Djibouti and Mauritania pledge to help each other take on Africa’s big guns
March 6 – Djibouti and Mauritania will enhance their cooperation after the FAs of both countries signed a partnership on Thursday.
UEFA’s Foundation for Children celebrates 5 years and more than 1 million lives impacted
March 6 – It may not carry the same clout as the Champions League or be as newsworthy as financial fair play or VAR but UEFA is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its Foundation for Children, using football as a tool to aid vulnerable kids, particularly in less-privileged parts of the world.
Exclusive: Omari defends CAF cash for Umrah trip and says Lagardere door is not closed
By Osasu Obayiuwana
March 5 – Constant Omari, first Vice-President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has told Insideworldfootball that “there is nothing wrong” in the expenditure of CAF’s funds to send several FA/Federation Presidents to the ‘Umrah’, the lesser Hadj, in Saudi Arabia.
Portuguese police raid clubs and agents in nationwide financial fraud probe
By Samindra Kunti
March 5 – Portuguese police have raided 76 addresses, including the home of super-agent Jorge Mendes, as part of a nationwide investigation into money laundering and tax evasion in 2015.
Swiss AG Lauber sanctioned for lying. Doubt cast over impartiality of FIFA indictment
By Paul Nicholson
March 5 – Controversial Swiss attorney general, Michael Lauber (pictured), who led the Swiss investigations into FIFA but mysteriously failed to remember or document meetings he held with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, has been sanctioned for disloyalty, lying and breaching his office’s code of conduct.
Juve and ECA chief Agnelli warns FIFA’s CWC is still a major calendar challenge
By Andrew Warshaw
March 5 – The head of the umbrella body representing Europe’s clubs repeated his concerns today about an increasingly congested international calendar, specifically targeting FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup which is due to get under way in 2021.
Premier League foray carries Tan’s Cardiff out of the red – just
By David Owen
March 5 – Cardiff City managed only a modest profit during their brief return to the Premier League in 2018-19, in spite of a near four-fold increase in turnover.
Covid-19 spread forces Italy to ban all fans from matches. Leagues to continue behind closed doors
March 5 – The Serie A season will continue but behind closed doors after Italian authorities intensified their measures to curb the spread of the Coronavirus with a nationwide ban of fans at sporting events until April 3.
Platini loses Human Rights court appeal, FIFA says it still wants its $2m
By Andrew Warshaw
March 5 – Former UEFA president Michel Platini, who has been free to work again in football from last October, has nevertheless suffered another blow to his reputation after losing his appeal at the European Court of Human Rights against his four-year ban from the game.
Paraguayan police question Ronaldinho over fake passport
March 5 – Former Brazil and Barcelona star Ronaldinho is being investigated by police in Paraguay for allegedly using a false passport to enter the country.
MLS agrees highlights package with Facebook Watch platform
March 5 – Having reported record opening weekend viewing figures in the US, Major League Soccer (MLS) has unveiled a new alliance with Facebook that will see highlights of all matches available on Facebook Watch.
Man City case may force review of UEFA’s FFFP rules, but Ceferin keeps faith in system
March 4 – UEFA are considering tweaking their financial fair play regulations after Manchester City announced they were taking their fight to overturn a two-year ban for breaching the rules to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Musical chairs: CAF moves swiftly to appoint Bah as acting general secretary
By Paul Nicholson
March 4 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed commercial director Abdelmounaïm Bah as Acting General Secretary following the surprise resignation of fellow Moroccan Mouad Hajji yesterday.
Leicester slide to £20m loss in pursuit of Champions League return
By David Owen
March 4 – Leicester City tumbled into the red last year as the Thai-controlled club sought to rebuild the squad that carried it to a gloriously unexpected Premier League title in 2015-16.
Nations League draw renews old rivalries and English rematch with their Icelandic nemesis
By Samindra Kunti in Amsterdam
March 4 – Reigning European champions Portugal will meet the world champions France, who renew their rivalry with Croatia, in what looks to be the Nations League’s ‘Group of Death’. An ambitious Sweden make up the fourth group team.