By Andrew Warshaw
Michael van Praag says he will endeavour to “completely overhaul” UEFA if he becomes president in succession to Michel Platini next month, turning Europe’s governing body into a far more streamlined and accountable organisation by cutting administrative costs and helping smaller federations grow and develop.
By Paul Nicholson
August 26 – UEFA has agreed proposals to revamp the qualifying for the Champions League with the top four clubs from the four top-ranked European national leagues automatically qualifying for the group stages. The winners of the Europa League will also qualify directly to the following season’s Champions League group stages.
August 25 – No prizes for guessing the most mouth-watering tie in the Champions League group stage, the draw for which was made on Thursday.
August 25 – Two weeks after being nominated for the position, Greg Clarke has formally taken over as the new chairman of the English Football Association in succession to the outspoken and often controversial Greg Dyke who has stepped down after three years.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 24 – UEFA presidential candidate Alexander Ceferin has laid down the gauntlet to Europe’s major clubs by warning that any move to form a breakaway league would lead to “war” with the governing body.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 24 – Three weeks before the eagerly awaited UEFA presidential election to replace Michel Platini, Spanish football boss Angel Maria Villar has become the last of the three candidates to unveil his manifesto, promising democracy and transparency if he clinches victory on September 14.
August 24 – It was always going to be a tall order and as expected Dundalk’s attempt to become the first Irish side to make the Champions League group stages fell just short as they lost 3-1 to Legia Warsaw on aggregate after a creditable 1-1 draw in Poland.
August 23 – Israeli police have pledged to crack down on any Celtic fans who display pro-Palestinian flags at tonight’s Champions League playoff second leg against Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 23 – There are plenty of fairytale footballing stories like Leicester City’s Premier League success and Wales’ rollercoaster ride at Euro 2016. But at European club level, few match that of tiny Dundalk in the Republic of Ireland.
August 22 – Arsenal legends including Thierry Henry, will play an AC Milan legends team including Paulo Maldini at the Emirates Stadium September 3.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 19 – With the UEFA presidential election a month away, the youngest and least known of all three candidates, Aleksader Ceferin, is picking up valuable support in his bid to take over the governing body of European football.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 19 – The manager of Scottish giants Celtic has urged UEFA not to bow to the demands of Europe’s traditional big-hitters to the detriment of other equally deserving clubs as European football’s governing body prepares to head off the threat of a breakaway Super League.
August 19 – The preliminary round of the UEFA Futsal Cup for clubs completes this weekend with 32 teams battling for 8 places in the Main round of 24. The 2016/17 championship has seen a record entry of 52 clubs including for the first time teams from Kosovo and San Marino,
By Paul Nicholson
August 17 – Celtic fans, a hard-core group of whom have never been shy to express political opinion at football matches, defied Scottish police and club requests with hundreds of them waving Palestinian flags at their first-leg Champions League play-off against Israeli champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
By Paul Nicholson
August 17 – The UEFA Champions League and its associated Europa League club competition now looks certain to change its qualification format to head off the threat of a Super League breakaway by leading clubs.