Footy Digest Weekly: Chelsea lose shirt sponsor, barred from selling tickets and merchandise

Footy Digest Weekly is a roundup of the headlines, stories, and games you should follow, curated just for the Hudson River Blue community.

Europe

• Roman Abramovich prevented from selling Chelsea after UK government freeze club assets: No new ticket sales allowed, no new merchandise can be sold, no new contracts can be signed. —The Guardian

• Chelsea shirt sponsor Three suspended their deal with the club. —The Guardian

• Anatomy of a fiasco: Stuart James breaks down how not to take a kick-off right after conceding. —The Athletic

• Is Lionel Messi leaving Paris Saint-Germain after the French team’s dumpster fire of a Champions League performance against Real Madrid? Word is Messi might make a pit stop in Barcelona on his way to MLS. —Barca Blaugranes

New York

• New York City FC assistant manager Nick Cushing wrote a chant—and it might be the best song in the history of NYCFC. Mychal Kersting tells why you should learn the words. —Hudson River Blue

MLS

• MLS teams dominated the first legs of the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals, outscoring the opposition by a combined 9-2 over four matches:

NYCFC outplayed a physical Comunicaciones 3-1. —Hudson River Blue

New England Revolution defeated Pumas 3-0 in a snowstorm. —The Bent Musket

Seattle Sounders dismantled Club León 3-0. —Sounder at Heart

CF Montréal hold on for a 0-1 loss to Cruz Azul at the Azteca. —MLSSoccer.com

• New Jersey Red Bulls all-time high scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips retires: The striker notched 126 goals across all competitions with the Red Bulls and won the Golden Boot twice. —Once a Metro

• Austin FC has the best record in the league after Matchday 2: Two wins, ten goals scored, one allowed. Second-best record? New Jersey: Two wins, seven goals, two allowed. —MLS.com

NWSL

• Incoming National Women’s Soccer League commissioner Jessica Berman will take over from interim commissioner Marla Messing on April 20th, and outlined the work she has to do to rebuild trust in NWSL leadership. —All For XI

International

• City Football Group are reportedly interested in buying Atlético Mineiro, current champions of Brazil’s Série A. What will that mean for NYCFC, which is also owned by City Football Group? —ge

US Soccer

• Cindy Parlow Cone was re-elected president of United States Soccer Federation, easily defeating disgraced former president Carlos Cordiero. —Stars and Stripes FC

Games to watch

Saturday, March 12

NYCFC vs CF Montréal (MLS), 1 pm ET — ESPN+, YES, YES App

Sunday, March 13

Borussia Dortmund vs Arminia Bielefeld (Bundesliga), 12:30 pm ET — ESPN+, ESPN Deportes

Tuesday, March 15

Manchester United vs Atlético Madrid (Champions League), 4 pm ET — Paramount+

Ajax vs Benfica (Champions League), 4 pm ET — Paramount+

NYCFC at Comunicaciones FC (CONCACAF Champions League), 9 pm ET — FS1, TUDN

Wednesday, March 16

Juventus vs Villareal (Champions League), 4 pm ET — Paramount+

LOSC Lille vs Chelsea (Champions League), 4 pm ET — Paramount+

Arsenal vs Liverpool (EPL), 4:15 pm ET — Peacock

CF Montréal vs Cruz Azul (CONCACAF Champions League), 9 pm ET — FS1, TUDN

Pumas UNAM vs New England Revolution (CONCACAF Champions League), 11:15 pm ET — FS1, TUDN

Thursday, March 17

Red Star Belgrade vs Rangers FC (Europa League), 1:45 pm ET — Paramount+

Club Léon vs Seattle Sounders (CONCACAF Champions League), 8:30 pm ET — FS1, TUDN

Are there other articles NYCFC fans should read? Games they shouldn’t miss? Post a short description and a link in the comments below.