Arsenal lead Premier League clubs as training grounds plan to partially re-open
April 27 – The resumption of the Premier League may be some time off yet but Arsenal’s players were set to return to light training sessions from today.
Everton starlet Kean gets social and a £160k fine
April 27 – English top-flight club Everton say they are “appalled” after images were released of their Italian striker Moise Kean holding a house party in direct defiance of the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown restrictions – the latest flaunting of the rules by a Premier League player.
Former club officials and players at Osasuna and Real Betis jailed for matchfixing
April 24 – In a landmark ruling, nine former executives, players, and businessmen including five former directors of Osasuna and two ex-Real Betis players have been handed prison sentences after being found guilty of being involved in match-fixing – the first time ever that sporting corruption has led to jail terms in Spain.
Bundesliga secures media cash release for clubs, but risks penalties if restart is cut short
April 24 – Germany’s Bundesliga has secured agreements with its major broadcast partners that will enable the league to release money to all Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs.
UEFA to keep Euro 2020 title for its 2021 competition
April 24 – Next year’s European Championship will continue to be called Euro 2020 despite being postponed to 2021.
Liverpool mayor calls for probe into whether Atletico CL visit was a virus super spreader
April 24 – The mayor of Liverpool City Region has called for an investigation into the Champions League clash between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid as debate over a possible link between positive Covid-19 cases in the city and last month’s fixture intensifies.
Saudi money for domestic football drying up, but Magpies may still get their cash
April 24 – Saudi Arabia is to suspend funding to sports and football clubs in an attempt to curb budget deficits amid the global coronavirus crisis, the country’s finance minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan has announced.
Coronavirus: Egyptian FA locks down all football for further 15 days
April 24 – Egypt has extended the suspension of all football activities in the country for another 15 days as a containment measure against the spread of the coronavirus.
Scots ponder options after UEFA gives leagues clearance to close off leagues
April 24 – Scotland looks set to become one of the first leagues to benefit from UEFA’s agreement to allow for special cases in ending domestic seasons prematurely.
eSports pick up the slack for football fans and punters with record numbers reported
April 24 – With esports booming across the board and football’s clubs and league keen to get in on the action, the Football Management game has reported an all-time high of 189.230 users for March, a 43% rise on the previous month.
UEFA’s Foundation for Children mark 5 years and 1m youth reached in 100 countries
April 24 – UEFA may be concentrating on how it grapples with the effects of Covid-19 but away from the pandemic, today marks the fifth anniversary of the organisation’s Foundation for Children, using football as a tool to aid vulnerable kids particularly in less-privileged parts of the world.
Kenya on brink of being kicked out of 2022 qualifiers for failure to pay former coach
April 24 – Kenya is on the verge of being banned from World Cup qualifiers saying they do not have the funds to meet today’s deadline to pay former coach Adel Amrouche (pictured).
SIGA Strives 13: Integrity body and UNESCO partner to build case for government money
April 24 – UNESCO has partnered with the Sports Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) to build a ”business case for sport integrity”.
Neville to quit England job in July 2021 but no clarity on who will lead GB in Tokyo
April 24 – England women’s head coach Phil Neville will leave the job in July 2021 at the end of his contract, the English Football Association (FA) confirmed today.
UEFA says leagues can void if no play possible; releases €70m cash lifeline for clubs
By Andrew Warshaw
April 23 – UEFA has officially acknowledged that domestic leagues may not be able to finish this season if governments prevent them, but if that’s the case has urged leagues to ensure their qualifying clubs for its two competitions next season are selected on proper sporting merit.