Nigeria push FIFA to the limits over political meddling, CAF bans matchfixing ref
May 1 – FIFA have warned Nigeria that they could be kicked out of the World Cup if they don’t sort out their internal affairs.
World Football
Dortmund’s Şahin signs for Harvard Business School
By David Owen
May 1 – Nuri Şahin has struck a blow for footballer-intellectuals, gaining admittance to the uber-prestigious Harvard Business School in the United States.
Besiktas refuse to return to Fenerbahce to play last 33 mins of abandoned Cup semi-final
April 27 – The Turkish Football Federation have announced that the remainder of the Turkish Cup semifinal, abandoned because of crowd trouble by Fenerbahce fans, will take place on May 3 behind closed doors – but Besiktas say they will refuse to turn up.
UEFA goes to market with Official Match Ball and Lifestyle rights for women’s comps
April 27 – UEFA, which has recently unbundled its women’s competition rights from its men’s competitions, has issued a tender for the supply of the Official Match Ball and Lifestyle Partner for the 2018-21 cycle of women’s competitions.
Turkey submit bid book for 2024 Euro hosting saying it is now their time
April 24 – They may have been second to the punch in terms of submitting their bid book to host the 2024 European Championship finals but Turkey hope they will be first when the vote takes place in September.
Safe-standing lobby refuse to take back seat, forcing debate to be scheduled in Parliament
April 26 – A petition calling for English Premier League and Championship clubs to be allowed to have limited standing areas at their stadiums has been signed by 100,000 people, the threshold that means it will now be considered for debate by parliamentarians.
UEFA hand Panathinaikos European ban as club’s debt crisis mounts
April 25 – Greek football, consistently in turmoil on and off the pitch, has been plunged into yet more ignominy with the country’s oldest and most revered club Panathinaikos banned from European competition for a year for failing to pay their debts, with the sanction covering the next three seasons.
Brazil’s women win Copa America live on Twitter
April 24 – Brazil’s women continued their dominance of the Copa America with their seventh win in the eighth edition of the CONMEBOL tournament. Brazil’s matches were streamed live on Twitter in a first for a national team tournament.
Man left critically ill after clash between Liverpool and Roma fans
April 25 – Violence before the Liverpool-Roma Champions League semi-final clash at Anfield has left a 53-year-old male Liverpool fan in critical condition in hospital.
Germany submits EURO 2024 bid book promising to ‘build bridges’ between people
By Andrew Warshaw
April 24 – With so much focus concentrated on the narrative over the 2026 World Cup vote, it may have been forgotten that there is another battle going on to stage the European Championship finals two years earlier.
Juve and Napoli players wear red stripes in stand against domestic violence
April 24 – When Juventus and Napoli met in an all-important fixture at the top of Serie A last weekend, television viewers worldwide may have wondered why both sets of players had red stripes on their faces.
Maxwell’s house: Scottish FA appoint Patrick Thistle boss to lead national game
April 24 – Ian Maxwell has been appointed the Scottish FA’s new chief executive and has promised “to shape a better future”.
Nicaraguan violence forces CONCACAF to end Women’s U17 Championship
April 23 – CONCACAF has canceled the rest of its 2018 Women’s Under-17 Championship following violence in Managua, Nicaragua, where the tournament began Thursday.
Europa League trophy comes through Mexican adventure unscathed
April 23 – The Europa League returns this week with the first legs of both semi-final matches. But for a brief time last week, it appeared there might not be a cup to hand to the eventual winner.
FIFA reform guru and Congo FA boss Omari released on bail over $1m embezzlement probe
By Andrew Warshaw
April 20 – Constant Omari, the Democratic Republic of Congo football association president and one-time FIFA reform official arrested as part of an embezzlement probe in his country, has been released on bail for health reasons after being held for 21 hours.