By Paul Nicholson
April 7 – While the €1 million solidarity payment to each national federation made headlines at the UEFA Congress this week, the real financial story is the €847 million profit the confederation made on its expanded 2016 European Championships, a €500 million increase on the 2012 edition in Poland and Ukraine. The tournament generated a massive €1.92 billion in total revenue.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 7 – The head of the umbrella organisation for Europe’s major leagues insists relations with UEFA have not broken down but warns fans are not fully aware of the extent of the damage which will be caused by upcoming changes to the Champions League.
By Samindra Kunti
April 7 – The Argentine FA (AFA) has given its under-fire coach Edgardo Bauza a vote of confidence in spite of Argentina’s precarious World Cup qualifying position.
April 7 – English Football League (EFL) teams will have to increase the minimum number of home-grown players in their match-day squads from next season and from 2018-19 will have to make way for at least one ‘club-developed’ player.
April 7 – Qatar has agreed to heavily slash its budget for hosting the 2022 World Cup and is pressing ahead with eight stadiums, according to organising chief Hassan Al Thawadi.
April 7 – The fast growing United Soccer League, awarded Division 2 status in the US professional league hierarchy this season, has boosted its broadcast coverage for the 2017 season just kicked off.
By Samindra Kunti
April 6 – With 72 days left until the kick-off of the 2017 Confederations Cup, less than a third of the event’s tickets have been sold. The domestic TV rights for the tournament and the World Cup finals also remain problematic.
By Paul Nicholson
April 6 – FIFA’s struggle to sign up commercial partners to its reformed vision and upcoming World Cup in Russia was given some much-needed relief with confirmation that China’s Hisense, a white goods and electronics company based in the east-coast city of Qingdao, has put its name to the 2017 Confederations Cup and 2018 World Cup as an official sponsor.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 6 – An Israeli-based media watchdog is back on the offensive over the sensitive issue of Israel’s treatment of Palestinian players and officials in the occupied territories, once again condemning Palestine Football Association president JIbril Rajoub (pictured) for trying to get Israel sanctioned and possibly thrown out of FIFA.
April 6 – The long-running and often bitter dispute between the US Soccer Federation and the country’s top female players over wage discrimination has ended.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 6 – As he prepares to try and clear his name at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an embittered Chung Mong-joon says Sepp Blatter’s legacy still pervades FIFA and that he has been treated maliciously by FIFA’s ethics committee.
April 6 – UEFA has expanded its video gaming commercial category into three parts, taking account of the growth opportunities in the video gaming and exploding eSports sector.
April 6 – Liverpool have been fined £100,000 by the Premier League and handed a two-year ban on signing academy players from other English clubs for breaking strict recruitment rules.
April 6 – Twenty-four hours after threatening to go on strike in a row over working conditions the Republic of Ireland’s women’s team have reached agreement with the national federation (FAI) following lengthy mediation talks.
April 6 – New York City FC has become the second of the City Football Group clubs and the first in the MLS to sign an eSports player top play competitively under the club brand and in club colours.