Four convicted by Dutch authorities following violence against Israelis
March 20 – Dutch authorities have convicted four more men for their part in November’s violence against Israeli fans that sparked accusations of anti-Semitism.
Europe
ECA looks to reinforce EU links following Executive Committee and Board meetings
March 20 – European Club Association (ECA) has concluded its first Executive Committee and Board Meetings of the year and reinforced its commitment to strengthening ties with key European Union (EU) institutions.
Rangers set for UEFA sanctions following condemnation of “anti-woke” banner
March 20 – Scottish Premiership side Rangers have condemned fans who held up a giant “anti-woke” banner during a recent UEFA Europa League (UEL) tie and admit they now face significant sanctions from UEFA.
Bulgarian club sorry for mourning ex-player who is still alive!
March 20 – Arda Kardzhali’s management has apologized to club legend Petko Ganchev (pictured) after finding out that they had mourned him prior to last weekend’s Bulgarian league match with Levski Sofia when he was in fact very much alive!
Gareth Southgate warns of danger of social media influencers on young men
March 19 – Former England manager Gareth Southgate has raised concerns that “cold-hearted, manipulative, and toxic influencers” are stepping into the role of traditional father figures, worsening mental health challenges for young men.
LaLiga joins forces with EA Sports FC again to tackle discrimination in football
March 18 – LaLiga has launched the fourth edition of its annual anti-racism campaign in partnership with EA Sports FC as part of its broader strategy to tackle discrimination in football and strengthen its social responsibility credentials.
French government urged to take action over discriminatory chanting after Le Classique abuse
March 18 – Homophobic and racist chanting during the traditional Ligue 1 showpiece between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Marseille has once again blighted the game domestically amid calls for French authorities to do more to stop it.
A French campaign group has urged the government to punish discriminatory chanting, while Marseille midfielder Adrien Rabiot, a former PSG player who not for the first time was targeted, took aim at PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
UEFA launches Queenzine platform to promote UWCL host cities
March 18 – UEFA has launched Queenzine, a new content platform aimed at celebrating the diverse football cultures of cities hosting UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) fixtures, while elevating the competition’s stars and connecting with fans beyond matchdays.
France’s top two leagues launch anti-piracy campaign
March 18 – France’s top divisions, Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, have united in a campaign against piracy, urging fans to support their clubs by subscribing to official broadcast partners.
Cercle Brugge sack Feldhofer following disappointing campaign
March 18 – Belgian club Cercle Brugge have dismissed manager Ferdinand Feldhofer after the club finished 13th in the Pro League table, ultimately falling into the relegation play-offs.
Shkupi pay tribute to ‘heroic’ Lazarov after midfielder’s death in nightclub fire
Sobaclieu.com
March 18 – North Macedonian side FC Shkupi have paid tribute to midfielder Andrej Lazarov, who was one of the 59 people killed in the fire at a nightclub in Kocani at the weekend. Due to the huge tragedy, seven days of national mourning were declared in North Macedonia.
TEAM’s 35-year UEFA club deal to end in 2027 with US’s Relevent taking over
March 17 – UEFA has confirmed that one of European football’s longest established commercial partnerships is about to end with the announcement that its leading clubs are set to drop the Swiss agency that has sold Champions League rights since 1992 and replace it New York-based Relevent Sports.
Frankfurt fans’ banners delay kick-off at Bochum
March 17 – A dispute over fan banners blocking emergency exits caused kickoff to be delayed by nearly an hour in a German Bundesliga game between Bochum and Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
Giantkillers sharpen their weaponry as Open Cup pitches them against pro-clubs in 1st round
March 17 – The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) has announced the broadcast schedule for the opening two rounds of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and they will air exclusively on its dedicated YouTube channel at youtube.com/ussoccer.
Interview: DFB’s Heike Ullrich talks to IWF about the opportunity for the women’s game and Germany’s Euro 2029 bid
March 14 – 2025 is a busy year for European women’s football. In addition to EURO 2025 in Switzerland, the race to host the following Women’s EURO, in 2029, is a high-profile affair, with Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Denmark/Sweden competing. This week they each submitted their preliminary bid to UEFA, ahead of final submission in August. The UEFA Executive Committee will decide on the hosts in December.