Red carded Moldovanov gets 10-match ban for bottle throw
December 4 – A Bulgarian player who tried to strike a referee with a bottle after being sent off has been banned for 10 games by his country’s football association.
Europe
Valencia hunt for ‘Messi-bottle’ thrower
December 4 – Valencia have promised to ban for life the fan who threw a plastic bottle that struck Lionel Messi on the head – if the club can ever discover who the culprit was.
Bayern is world’s biggest club, by membership
December 4 – FC Bayern Munich is the world’s biggest club if you take into account membership numbers only. Portugal’s Benfica comes second, followed by FC Barcelona, Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund.
UEFA meet to decide National League format
December 3 – The exact format of UEFA’s new Nations League competition tops the agenda at this week’s executive committee meeting at their Swiss headquarters.
Greek tragedy adds new twist with FIFA and UEFA warning to clubs
By Mark Baber
December 3 – FIFA and UEFA have reportedly sent a joint letter to the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) warning that proposed government legislation, which is aimed at tackling the serious problem of corruption and match-fixing in Greek football, constitutes an unacceptable involvement of the state in football and would lead to the country being banned from international competitions.
Spanish promise crackdown to expel Ultra groups from stadiums
By Mark Baber
December 2 – The death of Deportivo de La Coruña fan Francisco José Romero Taboada before the match between and Atlético de Madrid on Sunday has dominated Spain’s news agenda, with the Spanish government saying the death marks a watershed and Ultra groups will be banned from stadiums.
Bayern Munich’s Andreas Jung on business, Dortmund and Hoeness
By Mathias Frohnapfel
December 2 – In an interview with our associated company, SPORT1, Bayern Munich’s commercial chief and board member Andreas Jung spoke about shirt sales, the Dortmund rivalry, the rise of Leipzig and Uli Hoeness. Jung was speaking before the meeting of Bayern club members last week.
Slovakia’s AS Trencin eyes new €6.3m stadium
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
December 2 – Slovakian top tier club has started demolishing work at its stadium to make space for a new ground. The total cost of the redevelopment is estimated to be about €6.3 million.
Now who’s sacking who? Leeds’ maverick owner Cellino kicked out by league
By Andrew Warshaw
December 2 – The turmoil that surrounds Leeds United, one of the most iconic clubs in English football, has deepened further after Italian entrepreneur Massimo Cellino was disqualified from owning the club – seven months after taking over.
Emirates boards AC Milan for another 5 years and €85m
By Paul Nicholson
December 2 – AC Milan have renewed their shirt sponsorship deal with Emirates airline in a five-year deal reported to be worth €85 million.
Niersback pushes Qatar on labour reform and hints at UEFA challenger to Blatter
December 1 – Wolfgang Niersbach, the German FA president who is being touted as a future president of UEFA or FIFA, has called for a deadline to be placed on 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar to prove it is making progress with reforming its workers’ rights policy.
Fan violence in Madrid leads to death of Deportivo fan
December 1 – Spanish football is reeling from the death of a Deportivo La Coruna fan after violent clashes ahead of the weekend visit to champions Atletico Madrid.
Rangers to return to market to raise further £8m investment
November 28 – Scottish club giants Rangers are seeking new investment to plug an anticipated £8 million requirement over the next year, but cash is likely to be needed as soon as January. The club said it will seek the funds via a fresh share issue after announcing an operating loss of £8.3 million for the year to 30 June 2014.
Spurs face UEFA inquiry after third pitch invader halts Europa League game
November 28 – UEFA seem likely to sanction Tottenham Hotspur for inadequate safety measures after three bizarre one-man pitch invasions interrupted their Europa League match against Partizan Belgrade on Thursday.
Brandao headbutt on Motta lands him a month in French prison
November 28 – In one of the harshest rulings meted out for an on-the-field offence, Bastia’s Brazilian striker Brandao has been handed a one-month jail sentence in France for headbutting Paris St-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta in the players’ tunnel back in August.