Dutch clubs go cold on setting up cross-border league with Belgians
April 6 – Dutch clubs have put talks about a cross-border league with Belgium on hold, almost certainly bringing an end to the idea.
Russia drop CAS appeal against World Cup ban, but battle to keep spot at Women’s Euro
April 6 – Russia has withdrawn its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against FIFA’s World Cup ban and against the Polish, Swedish and Czech federations who refused to play against them because of the invasion of Ukraine.
Swiss propose revamped Super League with additional teams and new structure
April 5 – The Swiss Super League will be expanded from 10 to 12 teams from the 2023/24 season, the league body has said.
UEFA trades Panini for Topps as sticker and trading card partner
April 6 – UEFA have swapped Panini for Topps as its official UEFA EURO 2024 license partner for official stickers, trading cards and collectibles.
Chelsea’s £3bn sale would be the highest ever sale of any sports club, but are they worth it?
By Paul Nicholson
April 6 – If Chelsea are sold for £3 billion (€3.6bn, $4bn) it would not only be the highest ever sale figure achieved by a football club, but would eclipse the highest number ever paid for a spoirts organisation anywhere in the world.
Women’s Champions League smashes multiple records as Turin final tickets go on-sale
April 6 – Tickets for the UEFA Women’s Champions League final at the Juventus Stadium in Turin on May 21, have gone on sale with Category One tickets priced at €20 and Category Two at €10.
Koeman lined up for Netherlands return after Qatar 2022
April 6 – Ronald Koeman is to return as Netherlands coach when Louis van Gaal leaves the role after the World Cup in Qatar, the Dutch FA has confirmed.
UEFA builds on sustainability remit with UNECE partnership
April 5 – UEFA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) aimed to show how football can be a platform for change and in particular how football and hosting UEFA events can support cities to become more sustainable.
Chinese top tier clubs warned to settle unpaid wages by year end or face expulsion
April 5 – The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has warned that clubs who fail to settle all unpaid salaries by December 31 will be relegated or expelled.
Champions League needs to bring a bigger show, says Al-Khelaifi
April 5 – Paris Saint-Germain boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi has called on UEFA to jazz up the Champions League final to make it more like the Super Bowl.
beIN rebuilds its AFC relationship adding Champiosn League and AFC Cup rights
April 5 – beIN Media Group is rebuilding its broadcast relationship with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) piece-by-piece with an agreement to extend it rights to cover the 2022 AFC Champions League and AFC Cup.
The FA closes gender pay gap while ethnicity pay gap also narrows
April 5 – The English Football Association has reported its gender pay gap has been reduced to 2.2%, which it says is below the national average of 15.5%.
Concacaf draws teams for Nations League groups that will decide Gold Cup qualifiers
April 6 – Concacaf completed the draw for the second edition of the Concacaf Nations League (CNL) which will serve as a qualifier for the 2023 Gold Cup.
Van Dijk promises support for van Gaal and a World Cup to remember
April 5 – Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk says he wants to give coach Louis van Gaal “a World Cup to never forget” in Qatar later this year in the light of van Gaal’s health situation.
Crystal Dunn and Alphonso Davies scoop Concacaf Player of the Year awards
April 5 – US national team and Portland Thorns star Crystal Dunn has been named 2021 Concacaf Women’s player of the year, while Canada and Bayern Munich standout Alphonso Davies has taken the men’s award.