UEFA pushes button on second edition of eEuros on Konami’s PES platform
October 22 – UEFA has launched the second of its national team esports competition – eEuro 2021 – which will complete with a London final in the summer next year.
Europe
Super League plan would deliver £6bn breakaway for Europe’s biggest clubs
By Andrew Warshaw
October 21 – Yet another audacious challenge to the Champions League is reportedly being plotted behind the scenes involving Europe’s biggest clubs and altering the entire landscape of the game at elite level. It is a repeating narrative in Europe but this time round appears to have FIFA’s encouragement.
Big clubs set dominate cash safe haven of UEFA’s Champions League payouts
October 21 – With the uncertainty surrounding club revenues in domestic leagues, particularly around match day revenue, clubs that have qualified for the UEFA Champions League will be grateful for the relative the financial stability that competition brings.
UEFA calls off U-19 Euros but sends top 5 ranked teams to U-20 World Cup
October 21 – UEFA has cancelled its U-19 European Championship because of the coronavirus pandemic and issues around international travel.
Spanish civil war rages over LaLiga’s Monday and Friday night games
October 21 – The ongoing row between the Spanish league and the national federation over which days domestic matches can take place in the country is back in the news after a Madrid court rejected the latest request by La Liga to play on Mondays and Fridays.
Greeks shelve plans to lift fan ban as virus spikes
October 21 – Greece has dropped plans to allow fans back at sporting events and football matches, the country’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday. The measure forms parts of new tougher restrictions in Greece to combat and contain the coronavirus.
Berbr resigns post as Czech FA scrambles to limit match-fixing damage
By Andrew Warshaw
October 20 – Within hours of being embroiled in match-fixing scandal that has rocked his country, the vice-chairman of the Czech FA, Roman Berbr, has handed in his resignation despite having vehemently denied any involvement.
Lost matches force UEFA to cut Champions and Europa League prize pools
October 20 – The Covid pandemic has forced UEFA to reduce Champions League and Europa League prize money. The cut will be spread over the next five seasons.
UEFA mull expanding UCL group stages to 36 teams
October 20 – UEFA are considering radical plans to change the format of the Champions League to allow 36 clubs in the group stage according to unconfirmed reports.
UEFA kicks off packed UCL schedule with Man Utd at PSG and Bayern vs Atletico
October 20 – The group stages of the UEFA Champions League kick off tonight with a congested calendar and the threat of the coronavirus looming large.
Inter adds launches two new academy projects in Russia
October 20 – Serie A giants Internazionale have continued their international expansion of their Inter Academy programme with two new sites in Russia, in Moscow and Novosibirsk, being added to their existing hub in Saint Petersburg.
Spanish prosecutor demands €105m tax fraud fine for Las Palmas chief Ramirez
October 20 – Spanish prosecutors have requested a jail sentence of 21 and a half years and a €105 million fine for the president of tier two Las Palmas, Miguel Ángel Ramírez.
Joint German-Belgian-Dutch bid launched for Women’s World Cup 2027 hosting
October 19 – Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands have unveiled plans for a joint bid to host the Women’s World Cup in 2027.
Sweeping police raids pick up Czech FA’s Berbr on match-fixing charges
October 19 – The vice-president of the Czech Football Association has been taken into custody after becoming embroiled in a match-fixing scandal he vehemently denies.
Tempers fray as racist insults and bite accusations mar French Ligue 2 match
October 19 – A French second division player has denied biting the cheek of an opposition goalkeeper, declaring instead that he had been racially abused.