UEFA releases funds for 28 projects to support vulnerable children worldwide
November 27 – The UEFA Foundation for Children have allocated funds to 28 new projects in support of vulnerable children around the world.
Europe
English FA and PFA commission research into link between heading and dementia
November 24 – English football authorities have commissioned a report into whether former footballers are more likely to have suffered from dementia later in life than the general public because of repeatedly heading the ball.
EFL issues tender for new charity partner
November 24 – The English Football League (EFL), has opened a tender process for its official charity partner. It’s current charity partner is Prostate Cancer UK which has raised more than £2 million to support research into finding better ways of diagnosing and treating prostate cancer.
Bayern fans protest at €100 tickets for Anderlecht game
November 23 – Germany’s Bundesliga is proud of its reputation for fair play when it comes to ticket prices so it was no surprise when Bayern Munich fans who travelled to Belgium for Wednesday’s Champions League game against Anderlecht vented their fury after being charged €100.
Et tu, Brute? Roman knives cut deep as Tavecchio quits Italian FA presidency
By Andrew Warshaw
November 21 – It isn’t every day that the head of a federation resigns as well as the coach following the failure of the national team. But then Italy is not just any team.
UEFA splits off its womens rights and hunts for agency in bid to accelerate growth
November 16 – In a bid to make the women’s game more sustainable and accelerate the growth of the game, UEFA is unbundling commercial rights for its women’s competitions and appoint a sales agency specifically for women’s football sponsorship.
Boot on the other foot as Evra seeks new club after UEFA ban him and OM kick him out
November 13 – The career of former France captain Patrice Evra has been plunged into disgrace with the veteran defender thrown out of European competition by UEFA until the end of June next year for his infamous kick on one of his own Marseille fans in a Europa League tie at Guimaraes earlier this month.
News analysis: Greek courts starts to unravel football allegations
By Lefteris Charalambopoulos
November 9 – An irreversible decision issued by the Council of Appeals Court Judges in Athens, Greece, charging 28 individuals of match-fixing, drops four charges against Evangelos Marinakis and puts an end to speculation and some wild allegations against the shipping magnate and owner of Olympiakos. It also raises questions about the depth of the malaise and infighting that plagues Greek football.
Germany to join England in wearing poppy at ‘remembrance’ friendly
November 8 – England and Germany will wear black armbands bearing poppies for their friendly international at Wembley on Friday in remembrance of members of the armed forces, past and present.
Germans sack video ref chief as VAR system shrouded in controversy again
By Andrew Warshaw
November 7 – The official in charge of video replays in the Bundesliga has been stripped of his role as opposition mounts against a system FIFA president Gianni Infantino is determined to use at the World Cup next year.
Nations League offers olive branch to non-UEFA nations for a global competition
By Andrew Warshaw
November 7 – Gianni Infantino’s recent observation that FIFA will be examining all its competitions to see how they best fit into the international calendar has taken an interesting twist with the disclosure that the new Nations League tournament could be expanded beyond Europe and be turned into an ambitious global event.
Evra banned after seeing red for kicking fan before start of Europa League tie
November 3 – It must rank as one of the most bizarre as well as earliest and contentious sendings-off in history.
Cologne hit with €60K fine by UEFA after fans outgun Arsenal security preparations
October 31 – Cologne have been fined €60,000 by UEFA after crowd trouble marred their Europa League group match at Arsenal in September.
Sweden’s Dalkurd flies flag for Kurds worldwide as it breaks into top tier
October 30 – Kurdish fans around the world may not have a national team but they are nevertheless celebrating after Swedish club Dalkurd won promotion to the country’s top division after existing for just 13 years.
Barca’s Bartomeu says Catalan club will stay in La Liga
October 24 – Placed in the most delicate of diplomatic situations, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says the club wishes to continue playing in La Liga even though it backs Catalonia’s drive for self-determination.