UEFA bans Galatasaray from Europe after failure to meet FFP rules
March 3 – In a firm statement of intent, UEFA have thrown Galatasaray out of European competition for a year for breaching financial fair play rules.
Europe
English clubs hold Super League breakaway talks in London with US backer
By Andrew Warshaw
March 3 – The spectre of a breakaway European super league has been rekindled after reports that secret talks had taken place on a new closed-shop competition featuring the Continent’s biggest clubs.
100-day countdown to EURO2016 begins with French focus on security and legacy
By Samindra Kunti
March 2 – EURO2016 preparations are gaining speed across France as the hosts celebrate a milestone 100 days to go until the kick-off of this summer’s big football tournament, but security remains a top concern for the organisers.
Belgian club calls for betting investigation after players admit to gambling
By Samindra Kunti
March 1 – Belgian top-flight club Oud-Heverlee Leuven has demanded that UEFA monitor a number of its games after a number of its players were named as having potentially gambled on matches.
Russian roulette? How FIFA dodged the Kuwait/Indonesian vote bullet
By Andrew Warshaw
March 1 – What would have happened if only one or two votes had separated the winner and runner-up in Friday’s FIFA election vote?
Sandrock quits German FA as DFB prepares for new president and 2006 bid report
By Andrew Warshaw
March 1 – Just a few days before the release of an eagerly awaited internal report into slush fund allegations surrounding Germany’s successful 2006 World Cup bid, another senior German FA official has left his position, fuelling speculation that the report could produce explosive findings.
Greece’s Theodoridis favourite to reach Olympian heights at UEFA
By Andrew Warshaw
March 1 – UEFA are set to appoint Theodore Theodoridis as their interim general secretary to replace Gianni Infantino later this week, a somewhat controversial choice given his family’s alleged links with match-fixing.
Spurs’ Dele Alli racks up the mileage to head his year group across Europe
February 29 – A ranking of the players who have made the most domestic league appearances since the start of their adult career shows English Premier League players occupying 15 of the 20 age group categories.
Olympiacos in suspicious Europa League match as RTL ask the Marinakis-question
By Matt Scott
February 29 – The Northern Irish referee Arnold Hunter has been drawn in to the match-fixing scandal surrounding Olympiacos over his performance in Anderlecht’s 2-1 Europa League win over the Greek champions last Thursday night.
Hakan Sukur faces 4 years in jail for “insulting” Turkish president on Twitter
By Mark Baber
February 25 – The Turkish national team’s record goal scorer, former Inter Milan and Galatasaray striker Hakan Sukur, has been indicted for insulting the increasingly dictatorial Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Twitter, an offence for which he faces up to four years in a Turkish jail.
Juventus grab draw against Bayern but still playing catch-up in money game
February 24 – FC Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw at Juventus FC in the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final left the latter more spirited as they came back from a 2-0 deficit. Off the pitch, though, is another story. KPMG’s Football Benchmark team has found that Bayern significantly outperformed Juventus for the 2014/2015 season.
Martial and Bellerin top tables, but if you are U21 head for France
February 23 – Under 21 players are far more likely to be given playing time in France’s Ligue 1 than in any of the other Big 5 European leagues in England, Germany, Italy or Spain. In fact, they are almost three times as likely to get playing time than in England’s Premier League.
Jordanian banker buys Bristol Rovers promising ‘evolution’ and a new stadium
By Paul Nicholson
February 22 – While Jordan’s Prince Ali enters the final week of his second quest to conquer the top table of world football and become FIFA president, one of his billionaire subjects has shown a much more humble ambition by buying a 92% stake in fourth tier English club Bristol Rovers.
Face time: Turks and Russians get shirty over Putin image, UEFA get sanctions
February 19 – A Russian footballer who removed his shirt to provocatively reveal a picture of Vladimir Putin at a Europa League fixture in Turkey is to be punished by his club which in turn is to be sanctioned by UEFA.
Pirelli and Inter set to renew with three-year deal but on different terms
By Mark Baber
February 17 – Milan’s Internationale and Pirelli are on the verge of signing a new three-year deal to extend their 20 year partnership, according to Italian reports.