Colombian government gives support to 2020 Copa America co-hosting
April 8 – The Colombian government has given its support to the co-hosting of the 2020 Copa America ahead of Tuesday’s Conmebol Executive Committee meeting in Rio de Janeiro.
Owner folds former I-League champions Minerva Punjab claiming AIFF ‘sabotage’
By Samindra Kunti
April 8 – In a shock announcement, Minerva Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj has announced that the former I-League champions will shut operations after what he considers obstruction from the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Infantino uses AFC platform to keep up pressure for 48-team Qatar 2022
April 8 – Gianni Infantino has upped the ante once again in his bid to gain global support for his controversial plan to change the landscape of club world football as well as expand the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams.
India’s Patel joins FIFA’s top table and now sets sights on World Cup qualification
April 8 – Having made considerable progress on the field in recent months in terms of the world rankings, India have struck an important blow off it with the election of Praful Patel as their first ever representative on FIFA’s decision-making ruling Council at the weekend.
AFC: Salman re-elected, Qatar’s Al-Mohannadi completes long journey to FIFA Council
By Paul Nicholson
April 8 – AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa was re-elected unopposed for a second four-year term. He became the third confederation president to be re-elected unopposed for a new four year this year following UEFA’s return of Aleksander Ceferin and Concacaf’s Victor Montagliani.
Britain’s richest man Jim Ratcliife, tables $100m+ bid for OGC Nice
April 8 – British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is in talks to buy French Ligue 1 side via his chemicals company, Ineos. Reports are that he has already bid $100 million.
Full Speakers List: Sports Law at the Crossroads forum, May 10-11, Madrid
April 5 – More than 25 speakers from across the sports law spectrum have been announced for the Sports Law at the Crossroads conference in Madrid, May 10-11.
Player agents cash in on Premier League with £260m in fees, Liverpool pay most
By Andrew Warshaw
April 5 – Amid the constant debate over the role of agents, new figures reveal that Premier League clubs paid out an eye-watering £260 million to them during 2018-19 – an increase of £49 million on the previous 12 months.
Analysis: Spurs show the well-balanced way to record-breaking profit – but mind the debt
By David Owen
The newly-published Spurs accounts make fascinating reading. Given the world record profit for a football club of almost £139 million at the pre-tax level, this scarcely needs to be said. But there is more to it than that. In one word, you could call it balance.
AFC unity sets up Shaikh Salman for second 4-year term as Asia’s president
By Paul Nicholson
April 5 – As AFC delegates navigate their way through the cycling Tour de Langkawi which will pass through Kuala Lumpur city centre closing the roads leading to the Hotel Shangri-La venue for the 29th AFC Congress, they will do so in the near certainty that their own political peloton has ridden their current team leader, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, to a new four-year term.
Spurs’ Rose says he won’t miss football and its racism once he quits
April 5 – England defender Danny Rose says he “can’t wait to see the back of football” because he so is disgusted at the recent resurgence of racism among fans.
Swedish women players question gender pay gap
April 5 – Sweden’s female players have rekindled the debate over the pay gap between men and women.
Mancini says racist abuse of Kean was ‘unacceptable’
April 5 -Italy coach Roberto Mancini has called for tough measures in Serie A after the “unacceptable” racist abuse of Juventus’s Italian international Moise Kean.
Pele hospitalised in Paris but full recovery expected
April 5 – Brazilian football legend and three-time World Cup winner Pele has been admitted to a Paris hospital with an infection, but is expected to make a full and quick recovery.
Colombian women return to international play with Peru win
April 5 – Colombia women’s team have returned to the international fray with a 2-1 friendly win over Peru. They hadn’t played a competitive game for nine months.