2018–19 figure skating season
The 2018–19 figure skating season began on July 1, 2018, and ended on June 30, 2019. During this season, elite skaters competed at the ISU Championship level in the 2019 European, Four Continents, World Junior, and World Championships. They also competed in elite events such as the Grand Prix series and Junior Grand Prix series, culminating in the Grand Prix Final, and the ISU Challenger Series.


2018–19 figure skating season, Season notes, Age eligibility
Skaters are eligible to compete in ISU events at the junior or senior levels according to their age:


2018–19 figure skating season, Changes
If skaters of different nationalities team up, the ISU requires that they choose one country to represent. Date refers to date when the change occurred or, if not available, the date when the change was announced.


2018–19 figure skating season, International medalists, Ice dance
* Anastasia Shakun / Daniil Ragimov were disqualified for Shakun's violation of anti-doping rules.


2018–19 in Algerian football
The 2018–19 season will be the 56th season of competitive association football in Algeria. The national team became African champions for the second time, by winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations helds in Egypt.


2018–19 in Armenian football
The following article is a summary of the 2018–19 football season in Armenia, which is the 27th season of competitive football in the country and runs from August 2018 to May 2019.


2018–19 in Australian soccer
The 2018–19 season was the 50th season of competitive association football in Australia.


2018–19 in Australian soccer, National teams, Australia men's national soccer team, Friendlies
The following is a list of friendlies played by the men's senior national team in 2018–19.


2018–19 in Australian soccer, National teams, Australia men's national under-23 soccer team, Friendlies
The following is a list of friendlies played by the men's under 23 national team in 2018–19.


2018–19 in Australian soccer, National teams, Australia men's national under-20 soccer team, Friendlies
The following is a list of friendlies played by the men's under 20 national team in 2018–19.


2018–19 in Australian soccer, National teams, Australia men's national under-17 soccer team, Friendlies
The following is a list of friendlies played by the men's under 17 national team in 2018–19.


2018–19 in Australian soccer, National teams, Australia women's national soccer team, Friendlies
The following is a list of friendlies played by the women's senior national team in 2018–19.


2018–19 in Australian soccer, National teams, Australia women's national under-17 soccer team, Friendlies
The following is a list of friendlies played by the women's under 17 national team in 2018–19.


2018–19 in Australian soccer, Men's football, National Premier Leagues
The Final Series featured the winner of each Member Federation's league competition in the National Premier Leagues, with the overall winner qualifying directly for the 2019 FFA Cup Round of 32.


2018–19 in Australian soccer, Men's football, State club winners
These are the winners for each top-tier state competition in 2019.


2018–19 in Belgian football
The following article is a summary of the 2018–19 football season in Belgium, which is the 116th season of competitive football in the country and runs from July 2018 until June 2019.


2018–19 in Belgian football, National teams, Belgium national football team
Following the success at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Belgium was expected to perform well in the inaugural UEFA Nations League competition but collapsed in their final match against Switzerland, losing 5–2 despite a 0–2 lead, to miss out on the Nations League Finals. The UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Group I campaign was however started with four straight wins.


2018–19 in Belgian football, Men's football, League season, Promotion and relegation
The following teams had achieved promotion or suffered relegation going into the 2018–19 season.


2018–19 in Belgian football, UEFA competitions
Champions Club Brugge qualified directly for the group stage of the Champions League, while runners-up Standard Liège started in the qualifying rounds. As Standard Liège also had won the Belgian Cup, third placed Anderlecht qualified directly for the group stage of the Europa League, while Gent and Genk started in the qualifying rounds.


2018–19 in Belgian football, Managerial changes
This is a list of changes of managers within Belgian professional league football (Belgian First Division A and Belgian First Division B):


2018–19 in Croatian football
The following article presents a summary of the 2018–19 football season in Croatia, which will be the 28th season of competitive football in the country.


2018–19 in Cypriot football
The following article is a summary of the 2018–19 football season in Cyprus, which is the 77th season of competitive football in the country and runs from August 2018 to May 2019.


2018–19 in Dutch football
The 2018–19 season is the 129th season of competitive football in the Netherlands.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Eerste Divisie
Ten teams, two from the Eredivisie and eight from the Eerste Divisie, play for two spots in the 2019–20 Eredivisie, the remaining eight teams playing in the 2019–20 Eerste Divisie.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Derde Divisie, Saturday League
The numbers 15 and 16 of each of the 2018–19 Derde Divisies (2 times 2 teams) and the 3 (substitute) period winners of each of the 2018–19 Hoofdklassen (4 times 3 teams), making 16 teams, decide in a 3-round 2-leg knockout system, which 3 teams play next season in the 2019–20 Derde Divisie leagues. The remaining 13 teams play next season in the 2019–20 Hoofdklasse leagues. Contrary to previous seasons, the play-offs for Saturday and Sunday teams are not fully separated any more.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Derde Divisie, Saturday League
The 4 Derde Divisie teams and the 4 highest ranked (substitute) period winners (HPWs) from the Hoofdklassen are released from playing the first round. Teams are paired in such a way that the 2 middle ranked (substitute) period winners (MPWs) from the Saturday Hoofdklassen play against the lowest ranked (substitute) period winners (LPWs) from the other Saturday Hoofdklasse. The same applies for the Sunday MPWs and LPWs. So at this stage there will be no matches yet between Saturday and Sunday teams. The lowest ranked teams (LPWs) will play the first match at home, and the highest ranked teams (MPWs) the second match.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Derde Divisie, Saturday League
In the second round there're still no matches between Saturday and Sunday teams. The following applies identical for the Saturday as well as Sunday teams. The highest ranked Derde Divisie team (H3D) will play against the winner of the match between the LPW of the A league against the MPW of the B league. The lowest ranked Derde Divisie team (L3D) will play against the HPW of the A league. The HPW of the B league will play against the winner of the match between the LPW of the B league against the MPW of the A league. The lowest ranked teams will play the first match at home, and the highest ranked teams the second match.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Derde Divisie, Saturday League
The first final is between the winners of the 2 matches in which the Derde Divisie Saturday teams play. The second final is between the winners of the 2 matches in which the Derde Divisie Sunday teams play. The consequence is that at least 1 Saturday and at least 1 Sunday Derde Divisie team will relegate. The third final is between the winners of the 2 remaining matches. This is the only play-offs match in which a Saturday and a Sunday team will face each other and for sure both teams will be Hoofdklasse period winners. Therefore, at least 1 Hoofdklasse team will promote.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Results
Sparta Nijkerk, Gemert and Hoogland promoted to the 2019-20 Derde Divisie. Eemdijk, SJC, JVC Cuijk and OJC Rosmalen relegated to the 2019-20 Hoofdklasse. The other teams remained in the 2019-20 Hoofdklasse.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Results, Sunday League
The numbers 15 and 16 of each of the 2018–19 Derde Divisies (2 times 2 teams) and the 3 (substitute) period winners of each of the 2018–19 Hoofdklassen (4 times 3 teams), making 16 teams, decide in a 3-round 2-leg knockout system, which 3 teams play next season in the 2019–20 Derde Divisie leagues. The remaining 13 teams play next season in the 2019–20 Hoofdklasse leagues. Contrary to previous seasons, the play-offs for Saturday and Sunday teams are not fully separated any more.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Results, Sunday League
The 4 Derde Divisie teams and the 4 highest ranked (substitute) period winners (HPWs) from the Hoofdklassen are released from playing the first round. Teams are paired in such a way that the 2 middle ranked (substitute) period winners (MPWs) from the Saturday Hoofdklassen play against the lowest ranked (substitute) period winners (LPWs) from the other Saturday Hoofdklasse. The same applies for the Sunday MPWs and LPWs. So at this stage there will be no matches yet between Saturday and Sunday teams. The lowest ranked teams (LPWs) will play the first match at home, and the highest ranked teams (MPWs) the second match.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Results, Sunday League
In the second round there're still no matches between Saturday and Sunday teams. The following applies identical for the Saturday as well as Sunday teams. The highest ranked Derde Divisie team (H3D) will play against the winner of the match between the LPW of the A league against the MPW of the B league. The lowest ranked Derde Divisie team (L3D) will play against the HPW of the A league. The HPW of the B league will play against the winner of the match between the LPW of the B league against the MPW of the A league. The lowest ranked teams will play the first match at home, and the highest ranked teams the second match.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Results, Sunday League
The first final is between the winners of the 2 matches in which the Derde Divisie Saturday teams play. The second final is between the winners of the 2 matches in which the Derde Divisie Sunday teams play. The consequence is that at least 1 Saturday and at least 1 Sunday Derde Divisie team will relegate. The third final is between the winners of the 2 remaining matches. This is the only play-offs match in which a Saturday and a Sunday team will face each other and for sure both teams will be Hoofdklasse period winners. Therefore, at least 1 Hoofdklasse team will promote.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Saturday
The numbers 13 and 14 from each of the 2018–19 Hoofdklasse Saturday leagues (2 times 2 teams) and 3 (substitute) period winners of each of the 2018–19 Eerste Klasse Saturday leagues (5 times 3 teams), making 19 teams, decide in a 3-round single match knockout system, which 3 teams play next season in the 2019–20 Hoofdklasse Saturday leagues. The remaining 16 teams play next season in the 2019–20 Eerste Klasse Saturday leagues.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Saturday
The 2 highest ranked Hoofdklasse teams (numbers 13) are released from playing the first round. Out of the 2 lowest ranked Hoofdklasse teams (numbers 14) and the 5 highest ranked (substitute) period winners (HPWs), 3 more teams are by draw released from playing the first round. The remaining 14 teams are paired by draw in such a way that, a HK or HPW team will always play a lowest ranked (substitute) period winner (LPW), and the highest ranked team gets the home advantage. The ranking order is HPW, HK, middle ranked (substitute) period winner (MPW) and LPW teams. If 2 equally ranked teams face each other, the order in which the 2 teams are drawn decides on the home advantage.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Saturday
The 7 winners of the first round and the 5 teams released from playing the first round, making 12 teams, are paired by draw. The highest ranked team gets the home advantage. The ranking order is identical as in the first round.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Saturday
The 6 winners of the second round are paired by draw. Matches are played on neutral ground and the 3 winners play next season in the 2019–20 Hoofdklasse Saturday leagues.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Saturday, Results
ARC promoted to the 2019-20 Hoofdklasse Saturday. Spijkenisse and DETO Twenterand maintained in the 2019-20 Hoofdklasse Saturday. CSV Apeldoorn and Nootdorp relegated to the 2019-20 Eerste Klasse Saturday. The other teams remained in the 2019-20 Eerste Klasse Saturday.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Sunday
The numbers 13 and 14 from each of the 2018–19 Hoofdklasse Sunday leagues (2 times 2 teams) and 3 (substitute) period winners of each of the 2018–19 Eerste Klasse Sunday leagues (6 times 3 teams), making 22 teams, decide in a 4-round single match knockout system, which 2 teams play next season in the 2019–20 Hoofdklasse Sunday leagues. The remaining 20 teams play next season in the 2019–20 Eerste Klasse Sunday leagues.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Sunday
The Hoofdklasse teams and 6 highest ranked (substitute) period winners (HPWs) are released from playing the first round. The 12 remaining (substitute) period winners are paired by draw in such a way that, a middle (substitute) period winner (MPW) will always play a lowest ranked (substitute) period winner (LPW). The MPW teams also get the home advantage.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Sunday
The 6 winners of the first round and the 10 teams released from playing the first round, making 16 teams, are paired by draw in such a way that, two HPW teams can never face each other. The highest ranked team gets the home advantage. The ranking order is HPW, highest ranked Hoofdklasse (HHK) teams (numbers 13), lowest ranked Hoofdklasse (LHK) teams (numbers 14), MPW and LPW teams. If 2 equally ranked teams face each other, the order in which the 2 teams are drawn decides on the home advantage.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Sunday
The 8 winners of the first round are paired by draw. The highest ranked team gets the home advantage. The ranking order is identical as in the second round.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Sunday
The 4 winners of the third round are paired by draw. Matches are played on neutral ground and the 2 winners play next season in the 2019–20 Hoofdklasse Sunday leagues.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Sunday, Results
Moerse Boys and JOS Watergraafsmeer promoted to the 2019-20 Hoofdklasse Sunday. De Bataven, Vlissingen and Fortuna Wormerveer relegated to the 2019-20 Eerste Klasse Sunday. VKW and Leonidas played an extra match. The other teams remained in the 2019-20 Eerste Klasse Sunday.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Sunday, Extra match
Because JVC Cuijk, relegated from the Derde Divisie, decided to stop playing football at top amateur levels completely, due to lack of the necessary funds, an extra spot became available in the Hoofdklasse Sunday leagues. Therefore the two teams who lost in the fourth round of the play-offs were given a second chance. In an extra match, on neutral ground, these teams competed for the spot that became available.


2018–19 in Dutch football, League season, Sunday, Extra match
Leonidas maintained in the 2019-20 Hoofdklasse Saturday Sunday. VKW remained in the 2019-20 Eerste Klasse Sunday.


2018–19 in Dutch football, National teams, Netherlands national football team, UEFA Euro 2020 Qualification
The fixtures were released by UEFA the same day as the draw, which was held on 2 December 2018 in Dublin. Times are CET/CEST, as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).


2018–19 in Dutch football, Diary of the season
In May 2019, the referee scored a goal for HSV Hoek against Harkemase Boys in the fourth tier. The goal was all the more noteworthy because it occurred on the last weekend possible before rules changes came into effect from 1 June to stop this kind of activity on the part of the referee.


2018–19 in Egyptian football
The 2018–19 season was the 101st season of competitive association football in Egypt.


2018–19 in English football
The 2018–19 season was the 139th season of competitive association football in England.


2018–19 in English football, National teams, England U-21 national football team, 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
The final draw was held on 23 November 2018, 18:00 CET (UTC+1), in Bologna. The 12 teams are drawn into three groups of four teams. Hosts Italy are assigned to position A1 in the draw, while the other teams are seeded according to their coefficient ranking following the end of the qualifying stage, calculated based on the following:


2018–19 in English football, National teams, England women's national under-20 football team, 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
The official draw was held on 8 March 2018 at the Rennes Opera House in Rennes.


2018–19 in English football, UEFA competitions, UEFA Champions League, Knockout phase
The final was played on 1 June 2019 at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid. The "home" team (for administrative purposes) was determined by an additional draw held after the quarter-final and semi-final draws. It was the second all-English final in the competition's history and the first since 2008.


2018–19 in English football, UEFA competitions, UEFA Europa League, Knockout phase
The final was played on 29 May 2019 at the Olympic Stadium in Baku. The "home" team (for administrative purposes) was determined by an additional draw held after the quarter-final and semi-final draws. It was the second all-English final in the competition's history and the first since 1972, when it was first known as the UEFA Cup.


2018–19 in English football, UEFA competitions, UEFA Youth League, Knockout phase
The final was played on 29 April 2019 at Colovray Stadium, Nyon.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Premier League
In one of the closest title races since the formation of the Premier League, with a new points total set for finishing second, Manchester City became the first top-flight team in a decade to retain their title in part thanks to a late run that saw them win their last 14 games – despite falling short in the Champions League, the Sky Blues became the first team in English football to complete a domestic treble, by once again retaining the League Cup and securing their first FA Cup since 2011.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Premier League
Liverpool finished second, missing out on ending their wait for a league title once again, despite pushing City all the way to the final day and once again finishing their league campaign unbeaten at Anfield as well as having been top at Christmas; however, it was  in Europe that the Reds enjoyed more success as they made it to a second successive Champions League final against the odds, including a stunning 4-0 victory at home to Barcelona - and ultimately made amends for the previous season's loss, winning their sixth European title and their first under manager Jurgen Klopp.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Premier League
The battle for the top four also proved to be a close-run battle, with each of Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United fighting for the last two Champions League spots – in the end, securing the spots for Europe's elite competition were Chelsea, who also reached the final of the League Cup and won the Europa League to at least ensure a trophy but endured another disappointing league campaign that saw talk of a potential third title in five seasons rapidly fade away in the New Year, and Tottenham Hotspur, who also saw talk of a potential title win diminish owing in part to a poor run of league form from March onwards; however, the North London side more than made up for this by also reaching their first ever Champions League final in a European run that saw them narrowly edge past both Manchester City and Dutch front-runners Ajax, ultimately falling to fellow English side Liverpool in a tight final.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Premier League
Arsenal and Manchester United were forced to settle for fifth and sixth respectively, the Gunners missing out on Champions League qualification once again on two different fronts, falling to Chelsea in the Europa League final to mark a disappointing end to Unai Emery's first season in charge, whilst the Red Devils endured a problematic season across all tournaments with even the sacking of manager José Mourinho and then the temporary appointment of United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær (an act later made permanent) failing to provide much spark to the Manchester side.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Premier League
Wolverhampton Wanderers enjoyed the best top-flight season for a newly promoted side since Ipswich Town in 2001, finishing 7th; this represented their best finish in the English pyramid since finishing 6th in 1980. 7th was also enough for the Europa League qualifying rounds, and this, added to a run to the semi-finals of the FA Cup - their longest such run in 21 years - earned Portuguese manager Nuno Espírito Santo and his team plenty of praise.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Premier League
Leicester City endured a troubling season both on and off the pitch, first suffering tragedy with the death of club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash shortly after a 1-1 home draw with West Ham United – with the Foxes then enduring a run of poor results against lesser sides in 2019, including a third-round FA Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Newport County, resulting in the dismissal of manager Claude Puel; however, the appointment of former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers helped push the club back up the table and to a top-ten finish.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Premier League
Watford finished not far behind the Foxes, also enjoying their greatest top-flight season since finishing 2nd in 1984, the Hornets breaking the 50 point barrier and narrowly missing out on the top ten on top of reaching the final of the FA Cup for the first time in over 30 years, ultimately failing at the hands of Manchester City.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Premier League
Having successfully qualified for the qualifying rounds of the Europa League the previous season, Burnley endured a troublesome first half of the campaign that saw them first narrowly miss out on a Europa League group stage spot and then find themselves firmly in the relegation zone at Christmas; however, the return of influential goalkeeper Tom Heaton after Boxing Day saw the Clarets fight their way out of the bottom three with games to spare.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Premier League
A very poor start to the season saw Southampton stuck in a relegation battle for the second season running, resulting in the dismissal of Mark Hughes in early December – despite the threat of the drop hanging over them until the closing months, a resurgence under former RB Leipzig manager and Austrian Ralph Hasenhüttl saw the Saints climb away from the bottom three and towards safety with games to spare.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Premier League
At the bottom of the table, both Huddersfield Town and Fulham endured early relegations – the two clubs never really looking like escaping the drop; whilst the Terriers (who arguably found themselves suffering from second season syndrome) saved some face by narrowly avoiding breaking the records for the most defeats and most goals conceded in a 38-game season, the London side fell back into the Championship at the first time of asking in almost similar fashion to their previous top-flight season by having three different managers throughout the campaign and conceding more goals than anyone else.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Premier League
The fight to avoid the final spot proved to be much closer, with Cardiff City once again falling back into the second tier after just one season – a consequence of a poor start to the season and several defeats from winnable games, though the Bluebirds at least went down fighting in a season also marked with off-field tragedy, with the death of club record signing Emiliano Sala on his way to joining the team for the first time; in addition, as a result of Cardiff's relegation and Swansea's failure to mount a real promotion charge, it meant that the Premier League would not have a Welsh presence for the first time in eight seasons.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Championship
Despite making a slow start to the season on top of losing star player James Maddison to Leicester City in the summer, Norwich City secured their third promotion to the Premier League in eight seasons – whilst a late run of draws in April threatened to derail the Canaries' hopes, the Norfolk side never looked like falling out of the top two and secured promotion in German head coach Daniel Farke's second season in charge.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Championship
The battle for second place went down to the wire between Yorkshire sides Leeds United and Sheffield United – but it was ultimately the Blades who won the fight, securing their second promotion in three seasons and returning to the top-flight for the first time since 2007, earning manager Chris Wilder his first taste of the top-flight; as with the previous few seasons, a horrendous late-season run ultimately proved costly to Leeds, to the point where they only even managed to finish as high as third due to West Bromwich Albion failing to win their own final game of the season; both teams were subsequently knocked out in the play-off semi-finals.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Championship
Instead taking the final promotion spot were Aston Villa in what proved to be a roller coaster campaign, the Villans making amends for their play-off final loss the previous season and ending a three-year absence from the top-flight in Dean Smith's first season as manager - at the expense of Derby County, who none-the-less enjoyed a fantastic season under new manager Frank Lampard.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Championship
Swansea City's first season in the Championship since 2011 saw them stuck mostly in mid-table – with growing fan protests off-field towards the running of the club that had seen them relegated resulting in the resignation of the Swans' long-time chairman Huw Jenkins in early 2019. Likewise, having been widely tipped to win promotion back to the top-flight at the first attempt, Stoke City endured a largely mediocre league season that saw them fight more to avoid relegation rather than win promotion, draw a staggering 22 times and change managers twice.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Championship
Having made a strong start to their league season, a collapse in form nearly saw Wigan Athletic relegated from the second tier for the third time in five seasons; however, the Manchester-based club recovered enough in the second half of the season to escape the drop and ensure a second successive season on the second level of league football.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Championship
After 17 consecutive seasons in the second tier and a succession of mid-table finishes, Ipswich Town's luck finally gave out and they endured relegation to the third tier for the first time in 62 years, the Tractor Boys never really looking like escaping the drop after falling to the foot of the table in early October and with only five wins all season.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Championship
Bolton Wanderers finished just above them, falling back into League One on Good Friday after two seasons and in a campaign full of struggle both on and off the pitch, amid severe financial problems on top of nearly having their last run of home games cancelled altogether (and then actually having their last home game against Brentford cancelled); to make matters worse, the Trotters were then forced into administration after the season ended, becoming the first club to have the increased 12-point deduction imposed on them for the following season.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, Championship
Taking the final spot were Rotherham United, who gave themselves a decent chance of escaping the drop, but eventually fell back into the third tier for the second time in three seasons, the Yorkshire club ultimately being let down once again by their atrocious away record - just one win on the road, and one win in their last 48 second tier away games - and a failure to turn any one of their 16 draws into wins or take advantage of their relegation rivals slipping up.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, League One
In one of the most remarkable campaigns of the season and in spite of losing influential manager Nathan Jones to Stoke City in January, Luton Town defied their critics and stormed their way to promotion for the second season running, returning to the Championship for the first time since 2007 and going up as champions – whilst remaining unbeaten at their home ground in the league for the entire season.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, League One
The fight for the second spot went all the way to the penultimate game with Barnsley, Football League Trophy winners Portsmouth and Sunderland fighting it out; the spot ultimately went to Barnsley, who secured an immediate return to the second-tier in German head coach Daniel Stendel's first season in charge, also impressing with an unbeaten league home record as well. Taking the final promotion place were Charlton Athletic, who dramatically scored in the last minute of normal time against Sunderland in the playoff final to end a 3-year exile from the Championship and consign the Black Cats to another season in League One.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, League One
Despite being widely tipped for a top-six finish, Burton Albion endured a largely mixed season that saw them in the bottom half of the table more often than the top, failing to really challenge for an immediate return to the second tier.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, League One
Blackpool's league season proved to be mediocre, with the Lancashire club failing to mount a real promotion challenge but also not being remotely threatened with relegation – however, it was off the pitch that proved to be more important for the Seasiders, with the removal of Owen Oyston after over 30 years as owner and after years of fan protests and legal battles with former chairman Valērijs Belokoņs, an act widely celebrated by Blackpool fans.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, League One
Despite making a reasonable start to their first ever season in the third tier, Accrington Stanley endured a sharp drop in form after the new year, with only a run of late wins pushing the side away from the threat of relegation – still a remarkable effort for the Lancashire side.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, League One
The second half of the season saw one of the tightest relegation battles in the history of the third tier, with 12 teams remaining in the mix from January onwards – but ultimately, it was Bradford City, Scunthorpe United, Walsall and Plymouth Argyle who fell into League Two; whilst Bradford's relegation came just two years after narrowly missing out on promotion to the Championship and in a season where they had three different managers and Scunthorpe United fell back into the fourth tier after five years in League One, Walsall had actually spent the first couple of weeks challenging for promotion before results rapidly declined and Plymouth Argyle again looked like masterminding an unlikely escape from the drop like they had done the previous campaign, only for results to go against them in the final games of the season.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, League One
Having been in bottom position for nearly the entire season and 10 points from avoiding relegation after 31 games, a late run of 7 wins and 27 points in their last 15 games ensured that AFC Wimbledon would remain in League One for a fourth consecutive campaign, narrowly surviving on goal difference.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, League Two
Just two seasons after returning to the Football League as fifth tier champions and only one year after victory in the Football League Trophy, Lincoln City ended their season with another success to their name with promotion to League One and earning their first promotion to the third tier in over 20 years – despite the closeness of the promotion race, the Lincolnshire side remained in the top two for practically the entire season and mathematically secured first place on Easter Monday.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, League Two
The race for the remaining automatic promotions was a close-ran battle between Mansfield Town, Bury and Milton Keynes Dons; Bury were the second team to ensure promotion, returning to League One at the first attempt, whilst Milton Keynes Dons took the final spot in the last game of the campaign in a winner-takes-all match against Mansfield Town, also securing an immediate return to the third tier and finally giving new manager Paul Tisdale promotion after two unsuccessful play-off final attempts with Exeter City. Taking the final spot through the play-offs were Tranmere Rovers, whose return to the Football League saw the North West club successfully challenge for a second consecutive promotion, winning out against Newport County in the final at Wembley in the dying seconds of extra-time.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, League Two
Despite narrowly missing out on ending a 32-year exile from the third tier, Newport County enjoyed what proved to be a great season; having looking like missing out on the play-offs altogether, the Welsh side made a late rally and edged their way into the top seven in their final game, a big achievement in a season where they also enjoyed an impressive FA Cup run that saw them make it to the fifth round – beating top-flight Leicester City and second-tier promotion-chasers Middlesbrough – before ultimately falling to Manchester City at Rodney Parade. Oldham Athletic made a strong start to their season before results rapidly fell aware and they fell into mid-table, with not even the appointment of former player Paul Scholes as manager (who then promptly resigned after 7 games) having much impact on the Latics.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, League Two
In spite of having made a very poor start on their return to the Football League and then only narrowly avoiding breaking the record for the longest winless run, Macclesfield Town defied their critics and scraped their way to safety, in parts thanks to the surprise appointment of former England defender Sol Campbell as manager.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, League Two
Suffering relegation instead were Yeovil Town and Notts County – the Glovers falling out of the Football League just six years after winning promotion to the Championship and sixteen years after entering the fourth tier for the first time, a strong start to the season rapidly falling away in stunning fashion and the Magpies becoming the oldest club in English football to fall into non-league football, having been a member of the Football League since its inception 131 years previously and having never fallen out of the fourth tier before. This also made them the first of the Football League's founder members to suffer automatic relegation from the league, albeit with several of the others having lost (and later regained) their places under the previous election system.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, National League Top Division
In one of the tightest promotion races in the history of the fifth tier and just two seasons after their spectacular fall into non-league football, Leyton Orient finally returned to the Football League, never looking like falling out of the promotion race and narrowly edging the automatic promotion spot in manager Justin Edinburgh's first full season as manager; the season ended in tragedy, however, following Edinburgh's death from cardiac arrest the following month. In their first season in the fifth tier, Salford City narrowly missed out on automatic promotion - but made up for it by winning the play-offs, earning promotion to League Two and the Football League for the first time in their 79-year history.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, National League Top Division
Despite languishing near the bottom of the table for most of the season, a late surge in results saved Dover Athletic, while Chesterfield almost suffered a third consecutive relegation after a long winless run in the league stretching from August to December, before the appointment of veteran manager John Sheridan in the new year helped the club find form and move away from the bottom.


2018–19 in English football, Men's football, National League Top Division
At the bottom of the table, all four relegated teams were confirmed with at least three games to go – Aldershot Town, Braintree Town, Havant and Waterlooville and Maidstone United. While both Braintree and Havant suffered immediate relegation back to the National League South, the second time in three seasons for the former, Aldershot Town's relegation came only six seasons after they had dropped out of League Two. Maidstone United had played at the highest level of the National League for three years. However, Aldershot were granted a reprieve from relegation when Gateshead were demoted two divisions (later reduced to one on appeal) for breaching the league's financial regulations.


2018–19 in English football, Managerial changes
This is a list of changes of managers within English league football:


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
3 August 2018: The first match of the Football League season pits Frank Lampard's Derby County against Reading. Jon Dadi Bodvarsson scores the first goal of the new season, but goals from Chelsea loanee Mason Mount and an injury-time winner from Tom Lawrence gives the Rams a 2–1 win.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
4 August 2018: The first Saturday of the Football League season sees newly relegated West Brom lose 2–1 to a Bolton Wanderers side who were nearly relegated themselves last year. Among other Championship action, newly-promoted Wigan defeat Sheffield Wednesday 3–2, and Graham Potter makes a winning start as Swansea manager by beating Sheffield United 2–1 away. In League One, Sunderland come from behind to defeat Charlton 2–1 in their first game at this level in 30 years, and in League Two, Swindon Town stun newly-promoted Macclesfield 3–2 with two stoppage-time penalties.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
6 August 2018: Blackpool manager Gary Bowyer becomes the first managerial casualty of the new season when handing in his resignation after just one game played. The Seasiders had travelled to Wycombe Wanderers for their season opener just a few days before and shared out a goalless draw in Buckinghamshire.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
31 August 2018: The first month of the new season sees Liverpool leading the Premier League on goal difference; three games in, the Merseysiders, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Watford all hold 100% records. Reigning champions Manchester City are in fifth, ahead of Bournemouth on goal difference, and Leicester City are seventh. West Ham United, the only Premier League team without a point, prop up the table. Newcastle United and Southampton are clear ahead of Burnley and Huddersfield Town in the relegation zone on goal difference.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
None of the teams relegated from the Premier League last season - Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, and Stoke City - have managed to join the Championship promotion race yet and stand 10th, 11th, and 17th respectively. Leeds United and Middlesbrough take an early lead in the Championship and stand three points clear of third-placed Bolton Wanderers. Aston Villa, newly-promoted Blackburn Rovers, Derby County, and Sheffield United hold fourth to seventh place on 9 points each, with Derby only ahead of United because of alphabetical order. Reading (23rd) and Ipswich Town share joint bottom, while Birmingham City stand above Queens Park Rangers out of the relegation zone on goal difference.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
30 September 2018: September closes with Manchester City leading Liverpool at the top of the Premier League, with goal difference still the margin between the leaders. Chelsea are third, Spurs and Arsenal are contesting fourth, and Watford and Bournemouth complete the top seven. Newcastle, Cardiff, and Huddersfield (20th) stand in the relegation zone with 2 points each. Championship top scorers West Brom have seized the lead in the second division, and stand a point in front of Leeds, Middlesbrough, and Sheffield United. Norwich City are fifth, and Brentford hold sixth over Swansea, Wigan Athletic, and Derby on goal difference. Preston North End have fallen to the bottom of the table, a point behind Millwall and Ipswich.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
27 October 2018: Following a draw with West Ham United, Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter crashed in a car park outside of King Power Stadium, Leicester City's home stadium. None of the five passengers survived, including Srivaddhanaprabha.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
31 October 2018: As Halloween arrives, the top seven remains unchanged, save for Spurs and Arsenal exchanging places. Goal difference continues to be the difference between Manchester City and Liverpool. Cardiff have climbed out of the relegation zone, ahead of Fulham on goal difference, Newcastle have dropped to 19th, and Huddersfield remain bottom. Sheffield United have seized the lead of a congested Championship, with Leeds still second with two points less than their Yorkshire rivals. Middlesbrough and Norwich are behind Leeds only on goal difference, with West Brom and Derby two points behind them. However, six other teams are all within 3 points of the play-off places, including newly-promoted Blackburn and early strugglers QPR. Ipswich return to the foot of the table, 3 points behind Hull City (23rd) and Reading.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
30 November 2018: Manchester City now hold a two-point lead over Liverpool, despite both teams remaining unbeaten. Spurs have climbed above Chelsea, who have only won 3 of their past 8 league games. Arsenal are fifth, 5 points clear of Everton, and it appears increasingly likely those 5 teams will be the contenders for Champions League qualification. Despite winning only once in November, Manchester United have climbed to 7th. Improved form has seen Newcastle and Huddersfield escape the bottom 3, and now Southampton (19th)and Fulham are joint bottom, with Burnley below Crystal Palace on goal difference to stand 18th.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
A competitive promotion race continues to gather pace in the Championship, with 3 points separating Norwich (1st), Leeds, Middlesbrough, West Brom, and Sheffield United (5th). Nottingham Forest have claimed 6th place ahead of arch-rivals Derby on goal difference. Despite appointing former Norwich boss Paul Lambert as manager, Ipswich remain bottom, 6 points adrift of safety. Reading (20th) and Millwall are out of the relegation zone ahead of Hull and Bolton on goal difference.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
8 December 2018: Manchester City lose 2–0 at Chelsea, resulting their first defeat of the season. This also meant that Liverpool go top of the league after defeating Bournemouth 4–0 away.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
18 December 2018: José Mourinho is sacked as manager of Manchester United after a poor start to the season left them in seventh place, nineteen points behind rivals Liverpool. Former Manchester United player Ole Gunnar Solskjær takes over as caretaker manager until the end of the season, on loan from Norwegian club Molde.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
31 December 2018: 2018 ends with defending champions Manchester City dropping points and losing to Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Leicester City to give Liverpool a 7 point gap lead after winning every game in December. Tottenham Hotspur remains third despite losing to Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Chelsea drop to fourth, despite defeating Manchester City. Arsenal stays at fifth, and Ole Gunnar Solskjær's Manchester United rise to sixth in the table. In the Championship, Leeds United have a 3 point lead at the top above second-place Norwich City. West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Derby County complete the promotion play off spots, with Middlesbrough ahead of Derby County only on goal difference. Ipswich Town remain bottom of the table, 5 points behind 23rd placed Reading and 7 points behind 22nd placed Rotherham United.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
3 January 2019: The last undefeated team in England's top five divisions, Liverpool, lose 2–1 to Manchester City, preserving Arsenal's Invincibles record from the 2003–04 season.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
11 January 2019: A spy was discovered at Derby County’s training ground before their game at Leeds. The whites won 2-0 later on the day.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
21 January 2019: Cardiff City's record signing, Emiliano Sala was on board a Piper Malibu that disappeared near Alderney in the Channel Islands.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
31 January 2019: The first month of 2019 concludes with Liverpool still top of the Premier League, though now only 5 points ahead of Manchester City. Spurs remain third, while Arsenal climb to fourth, with 2 points and a +4 goal difference the margin between them, Chelsea, and Manchester United. Wolves' return to the top flight continues to be a successful once as the Midlanders stand 7th, though only 4 points separate them from West Ham in 12th.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
Huddersfield are rooted to the foot of the table, 12 points adrift of 17th-placed Burnley, and look destined for a return to the Championship. Fulham (19th) and Cardiff are also some distance from safety. A tier below, Leeds still hold their 3-point buffer over Norwich. The top six in unchanged, except for Sheffield United climbing above West Brom. Meanwhile, Ipswich are still stuck at rock bottom, Reading are now in 22nd, a point behind Rotherham, and Bolton has dropped to 23rd.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
22 February 2019: Chelsea are handed a transfer embargo by FIFA for the next two transfer windows for breaching rules in relation to youth players.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
24 February 2019: Leicester City sack Claude Puel after losing 4–1 to Crystal Palace at home.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
24 February 2019: Manchester City win the EFL Cup 4–3 on penalties against Chelsea. The final was overshadowed by Kepa Arrizabalaga refusing to be subbed out by Maurizio Sarri.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
28 February 2019: Liverpool's lead has been cut to 1 point by Manchester City as February ends. Consecutive losses for Tottenham have thwarted their title ambitions and it now appears that they are in a race for Champions League qualification, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea all within 7 points of them. Wolves continue to hold the coveted 7th place, with Watford behind them only on goal difference. The bottom 3 remains unchanged, though Southampton and Brighton & Hove Albion are not far away.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
Norwich are now 2 points in front of the Championship title race, Leeds dropping to 3rd behind Sheffield United on goal difference. West Brom and Middlesbrough continue their play-off chase, but now they are joined by Bristol City in 6th, following a run of 7 wins in a row. Reading and Rotherham swap positions in an otherwise unchanged relegation zone.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
3 March 2019:  Liverpool’s 0–0 draw with Everton in the Merseyside derby, coupled with Manchester City’s win at Bournemouth a day earlier, means that The Reds are not top of the League for the first time since December.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
9 March 2019: West Brom, 4th in the Championship, sack Darren Moore after drawing 1–1 with bottom-club Ipswich.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
10 March 2019: Jack Grealish is punched by a Birmingham City supporter during the Second City derby. Grealish scores the winner later on as Aston Villa won 1–0.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
17 March 2019: Liverpool win 2–1 at Fulham to go top again, but City now have a game in hand.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
22 March 2019: Birmingham City were given a 9-point penalty deduction for breaching Financial rules.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
30 March 2019: Huddersfield Town become the first side in the top four divisions of English football to be relegated this season, after losing 2–0 to Crystal Palace.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
31 March: Liverpool’s late victory over Tottenham puts them top of the league again by 2 points, but Manchester City still have a game in hand.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
31 March 2019: As April arises, Liverpool remain top of the Premier League, but now have played a game more than Manchester City, who have the Manchester derby as their game in hand. Spurs, now very vulnerable, and Manchester United, now appointed Ole Gunnar Solkjaer permanently, complete the top four. Leicester, now managed by Brendan Rodgers, are closer to 7th placed Wolves and are alongside Watford for the race for that place.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
Huddersfield have become the second ever side (first since Derby in 2008) to get relegated from the Premier League before the end of March, and Fulham look likely in joining them in the Championship. Only Cardiff City have a realistic chance of surviving, while Burnley, Southampton, and Brighton aren’t safe yet. In the Championship, Norwich remain top, but Leeds reclaim 2nd place from Sheffield United after the Blades lost 3–2 at home to Bristol City and Leeds beat Millwall 3–2. Managerless West Brom were not too far off for promotion, but would have to hope both Yorkshire sides drop points.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
Middlesbrough have had a rotten month after losing nearly all of their matches in March, resulting them being outside the top six for the first time in 7 months. Aston Villa, meanwhile, have had a perfect March as their 5 wins in a row saw them in the playoffs for the first time since August. Completing the top six were Derby. The bottom three were still unchanged, but Ipswich look likely to go out of the Championship. Millwall are also in real danger of being sucked into the relegation zone, while Reading are now above the dotted line.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
2 April 2019: Fulham join Huddersfield into the Championship after a 4–1 loss to Watford.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
3 April 2019: The new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finally hosts a football match as Crystal Palace became the first visitors to Spurs’ new ground. Heung-Ming Son was the first goalscorer on the new stadium as Tottenham won 2–0.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
13 April: With promotion rivals, Mansfield and MK Dons dropping points, Lincoln City became the first EFL team to achieve promotion thanks to a 1–1 draw with Cheltenham. On the same day, Ipswich were relegated to the 3rd tier for the first time since 1957 after drawing 1–1 with Birmingham City.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
19 April 2019: Bolton are relegated to League One after losing 2–0 to Aston Villa, who were on a club equalling 9 wins in a row.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
22 April 2019: Aston Villa, who won 10 games in a row for the first time ever, and West Brom confirm their places in the playoffs.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
24 April 2019: Manchester City defeat United 2–0 in the derby to go top again.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
26 April 2019: The Football League confirm that the EFL Championship game between Bolton Wanderers and Brentford, scheduled to take place the following day at the University of Bolton Stadium, has been postponed due to a PFA approved strike by the Bolton players over unpaid wages owed to them by owner Ken Anderson. It is the first case of a game being postponed due to industrial action by the players in the 131-year history of the Football League. The EFL later confirmed Wanderers must fulfill their remaining fixtures against Brentford and Nottingham Forest, even if it means using U23 or U18 players. Few days later, on 3 May, Brentford were awarded a 1-0 win by the EFL.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
27 April 2019: Rotherham are relegated after a year being promoted as they lost 2–1 at West Brom and Millwall drew with Stoke City. At the top, Sheffield United are all but promoted to the Premier League after a 2–0 win against relegated Ipswich. A few hours later, Norwich confirmed theirs with a 2–1 home victory over Blackburn. In the National League, Leyton Orient return to the EFL after drawing 0–0 with Braintree.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
28 April 2018: Leeds’ 1–1 draw with Aston Villa confirms Sheffield United’s promotion.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
30 April 2019: Luton Town and Barnsley are promoted without kicking a ball after Portsmouth and Sunderland both lost their games in hand.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
4 May 2019: Cardiff are relegated to the Championship after losing 3–2 to Crystal Palace at home. This meant that the Premier League would be all English for the first time since 2011. Elsewhere, Liverpool win 3–2 at Newcastle to push the title race to the final day.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
5 May 2019: Derby County beat Middlesbrough to the final playoff spot by defeating West Brom 3–1 on the final day.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
6 May 2019: Vincent Kompany scores a rocket of a goal as Manchester City defeat Leicester to go to the final day top of the league.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
12 May 2019: Manchester City win the Premier League after defeating Brighton 4–1 away, despite going behind and Liverpool winning 2–0 against Wolverhampton Wanderers. City become the first team to defend the title and win the league away from home since the 2008-09 and 2007-08 seasons respectively and also become the 13th team to do so to do the aforementioned.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
18 May 2019: Manchester City complete the first ever English domestic quadruple of trophies (the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Community Shield) by winning the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium by beating Watford 6–0. That matches the record set by Bury against Derby County (also 6–0) as the biggest win margin in the final of the competition's history, back in 1903. This confirms next season's FA Community Shield to be between treble winners City and league runners-up Liverpool.


2018–19 in English football, Diary of the season
1 June 2019: In the second ever all English UEFA Champions League final, Liverpool defeats Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 to win their sixth European Cup/UEFA Champions League and their first trophy since winning the EFL Cup in 2011-12.


2018–19 in French football
The following article is a summary of the 2018–19 football season in France, which was the 85th season of competitive football in the country and runs from July 2018 to June 2019.


2018–19 in French football, UEFA competitions, UEFA Women's Champions League, Knockout phase
The final was played on 18 May 2019 at the Groupama Arena in Budapest. The "home" team for the final (for administrative purposes) was determined by an additional draw held after the quarter-final and semi-final draws.


2018–19 in German football
The 2018–19 season was the 109th season of competitive football in Germany.


2018–19 in German football, League season, Men, Bundesliga
2–2 on aggregate. Union Berlin won on away goals and are promoted to the Bundesliga, while VfB Stuttgart are relegated to the 2. Bundesliga.


2018–19 in German football, League season, Men, 2. Bundesliga
4–4 on aggregate. Wehen Wiesbaden won on away goals and are promoted to the 2. Bundesliga, while FC Ingolstadt are relegated to the 3. Liga.


2018–19 in Honduran football
The 2018–19 season is the 71st season of competitive association football in Honduras.


2018–19 in Indian football, National teams, India women's national football team, 2020 AFC Olympic Qualifying Tournatment
Though India won first two matches against Indonesia and Nepal and was able to draw against Myanmar but due to Myanmar's goal difference is greater than that of India's, India could not move to the third round of the qualification.


2018–19 in Italian football
The 2018–19 season was the 117th season of competitive football in Italy.


2018–19 in Italian football, National teams, Men, Italy national football team
The previous season, on 13 November 2017, Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after a 1–0 aggregate loss to Sweden for the first time since the 1958 FIFA World Cup.


2018–19 in Libyan football
The 2018–19 season is the 46th season of competitive association football in Libya.


2018–19 in Pakistani football
The 2018–19 season will be the 71st in Pakistani football. It was the first season in Pakistan football after FIFA lifted its ban on Pakistan from all footballing activities which was implemented on 10 October 2017.


2018–19 in Polish football
The 2018–19 season was the 94th season of competitive football in Poland.


2018–19 in Portuguese futsal, Men's futsal, Campeonato Nacional da I Divisão
The 2018-19 season of the Campeonato Nacional da I Divisão de Futsal will be the 29th season of top-tier futsal in Portugal. It will be named Liga Sport Zone for sponsorship reasons. The regular season started on September 15, 2018, and will end in April 2019. After the end of the regular season, the top eight teams will play the championship playoffs.


2018–19 in Portuguese futsal, Men's futsal, Campeonato Nacional da I Divisão
Viseu 2001 and Eléctrico FC will participate for the first time in their history in the Liga Portuguesa de Futsal after being promoted from the II Divisão de Futsal.


2018–19 in Scottish football
This is the current revision of this page, as edited by Tassedethe (talk | contribs) at 19:35, 17 July 2021 (v2.04 - Repaired 1 link to disambiguation page - (You can help) - Jim Brogan (footballer)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this version.


2018–19 in Scottish football
The 2018–19 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in Scotland. The domestic season began on 14 July 2018, with the first round of matches in the 2018–19 Scottish League Cup. The 2018–19 Scottish Professional Football League season commenced on 4 August.


2018–19 in Scottish football, Transfer deals
Celtic sold striker Moussa Dembélé to Lyon for €22 million (about £19.7 million), a record transfer fee received by a Scottish club.


2018–19 in Scottish football, League competitions, SPFL Reserve League
In 2018, the Development League was abolished and replaced by a reserve team competition.


2018–19 in Scottish football, Scottish clubs in Europe, Celtic
Celtic started in the first qualifying round of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League, and were drawn against Armenian club Alashkert.


2018–19 in Scottish football, Scottish clubs in Europe, Celtic
Having lost in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, Celtic dropped into the play-off round of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League.


2018–19 in Scottish football, Scottish clubs in Europe, Celtic
Celtic finished second in Group B, and progressed to the knockout rounds.


2018–19 in Scottish football, Scottish clubs in Europe, Aberdeen
Having finished second in the 2017–18 Scottish Premiership, Aberdeen started in the second qualifying round of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League.


2018–19 in Scottish football, Scottish clubs in Europe, Rangers
Rangers started in the first qualifying round of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League, where they were drawn to play Macedonian club Shkupi.


2018–19 in Scottish football, Scottish clubs in Europe, Hibernian
Hibernian started in the first qualifying round of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League, and were paired with Faroese club Runavík.


2018–19 in Scottish football, Women's football, UEFA Women's Champions League, Glasgow City
Glasgow City entered the Champions League in the qualifying round.


2018–19 in Scottish football, Women's football, Scotland women's national team
With a 2–1 win against Albania in the final round of group fixtures, Scotland qualified for their first World Cup finals tournament by winning UEFA Group 2.


2018–19 in Spanish football
The 2018–19 season was the 117th season of competitive association football in Spain.


2018–19 in Spanish football, UEFA competitions, 2018–19 UEFA Women's Champions League, Knockout phase
The final was played on 18 May 2019 at the Groupama Arena in Budapest. The "home" team for the final (for administrative purposes) was determined by an additional draw held after the quarter-final and semi-final draws.


2018–19 in Swiss football
The following is a summary of the 2018–19 season of competitive football in Switzerland.


2018–19 in Turkish football
The 2018–19 season was the 114th season of competitive football in Turkey.


2018–19 in Ukrainian football
The 2018–19 season was the 28th season of competitive association football in Ukraine since dissolution of the Soviet Union.


2018–19 in Ukrainian football, Men's club football
Note: For all scratched clubs, see section Clubs removed for more details


2018–19 in Ukrainian football, Men's club football, Premier League
Teams that placed 10th and 11th in the 2018–19 Ukrainian Premier League play two-leg play-off with the second and third teams of the 2018–19 Ukrainian First League. The draw for play-offs took place on 24 May 2019 and the games will be played on 4 and 8 June 2019.


2018–19 in Ukrainian football, Men's club football, Second leg
Kolos Kovalivka won 2–0 on aggregate and were promoted to the 2019–20 Ukrainian Premier League. Chornomorets Odesa were relegated to the 2019–20 Ukrainian First League


2018–19 in Ukrainian football, Men's club football, Second leg
Karpaty Lviv won 3–0 on aggregate and retained their spot in the 2019–20 Ukrainian Premier League. Volyn Lutsk remained in the 2019–20 Ukrainian First League


2018–19 in Ukrainian football, Men's club football, Second leg
Due to fan violence at the game and attack on referee, the original score 1–3 was scratched and replaced with technical score 0–3 loss to Volyn and win for Karpaty. Additionally, the Lutsk department of police started criminal proceedings on the fact of intentional damage to property during the game by the Karpaty fans.


2018–19 in Ukrainian football, Men's club football, League 1
The drawing for relegation playoff took place on 20 May 2019.


2018–19 in Ukrainian football, Men's club football, Second leg
Ahrobiznes Volochysk won 4–1 on aggregate and has preserved its berth for the 2019–20 Ukrainian First League. Metalurh Zaporizhia has kept its berth for the 2019–20 Ukrainian Second League, but later gained promotion due to withdrawal of Arsenal-Kyiv from professional ranks.


2018–19 in Ukrainian football, Men's club football, Second leg
Cherkashchyna-Akademiya won 7–1 on aggregate and was promoted to the 2019–20 Ukrainian First League. PFC Sumy was relegated to the 2019–20 Ukrainian Second League. Later following the PFL Conference PFC Sumy were excluded from professional competitions.


2018–19 in Ukrainian football, Men's club football, League 2
On 7 May 2019 it was announced that the final game between group winners of the Second League will take place in Kropyvnytskyi.


2018–19 in Ukrainian football, Men's club football, League 2
Kremin Kremenchuk are crowned Champions of the Ukrainian Second League for the 2018–19 season


2018–19 in Ukrainian football, Women's club football
Note: For all scratched clubs, see section Clubs removed for more details


2018–19 in Ukrainian football, Women's club football, Higher League
The drawing for relegation playoff took place on 13 June 2019.


2018–19 in Ukrainian football, Women's club football, Higher League
Zlahoda-Dnipro-1 won on walkover and has preserved its berth in the Ukrainian Women's League. SC Vyshneve withdrew from league competitions. Later SC Dnipro-1 informed the Ukrainian Association of Football that it will not field its female team next season.


2018–19 in Ukrainian football, Managerial changes
This is a list of managerial changes among Ukrainian professional football clubs (top two leagues):


2018–19 national figure skating championships
National figure skating championships of the 2018–19 season are taking place mainly between December 2018 and January 2019. They are held to crown national champions and may serve as part of the selection process for international events such as the 2019 ISU Figure Skating Championships and the 2019 Winter Universiade. Medals may be awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. A few countries chose to organize their national championships together with their neighbors; the results were subsequently divided into national podiums.


2018–19 snooker season
The 2018–19 snooker season was a series of professional snooker tournaments played between 10 May 2018 and 6 May 2019. The season was made up of ranking tournaments, non-ranking tournaments and variant tournaments. In total, 46 events were competed in the 2018–19 season, beginning with the pro–am 2018 Vienna Open, and ending with the 2019 World Snooker Championship.


2018–19 snooker season
To be eligible to play in most tournaments, players had to have qualified to play on the World Snooker Tour, however, some wildcard former professional, and amateur players were eligible in certain competitions. The season also saw four events strictly for over 40s, as a part of the World Seniors Tour.


2018–19 snooker season, Players
The Main Tour consists of 128 professional players for the 2018/2019 season. The top 64 players from the prize money rankings after the 2018 World Championship and the 34 players earning a two-year card the previous year (excluding Lyu Haotian, who already climbed into the top 64 of the world rankings following the first year of his two-year tour card) automatically qualified for the season. Next, eight places were allocated from the top 8 on the One Year Ranking List, who had not already qualified for the Main Tour.


2018–19 snooker season, Players
Another two players came from the EBSA Qualifying Tour Play-Offs, two players came from the CBSA China Tour and a further 12 places were available through the Q School (four Event 1 winners, four Event 2 winners, and four Event 3 winners). The six remaining entries on to the tour were allocated from the international amateur events.


2018–19 snooker season, Players
Due to the disputes between the IBSF and the WPBSA, the WPBSA decided that the winners of the tournaments organised by the IBSF or any continental confederations which were not affiliated to the World Snooker Federation would not be awarded tour cards. The only exception was the IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Championship, which had been concluded before the decision was made.


2018–19 snooker season, Players, New professional players
All players listed below received a tour card for two seasons.


2018–19 snooker season, Calendar
The following table outlines the dates and results for all the ranking and major invitational events.


2018–19 Újpest FC season
The 2018–19 season will be Újpest FC's 138th competitive season, 127nd consecutive season in the OTP Bank Liga and 126th year in existence as a football club.


2018–19 Újpest FC season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2018–19 Újpest FC season, Squad, Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2018–19 Úrvalsdeild karla (basketball)
The 2018–19 Úrvalsdeild karla was the 68th season of the Úrvalsdeild karla, the top tier men's basketball league in Iceland. The season started on 4 October 2018 and ended on 4 May 2019. KR won its sixt title in a row by defeating ÍR 3–2 in the Finals.


2018–19 Úrvalsdeild karla (basketball), Competition format
The participating teams first played a conventional round-robin schedule with every team playing each opponent once home and once away for a total of 22 games. The top eight teams qualified for the championship playoffs whilst the two last qualified were relegated to Division 1.


2018–19 Úrvalsdeild karla (basketball), Playoffs
The playoffs are played between the eight first qualified teams with a 1-1-1-1-1 format, playing seeded teams games 1, 3 and 5 at home.


2018–19 Úrvalsdeild kvenna (basketball)
The 2018–19 Úrvalsdeild kvenna was the 62nd season of the Úrvalsdeild kvenna, the top tier women's basketball league on Iceland. The season started on 3 October 2018 and concluded on 27 April 2019 with Valur winning their first title after beating Keflavík 3–0 in the Úrvalsdeild finals.


2018–19 Úrvalsdeild kvenna (basketball), Competition format
The participating teams first play a conventional round-robin schedule with every team playing each opponent twice "home" and twice "away" for a total of 28 games. The top four teams qualify for the championship playoffs whilst the bottom team will be relegated to 1. deild kvenna.


2018–19 Úrvalsdeild kvenna (basketball), Playoffs
The playoffs are played between the four first qualified teams with a 1-1-1-1-1 format, playing seeded teams games 1, 3 and 5 at home.


2018–19 İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. season
The 2018–19 season was İstanbul Başakşehir's fifth consecutive season in the Süper Lig and their 29th year in existence.


2018–19 İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. season, Season summary
Başakşehir sat at the top of the Süper Lig table for most of the season and the club looked to be on their way to clinching their first major trophy before losing out to city rivals Galatasaray following defeat to the same club in May 2020. Playmaker Edin Višća was named the Süper Lig player of the season at the end of season awards ceremony.


2018–19 İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2018–19 İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. season, Squad, U21 players
Only professional players and/or players with first team numbers are listed. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2018–19 İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. season, Squad, Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2018–19 İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. season, Squad, Other players under contract
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2018–19 İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. season, Competitions, Süper Lig, Positions by round
The following table represents Başakşehir's positions after each round in the competition.


2018–19 Śląsk Wrocław season
The 2018–19 Ekstraklasa season was Śląsk's 73rd since their creation, and their 11th continuous season in the top league of Polish football.


2018–19 Śląsk Wrocław season
The season covered the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019.


2018–19 Śląsk Wrocław season, Players, First team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2018–19 ŠK Slovan Bratislava season
The 2018–19 season was ŠK Slovan Bratislava's 13th consecutive in the top flight of Slovak football. After five years, Slovan managed to win the league title. Having won the 2017–18 Slovak Cup, Slovan were the defending champions, but they were eliminated after the first match due to breaching the rules of the competition. Slovan also competed in the UEFA Europa League, but they were eliminated in the third qualifying round.


2018–19 ŠK Slovan Bratislava season
The season was exceptional for the club in several ways. On 3 March 2019, Slovan opened its new stadium and returned home after more than nine years. On 3 May 2019, the club celebrated 100 years since its founding.


2018–19 ŠK Slovan Bratislava season
Slovan clinched the title on 14 April 2019, six rounds before the end of the competition. Andraž Šporar became the league's best goalscorer, scoring 29 goals and tying the record for most goals scored in a season in the Slovak Super Liga.


2018–19 ŠK Slovan Bratislava season
The season covers the period from 1 June 2018 to 31 May 2019.


2018–2019 Bangladesh protests
The 2018–2019 Bangladesh protests, also known as the Bangladeshi Social Revolution, was a series of public social unrest and Strike actions by Garment workers and Trade unions against low wages and high unemployment and demanded the resignation of the government. Over 50,000 protesters participated in the nonviolent movement. Anti -wages and anti-fee hike demonstrations loomed in Factories and Company buildings in Ashulia and Rajshahi, where most protesters staged their protest and sit-ins. Dhaka and other minor areas with factories experienced massive increasingly violent and severe street demonstrations while growing street opposition.


2018–2019 Bangladesh protests
Civil disobedience and massive labour unrest rocked the country as Garment workers and Farmers demonstrated nationwide against the results of the 2018 Bangladeshi general election, the ousting and sacking of workers in Factories, harsh working conditions and deteriorating wage conditions. Police brutality and deadly clashes was met at protest movement sites and many people were killed in the strikes and Nonviolent resistance and Civil resistance movement at towns and regions nationwide. The protests was suppressed by the military on 13 January, 2019 after a wave of crackdowns for 7 days and clampdowns on the 2018 Bangladesh election violence. The result of the massive movement was mobs were arrested and 1500+ workers are sacked.


2018–2019 Bosnian protests
The 2018–2019 Bosnian protests were daily peaceful demonstrations and protests in the Republic of Srpska after the Death of David Dragičević, a young Serb student who drowned himself, according to local police, however, his family suggest he was forced to drown himself by local authorities. This incident triggered an anti-police brutality protest movement and swelled into an anti-government uprising, demanding the end of the minister of Republic of Srpska.


2018–2019 Bosnian protests, Background
Mass unrest erupted in Bosnia in 2013 against the government, but the initial public protests were the JMBG protests, against a law on babies. Another wave of violent demonstrations were in the 2014 unrest in Bosnia and Herzegovina by workers against low payments and unemployment. After a death in 2016, Bosnians were fed up and led a wave of rallies for a month. The movement was peaceful but protesters were angry. They even got angrier after the Death of David Dragičević so larger crowds came and protested, demanding justice and daily, they come and lit candles in vigils in support and memory of David. Serbs are also feeling a bit discriminated and disappointed with the regional government.


2018–2019 Bosnian protests, Protests
After the news broke out, mass protests and peaceful demonstrations, demanding justice took place surrounding the area he had been murdered. Thousands marched daily and chanted slogans against the president and government, demanding democratic reforms and free elections, in reference to the upcoming 2018 Bosnian general election. Thousands protested again in April, demanding an investigation and apology over the death. In September, after a wave of anger in March–April, rallies by students and families against the government and police brutality erupted and boiled into a movement nationwide, starting in Banja Luka, then Zenica, Tuzla, Mostar and Sarajevo.


2018–2019 Bosnian protests, Protests
A popular series of bloodless protests and mass strikes by workers took place in December–January, while protests were taking place in Mongolia and Sudanese Revolution. These demonstrators were demanding the arrests of the policemen involved in the incident and not to cover-up the death. The rounds of demonstrations are the longest yet largest yet most bloodless protests Bosnia has seen since the Bosnian War. Mass protests re-erupted in June–July and October–November against abuses and use of force by police, demanding an end to the government as well.


2018–2019 Bosnian protests, Further Protests and Dzenan Memic protests
Mass protests took place in rallies in Sarajevo, demanding justice over the death of Dzenan Memic, who died in 2016. The protests took place days before the 2018 Bosnian general election. They were suppressed by force from policemen. In November 2019, police brutality rioting and popular demonstrations after an orphanage scandal erupted, when children were Locked up and were threatened to death. Many of them were subjected to police brutality so protesters took to the streets, protesting in street protests fighting for justice. One of the slogans were ‘Too late, I want Justice’!


2018–2019 Comoran protests
The 2018–2019 Comoran protests were a series of mass protests and a deadly uprisings consisting of strikes, riots, demonstrations, and marches in opposition to president Azali Assoumani in Comoros in 2018–2019.


2018–2019 Comoran protests
In June–July 2018, mass protests and demonstrations occurred led by the opposition against a referendum on constitutional terms. Rioting erupted and police arrested three protesters in the city of Moroni. One week of protests occurred in the country. Protesters wereas met with police repression and force.


2018–2019 Comoran protests
In March, daily protests by tens of thousands of Comorans occurred in Mayotte demanding the sending of Comoran civilians of Mayotte to Comoros and Comorans demonstrated the next month against the protests and called on the national government to take action. It also called on the re-claim of the French territory of Mayotte. The island was gripped by protests and unrest for weeks.


2018–2019 Comoran protests
In May-June, violent protests rocked the areas of Mayotte and Anjouan, calling on an independence referendum. Political unrest, anti-government demonstrations led by opposition activists calling on the government to step down was dispersed by Riot police, who used Tear gas to disperse angry protests and demonstrations in Moroni.


2018–2019 Comoran protests
A popular rebellion occurred between armed rebels and the army of Comoros in a Mysterious Uprising in Anjouan, an island state. 3 weeks of fighting took place in October, but the rebels were defeated in the country. Shootings, killings and violence was reported during the unrest and conflict on the island and the rebels were defeated in the armed uprising.


2018–2019 Comoran protests
The 2019 Comorian presidential election took place in March 2019 amid street protests and anger. Popular protests was on a rise after the results of the elections was announced, 2 were killed in clashes with Soldiers and demonstrators, while escalating tensions and anti-government rioting was a frequent occurrence. The crackdown left 2 demonstrators killed. Civil disobedience campaigns, boycotts, nonviolent demonstrations, frequent anti-government acts of disorder was taking place in March-April and riots was quelled.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests
The 2018–2019 Gaza border protests, by the organiser called the Great March of Return (Arabic: مسیرة العودة الكبرى, romanized: Masīra al-ʿawda al-kubrā), were a series of demonstrations held each Friday in the Gaza Strip near the Gaza-Israel border from 30 March 2018 and onwards. The demonstrators demanded that the Palestinian refugees must be allowed to return to lands they were displaced from in what is now Israel. They also protested against Israel's Gaza blockade and United States recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests
The first demonstrations were organized by independent activists, but the initiative was soon endorsed by Hamas, the de facto rulers of the Gaza Strip, as well as other major factions in Gaza. The activists who planned the Great March of Return intended it to last only from 30 March 2018 (Land Day) to 15 May (Nakba Day) but the demonstrations continued for almost 18 months until Hamas on 27 December 2019 announced that they would be postponed.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests
Thirty thousand Palestinians participated in the first demonstration on 30 March. Larger protests took place on the following Fridays, 6 April, 13 April, 20 April, 27 April, 4 May, and 11 May — each of which involved at least 10,000 demonstrators — while smaller numbers attended activities during the week.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests
Most of the demonstrators demonstrated peacefully far from the border fence. Peter Cammack, a fellow with the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, argued that the march indicated a new trend in Palestinian society and Hamas, with a shift away from violence towards non-violent forms of protest. Nevertheless, groups consisting mainly of young men approached the fence and committed acts of violence directed towards the Israeli side. Israeli officials said the demonstrations were used by Hamas as cover for launching attacks against Israel.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests
At least 110 Palestinians were killed between 30 March to 15 May 2018, a number of whom were members of various Palestinian militant organizations: an independent United Nations commission set the number of known militants killed at 29 out of the 183. Other sources claim a higher figure, of at least 40. Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and live ammunition. According to Robert Mardini, head of Middle East for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), more than 13,000 Palestinians were wounded as of 19 June 2018, the majority severely, with some 1,400 struck by three to five bullets.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests
No Israelis were physically harmed from 30 March to 12 May, until one Israeli soldier was reported as slightly wounded on 14 May, the day the protests peaked. The same day, 59 or 60 Palestinians were shot dead at twelve clash points along the border fence, Hamas claimed 50 of them as its militants, and Islamic Jihad claimed 3 of the 62 killed as members of its military wing. Some 35,000 Palestinians protested that day, with thousands approaching the fence.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests
Israel's use of deadly force was condemned on 13 June 2018 in a United Nations General Assembly resolution. Condemnations also came from human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, B'Tselem, and Amnesty International, and by United Nations officials. Kuwait proposed two United Nations Security Council statements, both blocked by the United States, which called for investigations into Israel's killing of Palestinian protesters. The Israeli government has praised Israeli troops for protecting the border fence. Media coverage of the demonstrations, and what has been termed the "PR battle", has been the object of analysis and controversy.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests
In late February 2019, a United Nations Human Rights Council's independent commission found that of the 489 cases of Palestinian deaths or injuries analyzed only two were possibly justified as responses to danger by Israeli security forces, deeming the rest illegal, and concluded with a recommendation calling on Israel to examine whether war crimes or crimes against humanity had been committed, and if so, to bring those responsible to trial.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Background
In 2005, Israel withdrew its forces from the Gaza Strip and allowed the Palestinian authority to take control. Despite the withdrawal, Israel still maintains direct external control over everyday life in Gaza, such as the territory's air and maritime space, most of its land crossings, electricity and water supply and other utilities. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), Palestinians in Gaza still remain protected persons under the articles of the Geneva Conventions.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Background
Following the Battle of Gaza in 2007, Hamas took full control over the strip and expelled its rival and current ruler of the West Bank, Fatah. The takeover by Hamas led Israel and Egypt to impose a land, air and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip. The blockade has had disastrous effects on Gaza's population.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Background
After the 2014 Gaza war, the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsened. Hamas struggled to manage civil life in Gaza, and the new leadership under Yahya Sinwar hoped to get the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority to take control of Gaza's civil issues, through the 2017 Fatah–Hamas Agreement, but the agreement failed. According to Israeli journalist Amos Harel, Hamas, which failed to lift the blockade for years, sought to use the demonstrations as a means to get out its strategical crisis, as it found armed conflict with Israel to be ineffective.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Background
The principal demand of the protests was the right of return for Palestinian refugees and their descendants to present-day Israel. A majority of Gaza's population consists of refugees from the 1948 Palestine War and their descendants. Israel rejected any right of return, fearing that Jews would become a minority in Israel if too many Palestinians returned.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Background, Gaza's "no-go zone" and border barrier
In late 2005, after the Israeli disengagement from Gaza, the Israeli military imposed a "no-go zone" on the interior side of the Israel-Gaza border in response to rocket fire from Gaza falling on Israeli towns. This zone restricts Palestinians from entering "about 17 percent of Gaza's territory, including a third of its agricultural lands", according to HRW. According to the Israel Defense Force (IDF), this is done "to prevent the concealment of improvised explosives and to disrupt and prevent the use of the area for destructive purposes."


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Background, Gaza's "no-go zone" and border barrier
The border fence between Gaza and Israel (the separation barrier) is composed of a crude barbed-wire barrier, a brief gap, and then a 10 feet (3.0 m) high "smart fence" with sensors to detect infiltrators. A crowd surging towards the fence could cross the fence in some 30 seconds, according to one of the contractors who built it.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Idea, organization, and strategy
In 2011, Ahmed Abu Ratima (or Rteima), whose family originate from Ramle, conceived the idea of Palestinians going peacefully to the border fence to demand their right of return to the homes from which they had been displaced.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Idea, organization, and strategy
In early 2018, Gazan journalist Muthana al-Najjar, whose family originate from Salama, pitched a tent near the border, where he stayed for over a month, while others began planting olive tree seedlings in the area. He and others tried to keep the protest independent from Hamas and other political groups, but were overruled when Hamas took over the protest by mass mobilization of Gazans to join the March. Recruitment included calls on television, local media, social media and by word of mouth. Hamas reportedly planned to keep the peace by having plain clothed security personnel move among the protestors to ensure no violence would occur.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Idea, organization, and strategy
The March gained support from Gazan intellectuals like Atef Abu Saif and graduates of Gazan universities, who were said to have drawn inspiration from the examples of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Idea, organization, and strategy
By March 2018, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the faction of Muhammad Dahlan (who was expelled from Fatah in 2011) had endorsed the protests.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Idea, organization, and strategy
The organizers of the event, including the local government authority, Hamas and various Palestinian factions, encouraged thousands of Palestinians to converge on the Israeli border for the 42nd anniversary,. While multiple factions endorsed the protests, they all participated under the shared symbol of the Palestinian national flag.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, Prior incidents
In February 2018, four IDF soldiers were injured by an explosive device concealed in a Palestinian flag placed on the Gazan border fence during a Palestinian protest.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, Prior incidents
On 25 March, the IDF fired some ten Iron Dome missiles to intercept what the IDF sensors interpreted to be rockets, but which later turned out to be high-trajectory machine-gun fire during Hamas military exercises conducted in Gaza, which early reports said was directed towards Zikim.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, Prior incidents
In the week prior to 30 March, the IDF arrested a suspect who crossed into Israeli territory from northern Gaza; 2 Palestinians were seen near the now-defunct Karni crossing container port trying to set fire to army engineering equipment close to the border fence; a group of four Palestinians infiltrated Israel near Kissufim; and 3 Gazans, armed with grenades and knives, crossed the border and were captured some 20 kilometers (12 mi) from the border, near Tze'elim.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 30 March 2018
The first protest took place on 30 March 2018, during the Land Day. Some 30,000 Palestinians took part in the protests which were launched from five tent camps that were set up 500 to 700 metres (1,600 to 2,300 ft) from the Israel–Gaza barrier, near the 300 metres (980 ft) no-go zone imposed by Israel. The majority of the demonstrators in the encampments were away from the border security and did not engage in violence. Hundreds of young Palestinians, however, ignored warnings issued by the organizers and the Israeli military to avoid the border zone.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 30 March 2018
When some Palestinians began throwing stones and Molotov cocktails, Israel responded by declaring the Gaza border zone a closed military zone and opening fire at them. The events of the day were some of the most violent in recent years. In one incident, two Palestinian gunmen approached the fence, armed with AK-47 assault rifles and hand grenades, and exchanged fire with IDF soldiers. They were killed and their bodies were recovered by the IDF.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 30 March 2018
That day, 15 Palestinians were killed by the IDF, in addition to one farmer who was allegedly killed by artillery fire in the morning prior to the protests. The IDF said a tank fired at two men who "acted suspiciously" near the border fence and did not confirm if one of them was killed. The profile of the 15 men who were killed by the IDF was a subject of debate.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 30 March 2018
The IDF published an infographic with the pictures of ten of those killed, saying they were members of militant-terrorist organizations, of the seven were Hamas militants and activists, one was a "global jihad activist" and one was a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades militant group. Some of them appear in military uniform in their pictures. Hamas, however, said that only five of its members were killed that day, and one of the men the IDF said was a Hamas operative, was a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, according to the organization itself.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 30 March 2018
According to the IDF, among those Hamas confirmed were its members were a company commander and an operative in Hamas' tunnel warfare project. Three other Palestinians who were shot on 30 March succumbed to their wounds in the following days. One of them was a member Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The organization said he was unarmed when he was shot.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 30 March 2018
One notable casualty, and an example of this debate, is a 19-year-old Palestinian who was seen in footage from the protest being shot in his back while holding a tire and running away from the fence. The IDF said he was a member of Hamas, a claim Hamas did not confirm and his family denied, stating he was a restaurant worker. The IDF described the footage as "edited and fabricated". His funeral did not involve the honors usually given to slain Palestinian fighters. Another 20-year-old man was shot, according to his brother, in the head, while smoking a cigarette while standing behind a group of stone throwers.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 30 March 2018
Disagreement exists also about the number of those injured that day. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 1,400 Palestinians suffered injuries. According to various Palestinian medical sources, around 800 were wounded with live ammunition, while the remaining were injured by rubber-coated projectiles and tear gas. The IDF, on the other hand, estimated only a few dozens were injured with live fire.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 30 March 2018
Protests continued on a lower scale throughout the week following the 30 March events. The IDF continued to fire at Palestinians along the border fence. A video was published in social media on Sunday, 2 April, showing a 19-year-old man among a group of protesters, placing a tire on another burning tire, to make it catch on fire, then waving his hands in celebration. He is then seemingly shot in the head by Israeli soldiers. Palestinian sources reported he was critically wounded.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 30 March 2018
During the week of 30 March 2018, two Palestinians were killed in two different incidents. In the first, a Palestinian member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) was shot by Israeli forces after he breached the fence and entered Israel. The IDF published a video from an observation camera, showing the man hitting the fence with what seems to be a metal pipe when four other people stand behind him. He then breaches the fence and enters along with another man, which is when warning shots were probably fired.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 30 March 2018
The video cuts before the man was shot and it is unclear in what circumstances was he shot and killed. In another incident, an Israeli aircraft attacked an allegedly armed Palestinian who approached the fence. The IDF published a video from an observance camera, showing the man walking slowly towards the fence, holding what appears to be an assault rifle. The army also said he was equipped with grenades and a suicide vest. The incident took place before dawn. In addition to these events, on 1 April the IDF arrested four unarmed Palestinians who entered into Israel illegally.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 6 April
Protest organizers and Hamas called for renewed demonstrations on the Israel-Gaza border the following Friday, 6 April. The IDF stated that it intended to use the same force as the preceding week to prevent infiltrations of Israeli territory.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 6 April
Between 31 March and 6 April, demonstrators gathered tires in Gaza to be burnt on 6 April, in preparation for what was dubbed the "Day of the Tire" (Arabic: Jumat al-Kawshook) Israeli officials have cautioned that the mass burning of tires along the border can produce environmental harm, calling on the World Health Organization to prevent, what they termed, an "ecological catastrophe".


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 6 April
Thousands of Palestinians joined in 6 April demonstrations; the IDF estimated their number at 20,000 people. Palestinian medical sources reported that 9 Palestinians were killed, 1,350 were injured, and 25 were in critical condition; and that approximately 400 of those injured were hit by live ammunition. Another Palestinian who was shot that day succumbed to his wounds on 9 April.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 6 April
Among those killed was Yaser Murtaja, a 30-year-old Palestinian photographer, who, according to Palestinian Health Ministry, was shot in the stomach by an Israeli sniper despite wearing a jacket emblazoned with 'press' to identify him as a journalist. According to the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate, seven other Palestinian journalists were injured by the Israelis during that day's protest. Israeli Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said in response that "anyone who flies drones over IDF soldiers puts himself at risk." According to Israeli security sources, Murtaja was an officer in Hamas security apparatus and attempted to smuggle a drone to Gaza in 2015. Hamas, as well as Murtaja's family, denied the allegation. In addition to Murtaja, five other journalists were injured on 6 April, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists: five from live fire and one from a shrapnel.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 8 April
On the evening of 8 April, according to the IDF, three Palestinians infiltrated the fence in the Northern Gaza strip, planted two explosive devices, and then quickly returned to Gaza. The IDF fired at the Palestinians with tank fire.


2018–2019 Gaza border protests, Timeline, 9 April
In the early morning of 9 April, the IDF said it attacked a military compound belonging to Hamas in the northern Gaza strip in response to the attempted infiltration with explosives. The IDF said Hamas "is solely responsible for what is happening in the Gaza Strip from above and below the ground".