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.
Europe
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.
Lazio Ultras graffiti Stadio Olimpico with anti-Semetic stickers
October 24 – Italian police and football authorities have opened an investigation into reports that Lazio fans left anti-Semitic stickers and graffiti, including images of famed Holocaust victim Anne Frank wearing a Roma shirt, during last weekend’s Serie A match against Cagliari.
Police investigate Belgian/Dutch battle of Bruges fan violence
October 24 – Belgian police are investigating a serious outbreak of fan violence caused by Belgian and Dutch fans which left a policeman with a broken jaw and led to 120 arrests.
UEFA hits Spartak Moscow and Roma with sanctions for racism
October 23 – UEFA has ordered the partial closure of Spartak Moscow’s stadium for their next European home match as punishment for the latest outbreak of racist behaviour by supporters, this time towards Liverpool striker Bobby Adekanye during a Youth League match last month.
Olsson says leagues will fight to narrow gap between UEFA’s rich and poor
By Andrew Warshaw
October 20 – The head of the umbrella body representing European leagues went back on the offensive today over the gap between rich and poor saying it would be a “real disaster” if UEFA fails to address future competitive balance in its club tournaments.
Man Utd earn €44.5m for Europa League win, more than twice nearest rival
October 20 – Manchester United pocketed €44.5 million of the more than €423.1 million in payments from UEFA for winning the 2016/17 Europa League. 56 clubs shared in the payments that were increased from the €411.1 million distributed in 2015/16.
Danish women end strike to play Croatia qualifier but pay dispute still not resolved
October 20 – The Danish Football Association (DBU) says it has reached a “partial agreement” with the women’s national team over a long-running pay dispute, paving the way for the team to play the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Croatia on Tuesday.
English FA bosses humiliated as Sampson case exposes racism and ‘blackmail’
By Andrew Warshaw
October 19 – The reputation of English football bosses has plummeted to an all-time and potentially fatal low following a grovelling apology to former England women’s internationals Eniola Aluko (pictured) and Drew Spence for racial comments made to them by former manager Mark Sampson.
Danish women’s pay strike forces cancellation of World Cup qualifier
October 19 – Denmark risk being thrown out of the women’s World Cup after refusing to play Sweden in a qualifier on Friday because of a festering pay dispute with the Danish Football Association (DBU).
Eurostadium builder offers up cash and redesign as UEFA deadline nears
By Samindra Kunti
October 18 – Construction consortium Ghemlanco has proposed a new design and extra funding for the Eurostadium in Brussels in a last-minute effort to push ahead with the controversial project for the 2020 European Championships. UEFA has given a deadline for clarity on the stadium build of November 20.
Figo signs on for advisory role with UEFA
October 12 – Portuguese legend Luis Figo, who ran for FIFA president two years ago before pulling out of the race with a stinging attack on the electoral process, has joined UEFA as a football advisor.
UEFA unveils Nations League tiering with draw set for January 2018
October 11 – The pots for the first ever UEFA Nations League have been confirmed, with the Netherlands, who failed to qualify for the World Cup, being handed some consolation by snatching a top spot from Wales following the final round of World Cup qualifying.