Infantino wants Russia back in international game after peace deal
April 3 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino (pictured) has called on Russia to be allowed to return to the international game if a peace deal can be worked out with Ukraine.
Germany calls for extradition of former Bulgarian footballer Dani Ayman Kiki
April 3 – The German government has requested the extradition of former Bulgarian footballer Dani Ayman Kiki (pictured) on suspicion of participating in a kidnapping and racketeering scheme.
NWSL-AT&T sponsorship deal ‘invests in future of women’s sports’
April 3 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) continues to go from strength to strength, announcing a multi-year sponsorship deal with communications giant AT&T.
Leicester facing relegation and possible PSR charge after more losses
April 3 – Another Premier League defeat followed further grim financial news to leave Leicester City contemplating relegation and a possible profit and sustainability rules (PSR) charge.
Ancelotti tells Madrid court he thought ‘everything was in order’ on his taxes
April 3 – Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti (pictured), who is standing trial for tax evasion in the Spanish capital, told its Provincial Court on Wednesday that he “never thought about committing fraud.”
Barca allegedly fiddled the FFP books to get Olmo and Victor registered
April 3 – The saga over the registrations of Dani Olmo and Pau Victor and their eligibility to play for Barcelona in the second half of the season has resurfaced, with LaLiga saying that the club don’t have the financial headroom required to meet the squad cost limits under its financial fair play (FFP) regulations.
UEFA Congress set to elect new cohort of Exco and FIFA Council reps
April 2 – Top of the agenda at the UEFA Congress in Belgrade, Serbia, will be the elections for UEFA’s executive committee. There will also be a vote on European representatives on the FIFA Council, with five members, including at least one female, to elected.
Chelsea offload Women’s team to Boehly and Clearlake’s Blueco, turning £90.2m loss into a £128.4m profit
April 2 – Premier League Chelsea have turned a £90.1 million pre-tax loss in 2022-23 into a £128.4 million profit 2023-24, mainly by selling core assets to its owners.
Conmebol brings in new 8 second rule for its club competitions
April 2 – Conmebol has introduced a major rule change for the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, becoming the first confederation to cap the time goalkeepers can hold on to the ball at eight seconds. If keepers exceed the limit, the opposing team will be awarded a corner kick.
Player sales put Nottingham Forest £12.1m into the black
April 2 – Nottingham Forest have reported a pre-tax profit of £12.1 million for the 2023-24 financial year, driven by £100 million in player sales. Despite recording an operating loss of £73.3 million, the club’s strong transfer market activity – including the £47.5 million sale of Brennan Johnson to Tottenham Hotspur—converted financial red into black.
Vidic gets political, showing support for Serbian students’ protest calls for change
April 2 – Former Manchester United star Nemanja Vidic has said that Serbia must seize “the historic opportunity” created by the student protests against the government of Aleksandar Vudic.
Yamal’s new Kings League franchise wildcarded into World Cup
April 2 – Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has made his first major move off the pitch, launching his own Kings League franchise, La Capital CF. The announcement, streamed live on Monday, marks Yamal’s entry into the growing world of football-entertainment, a space that has attracted top players, influencers, and brands looking to engage with the next generation of football fans.
Hollywood favourite Wrexham welcomes revenue boost with overseas income outstripping domestic
April 2 – Wrexham AFC has reported record-breaking revenues of £26.7 million for the 2023-24 season—outpacing many Championship clubs and setting a new financial benchmark for a League Two side. This represents a staggering 155% increase from last year’s £10.5 million and dwarfs the League Two average of £5.4 million, according to Deloitte’s most recent football finance review.
MLS bans Messi’s close protection from the Inter Miami dugout
April 2 – As the world’s most famous player, Lionel Messi requires protection on and off the pitch, however Major League Soccer (MLS) has decided to take full control of his safety after banning his bodyguard, Yassine Cheuko, from the touchline of Inter Miami matches.
SAOT to make Premier League debut April 12
April 2 – Semi-automated offside technology (SAOT system aims to remove human error and the drawing of lines to establish players in an offside position.