UEFA’s children’s foundation releases €4.8m for new projects worldwide
November 20 – UEFA’s Foundation for Children has announced a raft of new projects on what is its fifth anniversary this year.
Europe
UEFA hands Nations League points to Romania after Norwegians forced told to stay home
November 19 – In a landmark move by UEFA that illustrates the increasingly thorny issue of Covid 19’s impact on international football, Romania have been handed a 3-0 win over Norway after their Nations League match was cancelled due to the Norwegian authorities banning the country’s national team from travelling to Bucharest.
Belgium, Italy, France and Spain head for Nations League finals in October
November 19 – Belgium and Italy completed the line-up for the Nations League’s final four on Wednesday with wins against Denmark and Bosnia and Herzegovina respectively. They will meet Spain and France in October 2021 to decide the winner of the tournament’s second edition.
EFL backs return of 5 subs rule as fixtures and injury fears mount
November 19 – The English Football League (EFL) has voted to re-instate the five-substitute rule across all its three divisions from this Friday, heaping pressure on the Premier League to follow suit.
Joy for Wales and Czechs as Israel ruin Scots’ Nations League progression
November 19 – Wales secured promotion to the top tier of the Nations League with a 3-1 win over 10-man Finland in Cardiff on Wednesday and virtually guaranteed themselves a 2022 World Cup play-off spot.
LaLiga salary cap cuts club spending by more than €600m with Barca hardest hit
By Samindra Kunti
November 18 – La Liga has acted to keep club spending under control by reduced salary caps across its two leagues by more than €600 million because of the coronavirus pandemic. Clubs are currently on track to overspend their income by €500 million.
Ukraine runs out of players as positive tests force Swiss game off
November 18 – The effect of Covid-19 on international football in Europe reached a new low on Tuesday when Ukraine’s Nations League game against Switzerland was called off just hours before kick-off after six Ukrainian players and one member of the coaching staff tested positive.
Loew point: Spain hit Germany for six
November 18 – Shell-shocked German head coach Joachim Loew was at a loss to explain his country’s biggest ever defeat in competitive football after they were thrashed 6-0 by Spain in the Nations League.
Tebas says Man City’s finance is impossible to fight and that Super League makes no sense
November 18 – Outspoken La Liga boss Javier Tebas has launched another verbal assault over the way Manchester City does business, alleging the Abu Dhabi-funded English club “competes outside the rules”.
Calls for more action on dementia, English FA says its research is ahead of the game
November 18 – The English Football Association insists it holds a “clear and unwavering commitment” in the battle against dementia after the family of former England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles hit out at a failure to address the “scandal” of the illness.
England reshuffle their political pack with Gill persuaded to go again at UEFA
November 17 – England have scrambled to retain a seat at the top table of European football with David Gill reportedly having agreed to continue for another four-year term on UEFA’s executive committee.
Hollywood duo buy Wrexham with promise to put them on a global stage
November 17 – One of the most unusual takeovers in club football is to go ahead after Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds (pictured left) and Rob McElhenney (pictured right) won approval from supporters to buy Wrexham AFC, the oldest professional club in Wales and the third oldest in the world.
Barca set presidential election for Jan; Favourite Font casts doubt over Koeman’s future
November 17 – Barcelona have been given the green light by the local Catalan authorities to hold their presidential election on January 24 following the recent resignation of Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Platini quizzed again over the CHF2m ‘disloyalty’ cash
November 16 – The infamous CHF2 million “disloyalty payment” that helped bring down both Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini is back in the news with Platini due to appear today before the Swiss judiciary for the third time in two and half months and the fourth time in all.
Tebas calls for rethink of Spanish betting ban that will cost LaLiga clubs €90m
November 16 – La Liga president Javier Tebas has again spoken out of the damage a ban on betting sponsorships will have on club and their ability to trade solvently, especially with the covid crisis preventing fans in stadia for what is likely to be until at least the end of the current season.