SIGA Strives 11: Integrity body and Soccerex to launch webinar series
April 17 – The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) and Soccerex are launching a series of bespoke webinars for the sports industry on hot topics impacting the sector.
Concacaf’s Montagliani says Nations League will finish, but 2022 qualifiers need re-jig
By Paul Nicholson
April 16 – Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has said that the confederation is committed to completing the Final 4 play-offs to decide its first Nations League champions, but that it will likely have to rethink the qualification process for its 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Concacaf sets up Caribbean professional league working group
April 16 – Concacaf have taken steps to explore the potential for a Caribbean professional league with the setting up of pro-league working group. It will begin its work in earnest once the coronavirus crisis eases.
US Soccer disbands academy licensing and league structure
April 16 – U.S. Soccer has announced it is closing down the federation’s development academy structure saying the decision was due to the financial impact of the coronavirus. The shutdown will have immediate effect.
Blatter says FIFAgate allegations of World Cup vote buying should force a rethink
By Andrew Warshaw
April 16 – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter says Qatar should be stripped of the 2022 World Cup as a result of the latest FIFAgate revelations, with the United States best-placed to step in as replacement hosts.
Player contract costs may force Premier League clubs to end season by June 30, or not at all
April 16 – English Premier League clubs are to meet tomorrow (Friday) to discuss, among other things, placing a June 30 deadline on the 2019-20 season because of the thorny issue of player contracts.
Arsenal bosses take salary hits as Gunners face financial firing line
April 16 – Arsenal’s entire executive team have agreed to waive more than a third of their salary as a result of Covid-19 with the club warning it is facing “one of the most challenging periods” in its 134-year history.
Belarus keep men’s league open but suspend women’s kick off
April 16 – Belarus, the only country in Europe where men’s professional football is still being played before spectators, has announced it is postponing the start of its women’s Premier League amid fears that several players have been exposed to Covid-19.
Scots vote to end league season triggering ‘lifeline’ club payments, but Premiership still open
April 16 – The second, third and fourth tiers of Scottish football have all ended their seasons with Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers declared champions.
Exclusive: Blatter ‘energised’ by dropped charges but wary of Infantino and Swiss politics
By Andrew Warshaw
April 15 – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hailed the dropping of criminal mismanagement charges against him by Swiss prosecutors as a partial success in his bid to clear name and has dragged his successor Gianni Infantino into the narrative by implying Infantino was partly behind a conspiracy against him.
AFC pushes restart into July earliest, but still committed to November finish
April 15 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the first regional body to postpone its international club and national team calendar when the coronavirus hit, has pushed back its competitions scheduled for May and June into July earliest, remaining fully committed to finishing its seasons on time. But only after public health issues are prioritised.
MLS warns a full season schedule might not be possible
April 15 – Major League Soccer in the US has hinted that it may reduce the number of games this season as a planned return to play in mid-May looks increasingly unlikely.
Bundesliga pushes restart back a week, but still plans for May kick-off
April 15 – Germany has postponed the decision over the Bundesliga’s imminent return by a week, the German Football League (DFL) announced.
Arsenal builds its Chinese social media footprint with TokTok launch
April 15 – Arsenal has opened an official account on Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok, the world’s fastest-growing social media platform.
SIGA Strives 10: Integrity body reaffirms reform agenda with US presidential body
April 15 – In a joint statement from SIGA (the Sports Integrity Global Alliance) and the President’s Council on Sport, Fitness and Nutrition (PCSFN) based in the United States, the two bodies have reaffirmed their cooperation and commitment to a sports integrity reform agenda.