UEFA suspends Russian ref while match-fixing probe on-going
April 16 – A Russian referee has been suspended for 90 days during a UEFA investigation into a suspected match-fixing case.
Kúdela to miss Euros as UEFA hands him 10-match ban for racist abuse of Kamara
By Andrew Warshaw
April 15 – One of the most contentious recent incidents of racist abuse in European football has been resolved with UEFA meting out a 10-match ban to Slavia Prague’s Czech international defender Ondřej Kúdela.
AFC pushes new women’s club licensing criteria en route to 2023 Champions League debut
April 15 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has taken the next steps in outlining a club licensing pathway for women’s clubs, with a view to establishing a meet the requirements for participation in the AFC Women’s Champions League in 2023.
UEFA set to change to away-goals rule for its club championships
April 15 – The away-goals rule that has been in place for 56 years looks set to be significantly tweaked by UEFA, according to unconfirmed reports.
Belgian FA rejects top tier club licenses for Oostende and Mouscron
April 15 – KV Oostende and Mouscron have both had their club license applications for next season Belgian top flight rejected, the Belgian FA (KBVB) announced on Wednesday.
US investors eye club opportunities in Mexico and Australia
April 15 – US investors are not just looking for deals to buy clubs in Europe. Reports are that American money is positioning to take stakes in clubs in Mexico’s LigaMX and Australia’s A-League.
Liverpool crash into Real’s defensive wall, Man City, Chelsea and PSG progress
April 15 – European powerhouse Real Madrid drew 0-0 with Liverpool following a gutsy performance at Anfield to reach the last four of the Champions League.
Liverpool working with police to identify Real Madrid bus attackers
April 15 – Liverpool have condemned the attack on Real Madrid’s bus before their Champions League semifinal on Wednesday as “unacceptable and shameful”.
Dortmund head Big 5 U21 player ranking but French clubs dominate, Wolves make top 10
April 15 – France’s Ligue 1 leads the way amongst Europe’s Big 5 leagues as the continent’s football talent development factory, though Borussia Dortmund head a club ranking of having the most minutes played by players who are still to turn 21.
CBA backs Aussie women in record breaking 4-year deal
April 15 – Australia’s Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has signed a four-year partnership to become the official naming rights partner and bank of the national women’s team, the Matildas, Junior Matildas and Young Matildas from August 2021.
Expanded AFC Champions League kicks off in centralised West Zone venues
By Samindra Kunti
April 14 – Tonight a new iteration of the AFC Champions League kicks off with 20 teams in the Western Zone getting their campaigns under way, in an expanded championship with all eyes on Qatari champions Al Sadd, led by coach Xavi Hernandez, and Indian debutants FC Goa.
Iranians take protest to CAS over Bahrain group qualifier hosting
By Paul Nicholson
April 14 – Iran have made another trip to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), this time to protest the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) decision to award hosting rights for the centralised preliminary rounds of World Cup qualifiers to Bahrain.
Conmebol to fight covid with 50,000 vaccines donated by China
April 14 – In an act of football diplomacy, China and pharmaceutical company Sinovac have donated 50,000 doses of their Covid-19 vaccine to Conmebol, with the South American governing body indicating it will inoculate top-flight players around the continent.
Chile overcome Cameroon to complete Tokyo 2020 women’s Olympic line-up
April 14 – Chile’s women took the final qualifying slot for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic tournament after a 0-0 draw was enough to put them through from the inter-continental play-off against Cameroon.
Italy says Euro 2020 opener in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico will be at least 25% full
April 14 – Any fears UEFA may have had over needing to reschedule the opening game of this summer’s delayed European Championship in Rome have been eased after the Italians gave the all-clear for a limited number of fans to attend.