Police discover major cache of pyrotechnics as fans clash with police at Sofia derby
April 8 – A huge cache of rockets and explosive devices was seized before the start of Bulgaria’s biggest derby between Levski and CSKA Sofia on Sunday.
World Football
Unlucky seven for Belgium as Spain hand out a pasting in opening Women’s Euro 2025 qualifiers
By Samindra Kunti in Leuven
April 8 – World champions Spain kicked off their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign with a 7-0 demolition job of Belgium as FC Barcelona’s Salma Paralluelo starred, scoring a hat-trick.
Betano takes over Brazil’s Serie A naming right in near $50m, 3-year deal
April 8 – Online betting operator Betano will replace Assaí as a title sponsor of the Brazilian topflight.
Football’s social media club giants swing into Champions League overdrive
April 8 – The battle this week in the Champions League quarter finals will also see some of Europe’s biggest football club social media accounts swing into action.
Eto’o says Cameroon sports ministry’s appointment of Brys is an illegal act
April 5 – The Cameroonian FA, Fecafoot, and its president Samuel Eto’o have rejected the appointment of national team manager Marc Brys by the sports ministry, claiming it breaks the law.
Economic metrics show UCL quarter final ties are evenly balanced
April 5 – With the UEFA Champions League (UCL) resuming next week at the quarter final stage, Football Benchmark has undertaken a financial analysis and comparison of the qualified clubs, examining the economic balance of the pairings.
Rubiales says he is being persecuted for being a man
April 5 – Disgraced former Spanish FA boss Luis Rubiales remains defiant in the face of a possible prison sentence and suggests he’s being punished for being a man.
Project 8 says it has 6 clubs signed for launch of women’s pro league in Canada
April 5 – Six clubs have applied to join the women’s professional soccer league in Canada providing the numbers required for launch in 2025.
Wisla Krakow threaten to boycott Polish Cup final unless FA overturn ban on travelling fans
April 5 – Wisla Krakow have threatened to boycott the Polish Cup final if a ban on their fans attending the game is upheld.
Violence mars Croatian Cup semi-final between Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb
April 5 – Scenes of violence marked the Croatian Cup semi-final between Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb. After the match at the Poljud Stadium, which ended with a 1-0 victory to the visitors from Zagreb, the home team’s ultras broke through security on to pitch to confront the Hajduk players.
Hull boss Liam Rosenior demands racist abusers on social media are held accountable
April 5 – Hull City manager Liam Rosenior is the latest club manager to call for social media users to be made more accountable after being the target of online racist comments.
USL enters negotiations with Roswell for pro men’s and women’s teams and a stake in a new stadium
April 5 – The opportunity of football to bring a transformational change to cities and their sporting cultures is nowhere more evident currently that in the US.
USL adds sponsors and appoint SeatGeek ahead of women’s Super League debut in August
April 5 – The fast-growing USL, operator of second and third tier professional leagues in the US and now a top tier Women’s professional league that debuts in August, has concluded more commercial partnerships starting with the current 2024 season.
Textor to face Brazilian sports court over allegations that corruption cost Botafogo 2023 title
April 4 – Botafogo owner John Textor could face up to a year’s suspension as he goes on trial at Brazil’s top sports court for failing to provide evidence for his claims of match-fixing in the Brazilian league.
Spanish FA orders partial closure of Getafe stadium after racist insults
April 4 – Spanish top-flight club Getafe have been ordered to partially close their central stand for three matches by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) following the racial and xenophobic abuse suffered by Sevilla manager Quique Sánchez Flores and player Marcus Acuna (pictured) in Saturday’s league game.