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.
World Football
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.
Fenerbahce semi-final abandoned after Besiktas coach Gunes hit on head
April 20 – The Turkish cup semi-final between arch-rivals Fenerbahce and Besiktas’ was abandoned after the visitors’ boss Senol Gunes was hit on the head by an object thrown from the crowd.
FIFA Council member and Congo FA chief Omari arrested on corruption allegations
By Paul Nicholson
April 18 – Police in Congo have swooped to arrest DR Congo Football Association (Fecofa) president Constant Omari along with two Fecofa vice presidents, Roger Bondembe (finance director) and Theobad Binamungu (national team manager), Their detention comes as part of a corruption investigation looking at embezzlement of government and football funds.
Caboclo takes over at CBF promising ‘union and understanding’
By Samindra Kunti
April 18 – Rogerio Caboclo has been elected as the new president of the Brazilian Football Confederation CBF. He succeeds Marco Polo Del Nero, who remains suspended by FIFA and under investigation in the United States.
UEFA cracks disciplinary whip banning Sion and fining Irtysh, FC Vojvodina and KF Tirana
April 18 – Swiss club FC Sion, which has a history of controversy on and off the field, have been a handed a two-season ban from European competition by UEFA over a transfer debt.
ICC unveils 18 European club giants for pre-season clash across three continents
April 18 – The International Champions Cup has unveiled its fixtures and locations for the 2018 pre-season extravaganza that this year will feature 18 European teams across the US, Singapore and Europe.
Un’bear’able: Animal rights groups deplore Russian bear stunt
April 17 – Animal welfare groups have condemned footage of a Russian performing bear delivering the ball to a referee before a third division match between Mashuk-KMV and Angusht in Pyatigorsk.
Liberia in limbo as court order stops presidential election after first vote
By Paul Nicholson
April 16 – The election for the new president of the Liberian FA (LFA) at its 34th Annual Congress was dramatically suspended at the weekend after the first round of voting when a court order was issued questioning the eligibility of Musa Shannon, already a serving LFA vice president.
Champions League semis: Real vs Bayern, Liverpool vs Roma
April 13 – Real Madrid have been drawn against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the Champions League as they continue their quest of trying to become the first team for over 40 years to win the title three times in a row and the first in the tournament’s current guise.