Coronavirus: Mauritius is first African nation to abandon season
April 9 – Mauritius has become the first African country to cancel its professional league season “with immediate effect” due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Serie A in discussion over centralising fixtures in Rome, say reports
April 9 – Italy’s Serie A is reportedly discussing playing all the remaining fixtures for the 2019/20 season in Rome.
Whistleblower Pinto released but still under house arrest as he awaits trial
April 9 – Rui Pinto, the Portuguese whistleblower whose string of incriminating revelations shook the footballing world before he was controversially extradited from Hungary to his native Portugal, has been released from pre-trial detention and placed under house arrest, his lawyers announced.
App-based digital health passport launched to help clubs get fans returning safely to stadiums
April 9 – Cyber security tech company VST Enterprises Ltd (VSTE) has launched a sports health passport-style app that will enable fans to return to stadiums as the world recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.
Le Graët keeps going as French shift elections to March 2021
April 9 – Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the elections for the presidency of the French Football Federation, originally scheduled for next December, have been postponed to March 2021.
Jose apologises as Spurs once again socially distance themselves from their fans
April 9 – In the latest public relations gaffe to hit English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur during the Covid-19 outbreak, manager Jose Mourinho has been forced to semi-apologise after being pictured flouting government restrictions by leading a training session in park woodland not far from the club’s training ground.
Real Madrid players join Barca and Atletico stars in agreeing pay cut
April 9 – Real Madid have become the latest Spanish club whose players and coaches have agreed to take pay cuts to alleviate the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis.
FBI chasing dead ends on Qatar 2022, Russia ask why now?, Jack still sunning himself
By Andrew Warshaw
April 8 – Qatar’s World Cup organisers, who thought they had finally moved on from years of suspicion and finger-pointing over the process by which they were awarded the 2022 tournament, have been forced to deny fresh allegations of corruption and bribery.
4 Questions for 4 Leaders
April 8 – The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) and Inside World Football launch today the first edition of ‘4 Questions for 4 Leaders’, focusing on how the Olympic movement are dealing with the Coronavirus global pandemic, the impact on sport in different regions across the world and the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Dutch plan for June 19 return but not all clubs agree
April 8 – Dutch football is drawing up a roadmap to resume the season that was suspended in March following the outbreak of the coronavirus with a return to action behind closed doors tentatively set for June 19.
Ronaldinho released from Paraguayan jail but remains under house arrest
April 8 – Former Brazil and Barcelona star Ronaldinho, detained in Paraguay after an investigation into the use of fake passports to enter the country, has been released but will remain under house arrest in the country.
Tebas sets three dates for closed doors return of LaLiga, with earliest being May 28
April 8 – La Liga has earmarked three possible dates for the resumption of domestic matches once the green light is given by health authorities.
FIFA rubber stamps proposal to push transfer window back to season end
April 8 – FIFA has now confirmed reports that the summer transfer window is being pushed back into whatever gap ends up being between the seasons, and that player contracts due to end June 30 will be extended.
English FA boss Clarke paints a bleak post-apocalyse picture for national game
April 8 – English FA chairman Greg Clarke has painted a catastrophic picture of the financial effects of Covid-19 on football, not only at elite level but throughout the complete pyramid.
IFAB says new handball law can be used when seasons restart
April 8 – The new handball law that was due to come into effect on June 1 – which would originally have been after the season ends – can be used by leagues whenever the current campaign resumes post-Covid-19.