Copa Libertadores draw favours leading Brazilian clubs
March 19 – Flamengo, Fluminense and Botafogo were handed benign draws in the Copa Libertadores while Palmeiras and River Plate of Argentina face a tougher route to the knockout stages.
World Football
Germans launch anti-racism campaign head of Euro 2024
March 19 – The German football federation is targeting racism and discrimination with a new campaign ahead of this summer’s European Championship.
Kane limps back to England for friendlies
March 19 – England captain Harry Kane has linked up with the national squad despite sustaining an ankle injury during Bayern Munich’s recent match against Darmstadt.
Ricketts survives bitter challenge to win second term as Jamaican FA president
March 18 – Michael Ricketts has been re-elected as the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) president for a second term. Ricketts was first elected in 2017.
Trabzonspor fans invade pitch and attack players after loss to Fenerbahce
March 18 – Turkish police have detained 12 people after fans of Trabzonspor invaded the pitch following the weekend home defeat to Fenerbahce and attacked visiting players, prompting immediate condemnation from FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
CAF conduct own probe into allegations that Jordaan mis-used SAFA funds
March 18 – Following a raid on the headquarters of the South African Football Association (SAFA) by the country’s criminal investigation unit, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stepped in with their own investigation.
Georgi Ivanov beats Dimitar Berbatov to Bulgarian FA presidency
March 18 – Former Bulgarian international and Levski Sofia legend Georgi Ivanov-Gonzo is the new president of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU), beating former Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov to the post in the first round of voting.
Man Utd dump Liverpool, Man City beat Newcastle to set up possible rerun of all-Manchester FA Cup final
March 18 – Manchester United have been handed a dream FA Cup semi-final draw after beating Liverpool 4-3 in an Old Trafford thriller, and could face rivals Manchester City in the final for the second year running.
Brugge fire Ronny Deila after poor run of results
March 18 – Club Brugge have dismissed their Norwegian manager Ronny Deila following a 2-1 defeat to STVV on the last day of the regular season, leaving the club with little to play for on the domestic front.
Las Palmas focussed on being a ‘selling’ club with Moleiro set to follow in Pedri’s footsteps
March 18 – UD Las Palmas Sporting Director Luis Helguera has backed young star Alberto Moleiro to become the next Pedri, explaining his club’s business model as an ‘academy’ club whose revenue model is based on developing and selling players.
Land of the giants: Man City face Real Madrid, PSG meet Barca in UCL quarter-finals
March 15 – Holders Manchester City have yet again been drawn against Real Madrid in the heavyweight clash of the Champions League quarterfinals, a tie that sees the most recent winners of Europe’s premier club competition take on its most successful side.
Nagelsmann shakes up his German squad pre-Euros, Toney get England call-up
March 15 – Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has shaken up his under-performing squad before this summer’s European Championship, which the country is hosting, by naming six new players for warmups against France and the Netherlands.
Jamaican presidential battle stays nasty as Ricketts and Anderson head into Sunday’s election
March 15 – The Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) will hold the postponed election for president on Sunday (March 17), with incumbent Michael Ricketts going head-head with challenger Raymond Anderson, currently the JFF’s first vice-president.
Norwegian club to lobby at federation AGM for boycott of Saudi Arabia 2034
March 15 – Norwegian club Frederikstad have voted to pressure their national federation to boycott the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia that FIFA is expected to award to the Arab Kingdom this year because there are no other bidding candidates.
Europa League draw clears path cleared for Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen final
March 15 – The Europa League quarter finalists have been decided following a night of busy night of knockout football, as the draw lines up a potential dream final between Xabi Alonso’s high-flying Bayer Leverkusen and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool final game.