Azerbaijan’s Qarabağ FK loses UEFA appeal over racist sanctions
January 29 – UEFA’s appeals body has upheld a €100,000 fine imposed last November on Qarabağ FK and rejected the club’s appeal.
Europe
UEFA extends decision deadline on 12-city Euros in hope it can get fans into stadia
By Andrew Warshaw
January 28 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says he remains committed to staging next summer’s delayed Euros in the current format of 12 cities despite recent surges of the coronavirus pandemic across the continent.
Getting Messi: Barca threaten to go legal with PSG over claims they will sign him
January 28 – An unsavoury row has broken out between Barcelona and Paris St Germain over the future of Lionel Messi with the Catalan giants threatening to report the Middle East-owned Ligue 1 champions to FIFA and UEFA.
Fans hate agents, prefer domestic leagues and feel it all costs too much, finds survey
January 28 – A survey of football fans has found that generally they think agents are overpaid, that leagues are too weighted towards so-called big teams, that there are too many national team matches but not too many club games, and that it costs too much to watch whether via pay TV or in stadia.
Turkish delight: Ozil leaves Arsenal on a free for cash-strapped Fenerbahce
By Andrew Warshaw
January 25 – He cost almost £42 million when he moved to Arsenal over seven years ago, then a club record, helped Germany win the World Cup, earned an eye-watering weekly fortune but has now been transferred for precisely nothing.
Serie B’s Pisa is latest Italian club to move into foreign ownership
January 25 – Alexander Knaster, an Anglo-American tycoon of Russian origin, has acquired a 75% stake in Italian Serie B side Pisa Sporting Club.
EC says super league proposal is ‘not compatible’ with European way of life
January 22 – The European Commission has added its name to mounting opposition to the creation of a breakaway super league that is gathering momentum across the continent.
Win win for Blatter as he comes off critical list after a week in coma and Swiss drop criminal case
January 22 – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter spent a week in an induced coma after having heart surgery in December, his family has revealed.
Le Graët to seek fourth term as president of French federation
January 22 – Noël Le Graët, president of the French Football Federation since 2011, has finally made up his mind and has agreed to stand for a fourth term.
Poland bring in Paula Sousa to lead national team into Euros
January 22 – Poland will be coached by former Portuguese international Paulo Sousa (pictured) at the delayed Euro 2020 finals this year.
Real Madrid knocked out of Spanish Cup by third-tier giantkillers Alcoyano
January 21 – Rotation can backfire. An understrength Real Madrid crashed out of the Spanish Cup in the round of 32 at the hands of third-division club Alcoyano on Wednesday, increasing pressure on French coach Zinedine Zidane.
Amnesty and English FA issue training guide to opening up game to refugee women
January 21 – Amnesty International UK have joined with the English Football Association in issuing a free guide and online training series which aims to increase refugee women’s participation in grassroots football.
Messi and Ronaldo still make the cut in UEFA fan vote for 2020 teams of the year
January 20 – Five Bayern Munich players and seven Olympique Lyonnais stars dominate the UEFA.com men’s and women’s teams of the year, as voted for by almost 6 million fans on the website.
Europe’s 2027 Women’s World Cup bidders plan Feb tournament showcase
January 20 – Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, nations bidding to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, will play in a tri-nations tournament in February to promote their hosting credentials.
Atlético go to CAS in bid to keep Trippier playing despite betting ban
January 20 – As anticipated, Atlético Madrid have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to suspend the ban on their English international Kieran Trippier imposed by his national federation for breaching betting rules.