Ukraine says it will restart Premier League despite on-going war with Russia
June 6 – The Ukrainian Premier League is planning on resuming from August despite the ongoing war with Russia following approval by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Europe
Hungarians teaching racism early? School children at ‘closed door’ England game boo taking the knee
June 6 – England manager Gareth Southgate has expressed his dismay after a crowd made up almost entirely of schoolchildren booed the England team for taking the knee before Saturday’s Nations League game against Hungary in Budapest.
Pardew quits CSKA Sofia after racist fans abuse black players
June 6 – Managers normally quit clubs either to move on to bigger and better or because they are sacked.
UEFA apologises to fans for Paris final chaos and promises full and transparent review
By Paul Nicholson
June 4 – In stark contrast to the French authorities who refuse to accept any blame for the shameful scenes that occurred before and after the Champions League final in Paris, UEFA has issued an apology to fans and reiterated that it has commissioned an independent review of the incident and that the findings will be published in full.
French ministers keep finger pointed at Liverpool’s ‘public order’ problem in senate debate
By Samindra Kunti
June 3 – In a three-hour debate in the French senate, French interior minister Gérald Darmanin and sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéa shied away from taking any responsibility for the dangerous chaos at the Champions League final on Saturday in Paris, repeating the bizarre claim that 50%-70% of tickets were counterfeit.
Paris chaos: French keep spinning with blame now on Liverpool fans with fake tickets
June 1 – In a shift from blaming late fan arrivals to fake tickets, the French FA (FFF) has said that 35,000 supporters coming to the Stade de France for Saturday’s chaotic Champions League final in Paris had no tickets or counterfeit tickets, echoing what French authorities claimed on Monday, but with a slightly different number.
Sold out Finalissima brings Italy and Argentina to Wembley for intercontinental challenge
June 1 – Italy and Argentina meet at a sold-out Wembley Stadium tonight pitting the European and South American champions in a new showpiece fixture dubbed ‘Finalissima’.
Closed doors Hungary vs England match opened for U14s
June 1 – England’s game against Hungary in Budapest on Saturday, which was scheduled to be played behind closed doors, will now have a crowd in excess of 30,000, according to UK media reports.
Down and out Mouscron files for bankruptcy
June 1 – Mouscron has filed for bankruptcy, bringing to an end last-minute rescue attempts by the club and the city to find a new investor.
UEFA set up independent inquiry into Champions League chaos
By Andrew Warshaw
May 31 – European football’s governing body have bowed to public pressure by ordering an independent inquiry into the disgraceful scenes that that marred Saturday’s Champions League final in Paris.
not us, not US, NOT US: French ministers attempt to shift blame for Paris disgrace
By Samindra Kunti
May 31 – Under pressure for the dangerous disorder at the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris, French authorities shifted the blame for the chaos to Liverpool fans with fake tickets, which were in circulation because of a “massive, industrial and organised fraud” according to French interior minister Gérald Darmanin.
Liverpool fans tell their stories
May 31 – The disturbing scenes in Paris at the Champions League Final bring shame on the French organisers and UEFA. The subsequent blame-game by the French is almost as distasteful.
Germany’s Bundesliga clubs mandate sustainability criteria in club licensing rules
May 31 – Germany’s Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs have agreed to the inclusion of a binding sustainability guideline in their club licensing regulations.
UEFA and French face tough questions over most dangerous Champions League final ever
By Andrew Warshaw
May 30 – Were Liverpool fans deliberately targeted because of past incidents involving English supporters?
Liverpool demand investigation into crowd chaos at Stade de France
By Samindra Kunti in Paris
May 29 – The Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid descended into chaos because of major safety concerns in the hours leading up to the final and even after kickoff had been delayed by 36 minutes. The complete disorder raises serious questions of UEFA and the Paris organisers.