By Andrew Warshaw
January 20 – As UEFA’s top brass prepare to convene at their Swiss headquarters this week amidst the fallout from Michel Platini’s ban, the head of one of Europe’s smallest federations has blown open the divisions and uncertainty afflicting European football’s governing body.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 19 – FIFA presidential candidate Gianni Infantino is confident Caribbean support can push him over the line when he contests the election on February 26.
By Mark Baber
January 19 – Audit firm Deloitte Global predicts that the European football market may generate $30 billion (€27 billion) in revenues in 2016/2017, an $8 billion (€7 billion) increase relative to 2011/2012, and a compound annual growth rate of seven percent.
January 19 – Stoke City are the most ‘efficient’ team in Europe’s Big 5 leagues, according to the latest data from the CIES Football Observatory. PSG are beaten into third place in the ranking by Villareal, while Manchester United are placed fifth.
January 12 – Bolton Wanderers, one of the most iconic names in English football, have been given a stay of execution by avoiding an immediate winding-up order.
January 19 – Hull City, Panathinaikos and Sporting Lisbon have all settled their financial fair play issues with UEFA but Galatasaray have failed to comply with break-even rules and have been referred to the governing body’s adjudicatory chamber.
By Paul Nicholson
January 19 – The US investigation into money laundering by South American football officials has gained a wider perspective as news has broken that one of the senior bankers at Swiss bank Julius Baer has been in US custody since the autumn.
January 18 – The Spanish league has come out in support of Real and Atletico Madrid describing the FIFA transfer bans meted out to both of them as “disproportionate” and “excessive”.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – Real Madrid and their cross-town rivals Atletico have reacted with shock and dismay after being slapped with transfer bans by FIFA for breaching regulations on the acquisition of non-Spanish minors under the age of 18.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of the body that represents Europe’s biggest clubs, has rekindled speculation about a breakaway European Super League.
January 15 – The German Football Association has expressed its interest in testing video replay technology at the highest level domestically if the game’s rulemakers give the idea the thumbs up in March.
By Mark Baber
January 12 – Paris Saint-Germain have sent a legal letter demanding Sri Lankan-British rapper MIA takes down the video for her new song ‘Borders’ as it features the singer wearing a PSG shirt modified to read “Fly Pirates” instead of “Fly Emirates”.
January 11 – There are underdogs and teams who punch above their weight – and then there is the tiny Basque club of Eibar.
By Paul Nicholson
January 11 – International players account for 90% of the minutes played by Real Madrid last year, compared to a much lower 70% at Barcelona. Europe’s other ‘international’ leaders are predominantly in England with Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd and, perhaps surprisingly, Spurs all at more than 80%.
January 11 – UEFA and Abritel-HomeAway, a world leader in vacation rentals, are joining forces in the lead up to and during EURO2016 to serve visitors with official fan accommodation for the tournament.