Olsson takes over lead from Thiriez at European Leagues body
March 15 – Lars-Christer Olsson, who spent four years as general secretary of UEFA, has taken over as chairman of the European Professional Football Leagues.
Europe
Court clears Benzema to play for France with sex-tape ‘rival’ Valbuena
March 14 – Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema (pictured) will technically be eligible to play for France at Euro 2016 after certain legal restrictions were lifted in the sex tape blackmail investigation that has rocked French football.
Como name square after Borgonovo: Italy pays tribute to former striker
By Bernd Fisa
March 13 – The world’s football community will pay a further tribute on the next few days days to former Italian striker Stefano Borgonovo who in 2013 passed away at the age of 49 following a long battle with motor neurone disease also known as Lou Gehrig disease.
Could Italian match-fixing scandal count Conte out at Chelsea?
March 11 – Italy national coach Antonio Conte is edging closer to taking over at Chelsea’s but hanging over him is a match-fixing debacle from his time at Siena.
Barça unveil Japanese architect’s plans for the new Camp Nou
By Mark Baber
March 10 – A few hours after the news had leaked out prematurely, FC Barcelona announced officially that the winner of the international design competition for the refashioning of the Camp Nou is the Nikken Sekkei and Pascual i Ausió Arquitectes team.
Women in Football survey finds sexism is still major issue in British football
By Mark Baber
March 9 – A new Women in Football (WiF) survey, the results of which were published on Tuesday, presents a worrying picture of sexism in the workplace within UK football, including significant rises in those who have personally suffered bullying and sexual harassment.
Nordic nations discuss joint bid for 2024 or 2028 Euros hosting
By Mark Baber
March 7 – The Danish Football Association (DBU) announced officially on Friday that it, along with the football associations from Sweden, Norway and Finland is exploring the possibility of bidding for European Championship hosting in 2024 or 2028.
Nordic nations discuss joint bid for 2024 or 2028 Euros hosting
By Mark Baber
March 7 – The Danish Football Association (DBU) announced officially on Friday that it, along with the football associations from Sweden, Norway and Finland is exploring the possibility of bidding for European Championship hosting in 2024 or 2028.
Dutch revamp leagues to boost competitive structure
By Samindra Kunti
March 7 – The Dutch FA, the KNVB, is further fine-tuning a structural reform of its domestic club football. From the 2016/17 season onwards professional and amateur football in the Netherlands will be integrated through a mandatory system of promotion and relegation. In a latest reform the ‘Topklasse’ has been rebranded as ‘Derde Divisie’ (Third Division).
UEFA wait for Platini but could still have a new leader by Euros
By Andrew Warshaw
March 4 – UEFA could elect a new president just before the start of the European Championship finals in June if Michel Platini fails to clear his name.
Tax and fraud investigators swoop on Belgian FA
By Samindra Kunti
March 4 – Local law enforcement authorities are investigating possible tax evasion and a conflict of interests at the Belgian FA KBVB. The torrent of allegations of financial mismanagement may make the position of KBVB president François De Keersmaecker (pictured) untenable.
Olympiakos again; Abandoned cup match sees government suspend competition
By Andrew Warshaw
March 4 – Greek football has been plunged into yet more disgrace after the government cancelled the domestic cup competition when the first leg of the semi-final between PAOK Salonika and Olympiakos Piraeus was abandoned due to crowd trouble.
ITV looks to Euro 2016 to boost flat advertising performance
By Mark Baber
March 3 – UK broadcaster ITV is banking on the Euro 2016 Tournament in France to boost its ad revenues after a flat performance in the first quarter.
Match-fixing suspicions grow in Belgium as second game is identified
By Samindra Kunti
March 3 – A Belgian top-flight match between KV Oostende vs Waasland-Beveren has been identified in a German TV documentary as showing signs of betting related match-fixing. The new revelations cast what is becoming a growing shadow over Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League.
Leaderless UEFA needs Platini to step aside, says Germany’s Rauball
By Andrew Warshaw
March 3 – Michel Platini should throw in the towel and step down as UEFA president as soon as possible in order to avoid a leadership vacuum, according to the boss of the German FA.