NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars commit to back-to-back home games at Wembley in 2020
February 5 –The Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team will play two of their home games at London’s Wembley Stadium over consecutive Sundays in 2020.
Europe
Bundesliga sanctions one-off fan firework test in Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion
February 5 – For years fans all over Europe have fallen foul of UEFA rules banning letting off flares, with clubs sanctioned accordingly. But now, for the first time, the German FA has granted permission for ‘legal’ pyrotechnics in a domestic fixture.
Neymar birthday celebration leaves superstar with an unwanted present
February 4 – Neymar is out injured again. So what, you might ask. Except that a rib injury which will keep out of action against Nantes in the French league tonight was made worse by partying at a nightclub to celebrate his 28th birthday.
Irish government bails out FAI with promise of annual €2.5m loan, interest free
January 31 – The future of the embattled Irish Football Association (FAI) has been saved after the Irish Government agreed to double its funding and give the federation an interest free loan of €2.5 million annually for the next three years as part of a refinancing arrangement.
Platini is ‘happy’ but he still doesn’t like Blatter or VAR
January 31 – Free to work in football again now that his ban from the game is over, Michel Platini says he is a happy man despite never realising his ambition of running FIFA and instead seeing his reputation shattered.
Manchester City fans fly into trouble with Munich air crash taunt
January 30 – Manchester’s two rival clubs face being sanctioned after tensions ran high between both sets of supporters during their League semi-final second leg tie on Wednesday.
Belgian corruption probe sees police swoop on home of Standard Liege chairman Venanzi
By Samindra Kunti
January 29 – Belgian police swooped on the home of Standard Liege chairman Bruno Venanzi (pictured) and carried out searches at the club’s stadium Sclessin on Wednesday morning as part of the investigation into football agent Christophe Henrotay.
Cardiff City urge French prosecutor to look into Sala plane crash
January 29 – The repercussions of the tragic death almost exactly one year ago of Argentine striker Emiliano Sala are again making headlines for all the wrong reasons with buying club Cardiff City urging legal proceedings against selling club Nantes.
Eintracht Frankfurt post-humously strip Gramlich of honorary title over historic Nazi links
January 28 – German top-flight club Eintracht Frankfurt have post-humously stripped their former president Rudolf Gramlich, who was in charge when they won their only league title in 1959 and the following year when they contested the European Cup final, of an honorary title after discovering his involvement with the Nazis before and during the Second World War.
China’s Ke Hua Sports steps in with cash at Lokeren but deal raises integrity alarm bells
January 27 – Belgian second-division club Sporting Lokeren has partnered with Chinese consortium Ke Hua Sports in a bid to stave off relegation, but the move has raised eyebrows over the integrity surrounding the deal.
Irish call up Quinn for deputy CEO role
January 27 – Former Republic of Ireland striker Niall Quinn (pictured), one of the most respected figures in Irish football, has been appointed as the Football Association of Ireland’s (FAI) interim deputy chief executive as the federation strives to regain its credibility and reputation.
Games postponed after attack leaves semi-pro player dead
January 27 – Three men have been arrested after an English part-time footballer died following an assault in Retford in the east midlands area of the country.
BeneLiga talks progress as report suggests league could generate €400m in rights fees
January 24 – A Deloitte study suggests the BeneLiga could generate up to €400 million, reinforcing the idea of a future merger between the Belgian and Dutch top flights into a single more competitive and powerful league.
FIFPro issue statement saying Platini has no formal role at player’s union
January 24 – The news of Michel Platini’s return to football administration appears to have been premature, at least in terms of a formal appointment.
Man Utd fans hit ugly note with team ownership song
January 24 – Increasingly frustrated at their once all-conquering team’s diminishing reputation and lacklustre displays, Manchester United fans have been criticised for the way in which they have taken their frustrations out on chief executive Ed Woodward (pictured).