Juventus fire Allegri after Italian Cup final sending off
May 20 – Juventus are the latest European giant to be looking for a new manager after sacking Massimiliano Allegri just two days after he led the side to the Italian Cup.
KV Oostende heads for bankruptcy as PMG refuses to co-operate in hunt for new owner
May 20 – In a damning indictment of Pacific Media Group’s (PMG) football club ownership model, Belgium’s KV Oostende is facing bankruptcy after the club failed to find a new owner.
Klopp signs off on an emotional nine years at Liverpool
May 20 – “I’m one of you now — I love you to bits.” Those were an emotional Jurgen Klopp’s parting words to the Liverpool fans as he brought the curtain down on nine years at the club on Sunday, prompting a deafening roar before he disappeared down the Anfield tunnel for the final time.
Infantino snubs the world’s media, refusing to hold a post-Congress press conference
By Samindra Kunti in Bangkok
May 20 – On Friday, following the conclusion of the Congress, FIFA president Gianni Infantino refused to stage a press conference, further souring his relationship with the press.
North Korean women add U17 AFC title to U20 win, and qualify for October World Cup
May 20 – North Korea, absent from international football as the country clamped its borders shut at the start of the pandemic, is rapidly re-emerging in the women’s game as a force to be reckoned with.
Ganchev family exits Bulgarian football, gifting Litex Lovech stadium, training ground and shares to city
May 20 – Gricha Ganchev, one of Bulgaria’s richest businessmen and a former owner of CSKA Sofia, has now parted ways with a second club Bulgarian club, Litex Lovech, saying he will give his shares and the assets of the second division club to the Lovech Municipality free of charge.
Betano renews Benfica shirt sleeve sponsorship for further three seasons
May 20 – Online bookmaker Betano has renewed its sleeve sponsorship with Portgual’s Benfica for a further three years.
Signed napkin that secured Messi’s move to Barca sells for $965,000 at auction
May 20 – A white paper restaurant napkin that formally linked a young Lionel Messi to Barcelona was sold at a Bonhams on-line auction on Friday for $968,600.
Bangkok sketch: Infantino’s iron fist of democracy and the new FIFA currency of unity
May 17 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino opened the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, with a call for unity. It was a rhetorical moment, as the Congress proved as it rattled through agenda point after agenda point with very little debate and a button pushing membership pressing yes to everything on the electronic voting system that was put before them.
Infantino prevents FIFA membership from voting on Palestine motion to ban Israel
By Samindra Kunti in Bangkok
May 17 – FIFA will commission a ‘legal assessment’ of the conflict in the Middle East by a panel of ‘independent’ experts after the Palestinian FA (PFA) demanded sanctions be taken against the Israeli FA (IFA) at FIFA’s 74th Annual Congress in Bangkok, Thailand.
Infantino sends Fifpro and WLA packing with message they have no place at his top table
May 17 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has dismissed the threat of legal challenge from Fifpro and the World Leagues Association (WLA) over the overloaded match calendar and the introduction of the expanded 32-team Club World Cup in 2025 as ‘futile’.
FIFA awards hosting of the 2027 Women’s World Cup to Brazil
May 17 – Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues has called the choice of Brazil as host for the 2027 Women’s World Cup a “victory for the women’s game’.
FIFA’s legends unveil five-pillar anti-racism programme
May 17 – FIFA unveiled a five ‘pillar’ initiative to combat racism in football at its Congress in Bangkok, Thailand. FIFA said the recommendations will be mandated across all 211 of its member federations.
Aussie A-League rocked by arrests of 3 players in match-fixing probe
May 17 – Australian professional football has been plunged into disrepute by accusations that the captain of A-League club Macarthur FC paid two younger teammates up to 10,000 Australian dollars to deliberately receive yellow cards in a scheme set up by a South American gambling connection.
Leeds take a big step towards Premier League return
May 17 – Leeds United became the first team to reach the 2024 Championship playoff final for the Premier League with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Norwich City last night.