MLS sign P&G corporate deal in advance of season kick-off
April 14 – With the MLS season kicking off on Friday, the league has announced a five-year deal sponsorship with Procter & Gamble, reportedly worth $80-100 million.
Concacaf hits the road for Vegas and Gold Cup Final party
By Paul Nicholson
April 13 – Concacaf will celebrate the easing of lockdown and hopefully a break in the pandemic with an all singing all dancing Gold Cup Final in Las Vegas on August 1.
Integrated Sports takes Conmebol’s Qatar 2022 qualifiers into US on PPV
April 14 – South America’s delayed World Cup 2022 qualifiers, now scheduled to restart in June, will be available for viewers in the US on pay per view channels at $25.95 per game.
Covid financing: Lyon outline player share deal in lieu of monthly pay cheque
April 13 – French Ligue 1 Olympique Lyonnais have outlined plans for their players to take up to 25% of their salaries in OL Groupe shares rather than as cash.
Heartbreak for Korean women as China secure Olympic berth in extra time
April 13 – China shattered South Korea’s dream of a first Women’s Olympic tournament winning the final AFC spot at Tokyo 2020 with a 4-3 aggregate win in a nerve jangling second leg play-off in Suzhou, China.
Kattner loses claim in Swiss labour court for CHF10m FIFA compensation
By Paul Nicholson
April 13 – Former FIFA financial director and acting general secretary Markus Kattner (pictured) has lost his appeal against unfair dismissal in the Swiss labour courts.
Tebas takes seat on UEFA’s exco alongside sparring partner Rubiales
April 13 – Javier Tebas, the outspoken and controversial head of Spain’s La Liga, is set to join UEFA’s executive committee – sitting alongside his nemesis, Spanish FA boss Luis Rubiales.
Barca ranked world’s most valuable club. Man Utd slip out of top 3 behind Real and Bayern
April 13 – FC Barcelona are the world’s most valuable club with a valuation of $4.76 billion according to business magazine Forbes. Premier League Manchester United have dropped out of the top three in the ranking.
Inter Miami sign AutoNation stadium naming rights deal
April 13 – MLS side Inter Miami have secured a three-year stadium rights naming deal with US car retailer AutoNation. The agreement will also branding on first team training kits.
Court approves USWNT working conditions deal; focus back on equal pay compensation
By Samindra Kunti
April 13 – An American court has approved a partial deal between players of the United States women’s national team and the U.S. Soccer Federation over unequal working conditions.
Perez keeps grip on Real Madrid presidency until 2025
April 13 – Florentino Perez (pictured) has been re-elected as Real Madrid president for a fifth consecutive term in office, the Spanish club announced on Tuesday.
Spurs’ favourite Son racially abused after McTominay incident
April 13 – Tottenham Hotspur’s South Korean international Son Heung-min is the latest English Premier League player to be targeted with racist abuse on social media.
AFC builds plan for women’s game with Champions League talk for 2023
April 12 – The AFC’s men’s Champions League kicks off this week. The women’s game in Asia could see the debut of a regional Champions League as early as 2023.
Wenger says automated VAR offsides could be in place by Qatar 2022
April 12 – Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development since 2019, says the game would be considerably improved if marginal offside calls are decided automatically and hopes it will happen in time for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, using Artificial Intelligence to make instant decisions.
Flamengo beat Palmeiras on penalties to win Brazilian Super Cup
April 12 – Flamengo claimed their first prize of the season winning the Brazilian Super Cup 6-5 on penalties against Palmeiras on Sunday.