Russian players call for stricter limit on foreign imports
April 1 – A group of influential Russian players has put forward a proposal to limit the number of non-Russians in club football to six per club by the start of the 2018 World Cup.
England’s shame: Hillsborough inquest opens in search for truth
April 1 – After a long fight by campaigners, fresh inquests into the deaths of 96 football fans killed in the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster finally got under way today and could take a year to resolve.
Manchester City move fast to start Etihad expansion to 60,000
By Paul Nicholson
April 1 – Manchester City have quickly followed up the build of their new £200 million academy and training complex with the appointment of engineering company Laing O’Rourke to start work on the expansion of the Etihad Stadium from 47,670 capacity to 62,170.
Sao Paulo stadium death casts dark shadow over 2014 rush for readiness
April 1 – Brazil’s World Cup preparations have suffered yet another setback with the death of a third worker at the Sao Paulo stadium that is being rushed to readiness to host the opening match on June 12.
Germans frustrated by ‘No’ vote on goalline technology
By Andrew Warshaw
April 1 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, German head of the European Club Association, admits he is disappointed by the decision to reject goalline technology in his country’s top two divisions.
Japan, like the US, say they too are ready to host 2022 if needed
By Andrew Warshaw
April 1 – In an unexpected twist to the debate over the 2022 World Cup, Japan has declared it would be ready to stage the tournament if FIFA strips Qatar of hosting rights – even though there is no indication that is likely to happen.
French headscarf ban defies FIFA laws and reopens political debate
By Andrew Warshaw
April 1 – French football authorities are upholding a ban on female players wearing headscarves for religious purposes in defiance of the game’s lawmakers.
Inter owner, Roeslani, faces battle to hold shares
By Matt Scott
April 1 – Internazionale risks becoming embroiled in a share wrangle over disputed allegations one of the club’s new owners misappropriated $170 million from a listed company.
Matt Scott: What is good for PSG is good for France, and the Qataris
“Plus tard, je serai président du PSG!” Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy became France’s most unpopular president in history at the end of his tenure but his nose for a political wind remains pretty keen. It was inevitable that, with French joblessness at record levels, the incumbent Socialists would lose out to his UMP party in municipal elections on Saturday. Cue a clamour for his return to the Elysée palace,
Exclusive: Warner to return to world football
April 1 – Port of Spain – In an unexpected turn of events, formerly disgraced Austin “Jack” Warner, the ex-president of CONCACAF, CFU, ex-VP of FIFA and several other football organisations around the world, has announced his comeback into international football.
Exclusive: Israelis reject FIFA expulsion talk, claiming progress is being made
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
March 31 – Israeli football authorities have broken their silence over the hugely sensitive dispute with Palestine, insisting efforts are being stepped up to improve conditions for Palestinian players and officials in and out of the West Bank and Gaza.
Greek minister drives AEK’s planned €65m new stadium
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
March 31 – AEK’s plan to build a new €65 million stadium has obtained the backing of Greece’s Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change Yiannis Maniatis who signed a project proposal intended for the Greek parliament. The document needs a total of four ministerial signatures to be submitted, and the country’s interior minister, culture minister and finance minister have already promised to ink the proposal.
Eritrea pull out of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
March 31 – Eritrea have pulled out of the qualifiers for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco for no apparent reason. They had been due to face South Sudan in the first round of the preliminary phase over two legs in April.
Swedish fans invade pitch as pre-match violence leaves supporter dead
March 31 – Swedish football has been left in shock after a supporter of the Stockholm club Djurgarden died from head injuries sustained in an assault before his team’s season-opening fixture at Helsingborg.
Germans outflanked by Nations League, but Rummenigge sees a silver lining
By Andrew Warshaw
March 31 – Reaction continues to pour in to the establishment of the new Nations League tournament that looks set to become an integral part of European football from 2018.