US to host 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship with eyes on France 2019
March 27 – The US will host the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship, to be played October 4-17. Venue for the 8-team championship have still to be decided.
World Football
Croatian Bruno Boban dies after being struck by ball in league match
March 27 – Third tier Croatian footballer Bruno Boban collapsed and died after being hit in the chest by the ball during a match.
Gibraltar beat Latvia to secure first win as a FIFA nation
March 27 – Gibraltar won their first game as a FIFA nation on Sunday, beating Latvia 1-0 in an international friendly.
Drug running, guns and political favour. Greece’s tragic football plots thicken
By Paul Nicholson
March 26 – The lifting of the suspension of the Greek Superleague is under discussion with the clubs meeting again today. But suspension will remain in place until clubs agree to government conditions stipulated by Greece’s deputy sports minister Giorgos Vasileiadis.
UEFA allocate €76m in solidarity feed and win bonuses for Nations League
March 26 – UEFA has released detail of the solidarity and bonus fees for its new Nations League competition which will see €76.25 million shared amongst the European confederations 55 countries.
England’s Russian warm-up. Fans disgrace country at Dutch (un)friendly
March 26 – The resurgence of hooliganism by England fans has cast a dark shadow over the current international break as well as the build-up to the World Cup in Russia.
Crash and burned: UEFA banned Sampson for post-Euro aggressive rant
March 26 – Former England women’s head coach Mark Sampson was banned for three games by UEFA 24 hours after he was sacked in September by the English FA for “inappropriate behaviour” in an unrelated previous role, it has emerged.
German football stays ‘anchored in society’ as clubs reject changing 50+1 rule
March 23 – Regarded as the root of everything morally correct about the German club structure, the Bundesliga has voted to retain the 50+1 rule which has been held up as a bastion of commercial fair play.
Belgian Pro League earmarks cash for women’s club development
By Samindra Kunti
March 23 – Belgian’s Pro League has earmarked €300,000 of its TV rights revenue for women’s football in a bid to boost and strengthen the game in the country. The step is a first sign that the league is taking the women’s game seriously.
Liberian FA whistleblower Woodson says she will not stand in elections until rules are followed
By Paul Nicholson
March 23 – Rochell Woodson, the Liberian FA executive committee member who blew the whistle on corruption within the federation, has said she will not stand for election for president while the LFA continues to break its own statutes and manipulate the election rules.
Savvidis links leave a fiery trail of intimidation, political influence and burnt cars
March 23 – Following the gun-toting antics of PAOK owner Ivan Savvidis that led to the suspension of the Greek Super League, further information is emerging purportedly linking Savvidis, his associates and his companies to more criminal violence and intimidation in Greek football dating back to 2015.
Fulham win planning approval for Craven Cottage as they push for Premier League return
March 23 – English Championship club Fulham have been granted planning permission to extend their Craven Cottage stadium to 29,600. The building work will start in the Summer of 2019.
Manchester United aim to break new ground with women’s pro team in WSL2
March 22 – Manchester United is officially crossing the gender divide and launching a women’s team that will for the first time play under the famous club’s name and in its club colours.
Exclusive: Bility pressures Infantino not to release Liberia financial audit findings in advance of LFA elections
By Paul Nicholson
March 21 – Outgoing Liberia FA (LFA) president Musa Bility has petitioned FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino not to release the findings of an audit of the LFA in December last year.
UEFA extends with Leaders XX Series to drive commercial reality of women’s game
March 21 – UEFA has extended its partnership with the Leaders XX Series into a second year. The Leaders XX Series is a forum that gathers football and sports industry leaders grow women’s sport through innovation.