Man City set up compensation scheme for sexually abused youth players
March 12 – English Premier League champions Manchester City have launched a compensation scheme for victims of historical child sexual abuse experienced while at the club.
SIGA’s female leaders forum pledges action towards diversifying sports governance
March 12 – SIGA’s Special Session titled ‘Female Leadership in Sport: Making it Happen’, drew a mix of leading female sports execs from sports federations, leagues and business to debate issues around how female leaders can pierce the gender glass ceiling.
Birmingham fan jailed for 14 weeks for pitch assault on Villa’s Grealish
March 12 – A 27-year-old Birmingham City fan who ran on to the pitch and assaulted Jack Grealish of arch-rivals Aston Villa in Sunday’s Championship derby has received an immediate jail sentence of 14 weeks.
Barca creep closer to €100m digital sports tech investment fund
March 12 – FC Barcelona are still exploring the launch of their own sports technology investment fund with the aim of raising €100 million to develop digital product that would give them a leadership position in domestic and European football.
Al Romaithi leans on political rather than football influence in his AFC election push
By Paul Nicholson
March 11 – The credentials and track record of the UAE’s Mohammed Khalfan Al Romaithi in his bid to win the AFC presidency next month are coming under increasing scrutiny with growing concern that his geo-political motivation for the role outweighs his commitment to football in the region.
US Women’s team take US Soccer to court for gender equality on pay and benefits
By Andrew Warshaw
March 11 – Just months before they are due to start the defence of their World Cup title, all 28 members of the United States women’s national squad have begun legal action against their own federation alleging years of “institutionalized gender discrimination”.
English pitch invaders draw wrath of clubs and calls for tough criminal punishment
By Andrew Warshaw
March 11 – English football headlines after an action-packed weekend were not about how results impacted on the Premier League but two separate incidents of a spectator invading the pitch, with pundits calling for the strongest possible action by the authorities.
Colombian women battle FCF discrimination, disappeared cash and a disbanded pro-league
By Samindra Kunti
March 11 – The lid has been well and truly blown off on the cover-up of the abuses the Colombia women’s national team have endured over the last few years at the hands of the Colombian Football Federation (FCF). In an interview with Insideworldfootball Colombian player Melissa Ortiz highlights the systematic mistreatment and neglect the players have had to deal with it.
Maltock takes helm at corruption-ridden OFC promising clean future
March 11 – Interim Oceania Football Confederation president Lambert Maltock has been elected to the role on a permanent basis and has vowed to clean up the region following the recent bans of two high-profile colleagues.
FIFA to use new administrator for 2019-22 Club Protection Programme
By David Owen
March 11 – FIFA has announced a change in the administrator of the Club Protection Programme (CPP), the scheme designed to remove a longstanding bone of contention by compensating clubs when players they employ are injured on international duty.
TV deal negotiation provides opportunity for renewed assault on Qatar 2022 hosting
March 11 – FIFA has issued a brief response to calls for an investigation into an alleged $400 million TV deal offered by Qatar’s state-run broadcaster Al Jazeera three weeks before the country was awarded the 2022 World Cup back in December 2010.
Al-Khater says no deal done with neighbours to share Qatar 2022
March 11 – Qatar’s 2022 World Cup CEO Nasser Al-Khater has added his voice to speculation that the tournament could be shared with Kuwait and Oman by insisting that no decision has been made on the issue.
Ranieri parachuted in for Roma’s last ditch push for Champions League spot
March 11 – AS Roma have handed Claudio Ranieri his next crisis role. The Italian has signed as interim coach in the Italian capital following Eusebio Di Francesco’s departure. Ranieri will debut with his new club against Empoli tonight.
Spurs confirm April as move-in date to new £750m stadium
March 11 – Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed a move-in date for their new home after almost two full seasons at Wembley and a string of delays that have bloated the bill for the club’s new stadium.
Al Romaithi sets up $320m UAE government-backed fund to buy his way to AFC presidency
By Paul Nicholson
March 8 – Such is that desperation to take control of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) by the UAE – so often the proxy for Saudi Arabia’s geopolitical ambition – the country has thrown in a $320 million incentive to federations to vote for Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al Romaithi in his bid win the AFC presidency.