body of Europe’s clubs has confirmed that talks over revamping the Champions League’ beyond 2024 are underway with UEFA but remains tight-lipped over what any future format might look like.
UEFA set to cap away ticket prices to end clubs ripping off travelling supporters
March 27 – UEFA and Europe’s leading clubs want to move against inflated away tickets prices in European club competitions by introducing a price cap following a dispute between Manchester United and Barcelona ahead of their quarterfinals tie in the Champions League.
Irish serve volley of tennis balls to protest Delaney still being in play
March 27 – Irish fans disrupted a Euro 2020 qualifier against Georgia on Tuesday by throwing tennis balls onto the pitch in protest at John Delaney’s continued role as a senior executive in the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).
Europe’s clubs agree to boycott Infantino’s Club World Cup
By Andrew Warshaw
March 26 – Europe’s leading clubs today re-iterated that they will refuse to participate in Gianni Infantino’s revamped Club World Cup – but have not ruled out changing their minds for future editions if their needs are accommodated.
Schar concussion raises concerns over UEFA protocols and player safety
March 26 – A serious clash of heads involving Swiss international Fabian Schar has prompted calls for a UEFA investigation into why the defender was allowed to return to the pitch after being knocked unconscious last weekend in a Euro 2020 qualifier.
Cardiff to dispute any fee is due to Nantes on transfer of crash victim Sala
March 26 – The financial wrangling between Cardiff City and Nantes following the air crash that tragically killed Emiliano Sala continues to cast a dark shadow over the player’s untimely death.
Concacaf Nations League ranking qualifies 10 teams to complete Gold Cup line-up
March 26 – All 16 teams for the expanded Concacaf Gold Cup have now been decided following the conclusion of the Concacaf Nations League qualifying round last weekend.
Hazard and Hudson-Odoi’s fate in the balance as Chelsea wait for April hearing
March 26 – The date for Chelsea’s appeal against being slapped with a two-window transfer ban has been set for April 11 after FIFA rejected suspending the ban until the appeal process was completed.
Not hosting but still going; Cameroon join final qualifiers for AFCON in Egypt
March 25 – Cameroon, South Africa, Zimbabwe, DR Congo and Benin were among the teams to seal their ticket for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in a weekend of frantic qualifying that confirmed a strong eastern African presence and a maiden participation for Burundi at the 24-team finals.
Serie A sign Chinese co-operation pact, but no league games planned for country
March 25 – Italy’s football federation (FIGC) signed an agreement with the Chinese government on Sunday to develop footballing ties between the two countries but stopped short of agreeing to play Serie A matches there.
Zimbabwe woman killed in stampede as crowd rush to get into game
March 25 – A female fan died Sunday during a stampede outside Zimbabwe’s National Sports Stadium in Harare, the latest tragedy at an African international fixture.