Chinese transfer window closes after a record £331m spend. Is it closed for good?
March 2 – China’s new restrictions on foreign player quotas in order to boost domestic progress is widely expected to reduce lavish overseas spending.
Barca and Qatar Airways prepare to land new €50m sponsorship
March 2 – Spanish giants FC Barcelona are reportedly in the final stages of contract negotiation with Qatar Airways for a new four-year sponsorship that will see the club earn €50 million from the airline.
2018 and 2022 World Cup bid inspector Mayne-Nicholls to appeal ban at CAS
By Andrew Warshaw
March 2 – Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the FIFA-appointed official who led the inspection team that evaluated the credentials of all 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding candidates, is going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a last-ditch attempt to clear his name and overturn a three-year ban for seeking unpaid intern work in Qatar for relatives.
AFC and Germany’s DFB commit to development mission for further four years
March 1 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has renewed its partnership with the German FA (DFB) for another four years. The Memorandum of Understanding between the two bodies was first signed in 2013.
Modelo to showcase its ‘fighting spirit’ as official CONCACAF beer brand
March 1 – Mexican beer brand Modelo has signed a four-year sponsorship deal with CONCACAF that will make it the Official Beer of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, as well as the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.
Sterling transfer not enough to stop Liverpool falling £19.8m into the red
By David Owen
March 1 – Liverpool, one of five clubs locked in a fight for Champions League places behind runaway Premier League leaders Chelsea, tumbled back into the red in the 2015-16 financial year. The club reported a pre-tax loss of £19.8 million, versus a profit of £60 million last time, when it was the Premiership’s most profitable club.
Exclusive: Call for forensic audit of Liberian FA accounts exposes Infantino ally Bility
By Paul Nicholson
March 1 – Controversial Liberian FA president Musa Bility (pictured), excluded from the FIFA presidential race after failing integrity tests, is being accused by a former Liberian FA executive committee member of misappropriating FIFA financial assistance money of more than $1 million. Amongst a raft of claims of financial embezzlement, he is also accused of taking $50,000 of Ebola relief money sent to the Liberian FA and sharing it between committee members.
AFC waits for integrity tests as trust in Infantino’s motives fades further
By Paul Nicholson
March 1 – Delays by FIFA on clearing candidates to stand in the AFC elections for its Council is causing mounting concern amongst Asian member associations that FIFA’s executive function is operating in a far from independent manner.
AFC calls on FIFA to urgently rule on Israel-Palestine dispute
By Andrew Warshaw
March 1 – Asian football’s governing body has urged FIFA to urgently resolve the festering dispute in the Middle East amid speculation that a call for Israel to be thrown out of world football will be revived in May.
FIFA bans Adamu for further two years over unnamed 2010 event conflict
By Andrew Warshaw
March 1 – Amos Adamu (pictured), one of Africa’s most notorious footballing figures, has been banned for a second time by FIFA’s Ethics Committee for unethical conduct, almost certainly bringing the curtain down on a career that has long been shrouded in controversy.
German power players Rummenigge and Grindel slam Infantino presidency
March 1 – German football supremos Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Reinhard Grindel have given a firm thumbs down to Gianni Infantino’s first year as FIFA president.
Man Utd rubs its deal lamp and pulls out Aladdin partnership
March 1 – Manchester United has signed a global partnership deal with Malaysian-based e-commerce group Aladdin Group. The online trader will use the club as part of the global launch marketing of its aladdinstreet.com marketplace.
CECAFA get behind Hayatou for another term as CAF president
By Andrew Warshaw
March 1 – The regional factions lining up behind the two rival camps in this month’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidential election are taking shape with the Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) endorsing Issa Hayatou for an unprecedented eighth term of office.
2026 World Cup bids: Morocco to join with Spain and Portugal?
March 1 – Morocco is reportedly considering a new strategy to challenge north America for the 2026 World Cup, almost certainly the first edition to involve 48 teams.
Bundesliga builds Chinese footprint with Baidu partnership
March 1 – Germany’s Bundesliga has partnered with Chinese internet giant Baidu to become the web company’s first European league to have an official web presence on its platform.