US Soccer takes broader view of its development task
March 6 – At the U.S. Soccer Annual General Meeting (AGM) last weekend, the theme was one of ‘In Service to Soccer’ and it was an expression heard throughout the event.
Prosecutor scorns Blatter-Platini $2m payment, calling for 20-month suspended jail terms
March 5 – The Swiss public prosecutor in the Sepp Blatter/Michel Platini fraud trial has requested suspended sentences of 20 months for the former FIFA and UEFA chiefs for allegedly cheating FIFA out of CHF2 million.
Women’s Euro 2025 organisers sign joint human rights declaration
March 5 – UEFA, alongside the Swiss government, host cities, and the Swiss Football Association, has signed a joint human rights declaration ahead of UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, vowing to create an inclusive and welcoming tournament for everyone involved.
Gunners firing on all cylinders in Eindhoven to set UCL away goal record
March 5 – Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League last-16 clash saw Arsenal run riot in Eindhoven, delivering a crushing 7-1 win over PSV, leaving them in a commanding position ahead of the second leg.
FIFA poised to drop plans for 2026 Women’s Club World Cup
March 5 – FIFA will reportedly postpone the inaugural edition of the Women’s Club World Cup to at least 2027.
Originally planned for January and February 2026, the 16-team tournament has faced delays due to unconfirmed details such as the host, format, and qualification process. The postponement is expected be confirmed at the FIFA Council meeting on Wednesday.
Serie A keen to trailblaze in the US as first European league to play a regular season game
March 5 – Relevent Sports has been the squeaky wheel in world football for a number of years as they push to host a regular-season match from one of Europe’s top leagues in the USA. To date they have been met with pushback, however, that could soon change as Italy’s Serie A has said they want to hold a regular-season game in the next year or two.
Brugge collapse late to let Villa take two goal lead back to Birmingham
By Samindra Kunti in Brugge
March 5 – Brandon Mechele’s late own goal and a penalty from Marcio Asensio lifted Aston Villa to a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge, bringing Unai Emery’s team a step closer to the last eight of the Champions League.
Man Utd fan group plans protest march to Old Trafford over Glazer ownership
March 5 – Clubs don’t die overnight but they do die slowly! Manchester United, formerly one of the world’s biggest clubs, have been sliding downwards ever since the departure of the great Sir Alex Ferguson.
Lyca Mobile dials into local West Ham Hotspots with extended sponsorship
March 5 – West Ham United players are trading football boots for forks in a new content series, Hotspots, created in tandem with longstanding parter Lyca Mobile. The series takes Hammers players off the pitch and into London’s hidden culinary gems, showcasing the city’s diverse cultures while celebrating the club’s deep ties to the East End.
Čeferin discusses infrastructure with Balkan FA presidents. Bosnia close to finding site for national stadium
March 5 – Vico Zeljković, president of the Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), has promised that in the next 30 days the FBiH leadership will choose a location for the construction of a new national stadium.
Brighton and Heineken in the zone
March 5 – Fan Zones have become an established part of major tournaments however, domestic clubs have been slow to create the same kind of environment in and around their stadiums. English Premier League club, Brighton & Hove Albion aims to correct that imbalance with the official opening of The Terrace at their home, the American Express Stadium.
Gabon’s Patrick Assoumou Eyi handed lifetime ban for sexual abuse
March 4 – FIFA’s Ethics Committee has issued a lifetime ban on Patrick Assoumou Eyi for sexual abuse. The former coach of the Gabon U-17 men’s national team has also been handed a CHF1 million fine.
24 clubs apply to enter eight-team OFC Professional League
March 4 – Twenty-four clubs have expressed interest in playing in the OFC Professional League, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) has confirmed.
Midweek scheduling hampers English Premier League attendances on Matchweek 27
March 4 – Attendances at English Premier League stadiums showcased yet another decline during Matchweek 27, with crowd capacity across the ten fixtures averaging 97.49% – a notable dip from the league’s season-long 98% average.
Blatter protests innocence again in latest Swiss fraud trial against ex-FIFA president
March 4 – A frail-looking Sepp Blatter told the opening day of his latest fraud trial that he was not guilty of “falsehoods, lies and deception”.