Cost-cutting Anderlecht commit to keeping women’s team budget unchanged
April 12 – Belgian club Anderlecht have vowed to preserve the budget for their title winning women’s team despite cuts across the board.
UEFA sanctions cut capacity at Atletico; Bodo/Glimt appeal Knutsen ban
April 12 – UEFA have ordered Atletico Madrid to close a part of their stadium for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City.
Betcris grows its Guatemalan base with CD Malacateco deal
April 12 – Online bookmaker Betcris, based in Costa Rica, has increased its sponsorship footprint in Central America with a three-year deal with Guatemalan club Toros del Malacateco (CD Malacateco).
AFC adjusts as Covid resurgence in China forces Shanghai Port out of Champions League
April 11 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is having to rapidly adjust its schedules again as a new surge of covid has forced the pull out of China’s Shanghai Port FC from the Champions League group stages that start later this month.
Man City draw heat over betting partner Marathonbet’s Russian links
April 11 – Manchester City’s thrilling 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday captivated television audiences across the globe in the race for the Premier League title but off the field City faces more scrutiny, this time over its official global betting partner Marathonbet, which is approved by the Kremlin for its gambling operations in Russia.
Shakhtar Donetsk open ‘Football for Peace’ Tour at Olympiakos
April 11 – Wearing the names of heavily bombarded cities on their shirts, Ukrainian top-flight club Shakhtar Donetsk began a symbolic government-backed ‘Football for Peace’ Tour on Saturday with a game played in front of 5,000 fans against Greek champions Olympiakos.
EFL considers salary cap as part of reform of club financial regulations
April 11 – Following UEFA’s introduction of new financial monitoring rules, the English Football League (EFL) is also considering new financial fair play rules, including a salary cap at 70% of club revenue.
Phone slapper Ronaldo apologises for Everton incident
April 11 – Police are investigating an incident that saw Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo apparently slapping a phone out of a supporter’s hand as he left the field after Manchester United’s 1-0 weekend defeat at Everton.
Palestine mourns death of another footballer shot dead by Israeli forces
April 11 – While the world is watching with horror and condemnation the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the increase in violence in Palestine and the West Bank has gone barely noticed in international media.
European clubs to get €240m for releasing players through to end of EURO 2024
April 10 – UEFA is making €240 million over the 2020/24 cycle as club compensation for releasing players for its national team competitions, and increase of €40 million on the previous cycle.
Eqypt end Queiroz contract after Senegal’s World Cup knockout blows
April 11 – Egypt and Carlos Queiroz have parted ways after the Portuguese coach failed to lead the Pharaohs to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
ECA and European Leagues welcome reform of UEFA’s financial ‘fair play’
By Andrew Warshaw
April 8 – The two umbrella organisations representing Europe’s clubs and leagues have given their wholehearted support to UEFA’s important new financial monitoring rules designed to beef up the previously flawed system and which, tellingly, no longer include the words “fair play”.
Fifagate: CAS overturns Burga ban and sends case back to FIFA investigators
April 8 – Two and half years after being banned for life by FIFA, former Conmebol bigwig Manuel Burga has had the ban annulled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and his case sent back for a fresh investigation.
Premier League probe of Man City ongoing as alleged evidence of FFP breaches surfaces
By Paul Nicholson
April 8 – On Wednesday Manchester City announced it would be celebrating the 10th anniversary of its first Premier League title and that history making goal in the 93rd minute of extra time by Sergio Aguero that won it for them.
Shirt found in South Sudan becomes AC Milan’s first NFT in a charity initiative
April 8 – Italian giants AC Milan have launched their first official NFT, a 3D NFT of a Rossoneri jersey found in South Sudan.