Coronavirus: OM’s former Senegalese president Pape Diouf dies, aged 68
April 2 – France, Senegal and the wider football world are mourning the death of former Olympique de Marseille president Pape Diouf after contracting Covid-19.
Dutch float plan to end season by August 3 but Ajax sceptical of June restart
April 2 – While the Dutch top flight will remain on lockdown until June 1, the Dutch FA (KNVB) has revealed a tentative plan to finish the season by August 3.
Kenyan calls intensify for FIFA to step in as trust in FKF dissipates
April 2 – One of Kenya’s former football administrators has urged FIFA to end the impasse within the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) in order to stop the game being suspended entirely.
No end in sight for club comps as UEFA ditches plan for June finish
By Andrew Warshaw
April 1 – Having already postponed Euro 2020 for a year, UEFA took the equally unprecedented step today of suspending the rest of this season’s Champions League and Europa League “until further notice” because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
FIFPro boss calls for co-ordinated approach on player wages, not all are on €1m+
By Andrew Warshaw
April 1 – The head of the international players’ union has denounced Belarus for allowing football to carry on during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Spurs boss Levy cuts wages but warns players must do their bit to keep football healthy
By Andrew Warshaw
April 1 – Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has issued a stark warning about the global impact of Covid-19, saying “people need to wake up to the enormity” of the pandemic as the English Premier League club announced 550 non-playing staff will take a 20% pay cut.
FIFA plans fund to help keep football industry financially fuelled during Covid-19 crisis
April 1 – FIFA is to set up an emergency fund to assist the football industry amid growing fears that the coronavirus crisis will bring the sport to its knees.
Eintracht Frankfurt opens new account with Deutsche Bank
April 1 – Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt is changing the name of its stadium sponsor, swapping banks from Commerzbank to Deutsche Bank in what the club describes as a “long-term Premium Partnership”.
MLS Unites to showcase support, education and ‘heroes’ during Covid-19 crisis
April 1 – Major League Soccer has unveiled MLS Unites, a league-wide platform that highlights all of the efforts that clubs, players, coaches, and the league are doing to provide emergency support during the current coronavirus crisis.
US Soccer changes legal wording as it seeks a solution in equal pay dispute
April 1 – US Soccer has toned down its legal language in new federal court filings in the equal pay dispute with members of the American’s national women’s team.
Mediapro boss Roures says July restart would save season and reduce €700m of losses
April 1 – Spain’s La Liga could return behind closed doors in July, according to Jaume Roures, chief executive of Mediapro one of the country’s major broadcast partners – but would have to be scrapped for good if any players contract Covid-19 thereafter.
English FA extends indefinite season suspension to cover all leagues below top four tiers
April 1 – After attracting fierce criticism for shutting down all non-league football except for its two top leagues, English football authorities have now agreed to their indefinite suspension – but still controversially leaving the door open to finish the season.
Burnley profit burnishes reputation as a well-run club
By David Owen
April 1 – Burnley, the small Premier League outfit from Lancashire with a reputation as one of the best-run clubs in the business, managed to remain narrowly in profit last year in a season featuring its first European campaign for more than half a century.
Scots cut wages and furlough staff to ride out impact of Covid-19 lockdown
April 1 – Scotland manager Steve Clarke has taken a 10% pay reduction to stave off the financial effect of coronavirus while leading staff at the Scottish FA and SPFL have also agreed to take between 10 and 20% less.
Kenyan FA on brink as FIFA and government bang heads
April 1 – Kenyan football is reportedly in danger of being suspended by FIFA with April 6 being touted as the date when the ongoing crisis reaches its denouement. That is when talks are supposed to take place between the Ministry of Sports, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and FIFA.