Nigerian FA suspends activity as coronavirus impact reaches Africa
March 19 – Nigeria has become the latest country to suspend all football activities in the global fight against the coronavirus.
Bournemouth losses triple to £32.4m as annual turnover dips again
By David Owen
March 19 – AFC Bournemouth, the Russian-owned south coast club enjoying an extended Premier League adventure under manager Eddie Howe, have announced an increased annual loss.
UEFA will refund Euro 2020 ticket buyers if they can’t make 2021 dates
March 19 – UEFA has confirmed that provide full refunds will be paid to fans who bought tickets for Euro 2020 if they are unable to reschedule for next year, saying sticking with the original dates would have been far too dangerous because of Covid-19.
Spurs report £68m profit as Levy flags ‘most serious’ Covid-19 hurdle
By David Owen
March 19 – Tottenham Hotspur have disclosed another sizeable annual profit, though chairman Daniel Levy has warned that the current coronavirus pandemic amounts to the biggest hurdle the club has faced in two decades.
EFL to release £50m fund for clubs, SPL’s Hearts ask players to halve wages
March 19 – The English Football League, which represents the three professional divisions immediately below the Premier League, is to release a £50 million short-term relief fund to help cash-strapped clubs hit by the coronavirus outbreak.
KPMG report predicts Big 5 leagues could lose up to €4bn
March 19 – Europe’s Big 5 leagues could lose as much as €4 billion if no more games are played this season as a result of the coronavirus crisis. The Premier League could account for as much as €1.25 billion of that and LaLiga as much as €950 million.
SIGA Strives: Integrity group rolls out series of 30 initiatives
March 19 – Battling for sports integrity is not unlike the fight against coronavirus. You can’t see the enemy but you know that it is there and potentially can destroy everything you hold close. And you can’t let your guard down.
PSG to make small screen streaming debut with Amazon docuseries
March 19 – French champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are to feature in their own behind-the-scenes docuseries, produced by Amazon, later this year.
Revamped Club World Cup under calendar pressure as Euros and Copa America reschedule
March 18 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed moving the first ever 24-team Club World Club from its 2021 date to avoid clashing with the rescheduled European Championships.
Brazil’s CBF reports record €174m revenue
By Samindra Kunti
March 18 – The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has reported a record revenue of €174 million in 2019, in large part due to the FIFA World Cup payouts, TV rights income and sponsorship.
Post-virus restart: FIFPro boss Baer-Hoffmann warns of player workloads and economic crisis
By Andrew Warshaw
March 18 – The toll on players once football is allowed to resume will be greater than ever while many risk losing their jobs altogether during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Coronavirus: Conmebol postpone 2021 Copa America
March 18 – Just like its European equivalent, South America’s flagship tournament, the Copa America, has been postponed from this year to 2021 because of the coronavirus outbreak.
FIFA disbands Trinidad and Tobago FA board as financial crisis escalates
By Paul Nicholson
March 18 – After just three months in office, the FIFA Bureau – the top table of FIFA decision makers – has removed beleaguered Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president William Wallace (pictured) and his newly elected board with immediate effect.
Liverpool top Euro ranking of squad transfer values beating Man City, Barca and Real Madrid
March 18 – Liverpool has the most valuable squad by transfer value at €1.4 billion, according to a ranking by the CIES Football Observatory.
CAF postpone CHAN in Cameroon in April, but award May club finals
March 18 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN), an international tournament with domestic-based players only, amid growing concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 virus.