Inside World Football - Page 9 of 2216 - For the Business of Football

French government urged to take action over discriminatory chanting after Le Classique abuse

March 18 – Homophobic and racist chanting during the traditional Ligue 1 showpiece between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Marseille has once again blighted the game domestically amid calls for French authorities to do more to stop it.

A French campaign group has urged the government to punish discriminatory chanting, while Marseille midfielder Adrien Rabiot, a former PSG player who not for the first time was targeted, took aim at PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

FIFA

FIFA publishes Setting the Pace report on the women’s football landscape

FIFA logo4

March 18 – FIFA has published the fourth edition of its Setting the Pace benchmarking report, offering its widest-ranging snapshot yet of the global women’s football landscape.

Premier League joins Chelsea in condemning Fofana racial abuse

March 18 – The Premier League has come out in support of Wesley Fofana after Chelsea’s French defender was subjected to racial abuse following the London derby loss to Arsenal at the weekend.

Europe

UEFA launches Queenzine platform to promote UWCL host cities

March 18 – UEFA has launched Queenzine, a new content platform aimed at celebrating the diverse football cultures of cities hosting UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) fixtures, while elevating the competition’s stars and connecting with fans beyond matchdays.

Europe

France’s top two leagues launch anti-piracy campaign

March 18 – France’s top divisions, Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, have united in a campaign against piracy, urging fans to support their clubs by subscribing to official broadcast partners.

Europe

Cercle Brugge sack Feldhofer following disappointing campaign

March 18 – Belgian club Cercle Brugge have dismissed manager Ferdinand Feldhofer after the club finished 13th in the Pro League table, ultimately falling into the relegation play-offs.

Women

Gotham’s Whitham, 14, becomes youngest player in NWSL history

March 18 – If you’re good enough, you’re old enough has always been an adage of football – and Gotham FC, of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), certainly embrace that because in the 87th minute of their season opener against Seattle Reign, head coach Juan Carlos Amoros sent on 14-year-old Mak Whitham (pictured), who became the youngest player in NWSL history.

Broadcast

NWSL steps up bid to become top global women’s league with new media deals

March 18 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is going global after announcing new international media partnerships for this season. Coverage will include Europe, Asia and Latin America, providing access to live NWSL matches and highlights for over 130 countries around the world.

Europe

Shkupi pay tribute to ‘heroic’ Lazarov after midfielder’s death in nightclub fire

Sobaclieu.com

March 18 – North Macedonian side FC Shkupi have paid tribute to midfielder Andrej Lazarov, who was one of the 59 people killed in the fire at a nightclub in Kocani at the weekend. Due to the huge tragedy, seven days of national mourning were declared in North Macedonia.

Concacaf

Concacaf 2025 Gold Cup draw pre-seeds Mexico; guests Saudi Arabia in pot 4

March 18 – Concacaf has released details of seedings and pot allocation for the 2025 Gold Cup draw that will be held April 10, at 7pm (ET) as a live, made-for-tv event.

Competitions

AFC completes last 8 draw for centralised Champions League Elite Finals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

March 18 – The draw for the last eight of the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2025 has pitched four West Asian sides against four from East Asia.

Toon Army paint London black and white as they take League Cup to the North

March 17 – After 70 long years, the wait is finally over for Newcastle United as they upset Liverpool to win the English League Cup on Sunday and end a trophy drought stretching back generations.

One of the best supported clubs in the English game and now under Saudi ownership, Newcastle’s delirious fans turned Wembley into a sea of black and white as they inflicted a 2-1 defeat on the runaway Premier League leaders to round off a miserable week for Arne Slot’s side.

Europe

TEAM’s 35-year UEFA club deal to end in 2027 with US’s Relevent taking over

March 17 – UEFA has confirmed that one of European football’s longest established commercial partnerships is about to end with the announcement that its leading clubs are set to drop the Swiss agency that has sold Champions League rights since 1992 and replace it New York-based Relevent Sports.

Premier League swaps Nike for Puma ending 25-year partnership

March 17 – The Premier League has confirmed a multi-year partnership with global sportswear giant Puma, who will become the League’s Official Ball Supplier from the 2025/26 season onwards. The announcement, made public for the first time this morning, formalises what many in the industry already expected, and ends Nike’s 25-year tenure as the League’s ball provider.

Concacaf

Concacaf holds 40th Congress in St Lucia, adding US and Mexican bosses to FIFA and its own Council

March 17 – Cindy Parlow Cone, president of the US Soccer federation has been elected (unopposed) to the FIFA Council, while new Mexican chief, Mikel Arriola, has been elected to the Concacaf Council after just a week in the Mexican federation’s top job.