Liverpool fans launch personal injury class action against UEFA for Champions League chaos
April 6 – Nearly 900 Liverpool fans caught up in the chaotic scenes at last year’s Champions League final are to sue UEFA, according to their lawyers.
Europe
Serbian government bails out Partisan Belgrade with €2.5m grant
April 6 – The Serbian government has given the country’s two biggest clubs – Partizan Belgrade and Red Star Belgrade – financial aid of €2.5 million each. The financial assistance was granted following a request from the Serbian Football Federation (FSS).
Re-elected Ceferin slams ‘reckless’ club owning ‘cartels’ and vows to fight for football’s meritocracy
By Andrew Warshaw
April 5 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was elected unopposed by acclamation for another four-year term today but not before launching a scathing attack on irresponsible club owners, accusing them of running their businesses in a “high-risk even reckless manner that defies all logic and principles.”
Klaveness fails in bid for UEFA exco seat as Europeans go to the polls
By Samindra Kunti in Lisbon
April 5 – Lise Klaveness has left the Portuguese capital empty-handed. After the Nordic bid for Euro 2025 fell short, the Norwegian FA president failed to win a seat on the UEFA executive committee, falling well short with just 18 votes.
War games: UEFA strips hosting of U-19 Women’s Euros from Belarus
By Andrew Warshaw
April 5 – For the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia’s neighbour and ally, Belarus, has been stripped of staging a major multi-nation football competition after UEFA announced it had removed the country as hosts of the 2025 women’s under-19 event.
Belgian tax collectors chase non-profit Genk for €39m
April 5 – Belgian tax authorities are chasing €39 million from league leaders Racing Genk, arguing that the club’s legal status as a non-profit does not exempt it from paying corporation tax.
Levski Sofia fans donate to help with €5.5m tax bill, as club launches share offer
April 5 – Supporters of Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia have raised over BGN 243,000 (€121,000) to help the club in pay off its debts to the National Revenue Agency (NRA).
Swiss beat off Nordic, French and Polish bids to win Women’s Euro 2025 hosting
By Samindra Kunti in Lisbon
April 4 – In a bidding race that went down to the wire, Switzerland won the right to host Euro 2025 after seeing off the combined bid from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland as well as hosting hopefuls France and Poland.
Barca demand Tebas resigns over false evidence reportedly provided to Spanish police
April 4 – Barcelona have made another request for outspoken Spanish league president Javier Tebas (pictured) to resign because of his attacks on the club.
James Dostoyevsky: Gone potty
So, the genius who doesn’t have much of a clue about football, other than watching soccer in his native USA, but decided to put a few associates together and buy Chelsea FC, has really stirred the pot now.
UEFA’s FAs gather in Lisbon for congress that will challenge gender bias
By Samindra Kunti in Lisbon
April 4 – Norwegian FA president Lise Klaveness can write history by becoming the first female member of the UEFA executive committee to be elected in a direct contest against male candidates at UEFA’s annual Congress in Lisbon, Portugal, on Wednesday.
Aston Villa owner Nassef Sawiris launches three-club academy project
April 4 – Aston Villa owner Nassef Sawiris has announced a three-club partnership with Portugal’s Vitória Sport Clube and Egypt’s Zed FC. Vitoria is part-owned by Sawiris through his Eden Sports business while Zed FC is owned by his brother Naguib.
North Macedonian FA grants support funding to women’s top tier clubs
April 4 – The North Macedonian Football Federation (FFM) general secretary Filip Popovski (pictured) has said the federation is going to support all clubs in the Women’s First Division with a grant of €10,000.
Has Messi’s bubble burst? PSG fans whistle discontent as Lyon win and Barca rumours grow
April 3 – Lionel Messi’s name was met by whistles from his own Paris St-Germain fans on Sunday before they fell to a seventh defeat of 2023 at home to Lyon.
England supporters club asks UEFA to review fan treatment at Italy game
April 3 – UEFA has been asked to look into the treatment of England fans who attended last week’s 2-1 Euro 2024 qualifying win over Italy in Naples.