UEFA appoints Eastern European referees for all four of its club finals
May14 – Romania’s István Kovács will take charge of the UEFA Champions League final, while Croatia’s Ivana Martinčić will officiate the Women’s Champions League final.
Europe
Bosnia and Herzegovina clubs receive UEFA Emergency Grant support
May 13 – A total of six clubs from Bosnia and Herzegovina are set to receive grants of €8,300 from UEFA’s Emergency Grants initiative with the support of the country’s football federation.
Sevilla’s training facility attacked as players forced to spend the night
May 13 – Football passion crossed a dangerous line in Spain this weekend when “a gang of organised radicals” effectively held Sevilla FC players and staff hostage at the club’s training facility following their 3-2 defeat to Celta Vigo.
Chaotic scenes mar Hamburg’s return to the German Bundesliga
May 13 – Hamburger SV ‘s long-awaited return to the German Bundesliga was marred by tragic incidents following the club’s 6-1 win over Ulm that secured them automatic promotion.
UEC proposes 5% ‘Player Development Reward’ fund to distribute cash from UEFA’s club comps
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May 12 – The Union of European Clubs (UEC) has proposed an overhaul of how UEFA distributes funds from its club competitions to better recognise player development. It’s chances of any immediate implementation or discussion are slim with UEFA having already agreed a new distribution cycle that is currently in its first year of operation.
UEFA hosts Fan Forum ahead of summer Euro finals
May 12 – UEFA has placed fan experience and engagement at the heart of its preparations for UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, hosting a dedicated Fan Forum in Switzerland this week for supporter representatives from all 16 participating nations.
Spartak Varna, in battle for UEFA Conference League spot, refused club license by BFU
May 12 – Bulgaria’s Spartak Varna has lost its license to participate Bulgaria’s top tier next season. The decision was taken by the Bulgarian Football Union’s Licensing Commission following Spartak’s failure to meet financial rules over payment of government taxes.
Man Utd and Spurs set up an all-English Europa League final
May 9 -Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will face off in an all-English UEFA Europa League final on May 21 in Bilbao, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash between two domestic underachievers with contrasting European histories.
Xabi Alonso to exit Leverkusen. Real Madrid next stop?
May 9 – Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will step down as Bayer Leverkusen head coach at the end of the season, following a spell at the club that saw him guide them to their first-ever Bundesliga title and a domestic double.
UEFA shines light on equality and respect in FootbALL Awards
May 9 – UEFA announced the winners of the 2025 FootbALL Awards at the RESPECT Forum in Zurich, recognising “outstanding contributions to inclusion, diversity, and accessibility” in European football.
Montenegrans break ground on construction of Bijelo Polje training complex
May 9 – The President of the Football Federation of Montenegro (FSCG), Dejan Savićević, broke ground officially on the construction of a new training complex in Bijelo Polje.
Barcelona among Europe’s best for youth minutes, CIES report shows
May 8 – FC Barcelona have once again cemented their reputation as world football’s premier talent incubator, with the latest CIES Football Observatory study ranking them among the top three clubs in Europe’s big five leagues for minutes played by Under-21 footballers this season.
Rangers’ takeover “above 90%” certain claims shareholder Dave King
May 8 – A proposed majority takeover of Rangers FC by a US investment group led by 49ers Enterprises President Paraag Marathe and health insurance entrepreneur Andrew Cavenagh is now “above 90%” likely to go ahead, according to the club’s largest shareholder, Dave King.
Sorry seems to be the hardest word. French minister says he was ‘led astray by my misconceptions’
May 7 – Three years after Liverpool supporters were wrongfully vilified for causing chaos at the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final, former French interior minister Gérald Darmanin (pictured) has finally issued a long-overdue apology for his role in the debacle.
Deep-rooted sectarian rivalry bubbles over again at Rangers-Celtic derby
May 7 – The bitter rivalry between Rangers and Celtic – Scotland’s most explosive football feud and deeply entrenched in religious and political divisions – has once again crossed the line of acceptability after Rangers supporters displayed a controversial tifo that drew condemnation from Scotland’s highest office.