By Matt Scott
October 28 – The FIFA World Cup would be expanded to a 40-team tournament under a proposal aired by Michel Platini today. UEFA’s president has responded to a plan discussed by Sepp Blatter, his FIFA counterpart, to cull the number of European teams competing at the tournament finals.
By Alexander Krassimirov
October 28 – Bulgarian football club Lokomotiv Plovdiv has announced it is on the verge of signing a new partnership agreement with the Gazprom petrol station. The news, announced on the club’s website, was denied by the the Executive Director of NIS Petrol Ivan Kostadinov 24 hours later.
By Tom Parsons
October 25 – Many British television viewers will feel short-changed tomorrow on the day of arguably the biggest footballing match in the Spanish calendar. El Clasico (Barcelona v Real Madrid) takes place on Saturday with kick-off at 5:00pm GMT, however due to British broadcasting regulations the first 15 minutes of the game are not allowed to be shown live on British television.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 25 – Professional clubs in France have decided to go on strike for the first time in over 40 years in protest at the government’s proposal to tax business incomes of more than €1 million at a massive 75%. The clubs have unanimously voted in favour of boycotting fixtures scheduled for November 29 and December 2, the first walkout by French players since 1972 and affecting the two top leagues.
By Andrew Warshaw and Paul Nicholson
October 24 – The Russian racism row following Wednesday night’s Champions League clash between CSKA Moscow and Manchester City was elevated a further level today when UEFA President Michel Platini requested an internal investigation into why the UEFA protocol for dealing with racial incidents was not applied. Already UEFA has opened a disciplinary investigation into the actual incident, while the Russian World Cup organisers have also issued a statement promising to eradicate racism.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 24 – After a period of relative calm with so much media focus on the tournament in Qatar four years later, organisers of the 2018 World Cup in Russia have suddenly found themselves back in the spotlight over the festering issue of racism which still shows no sign of being eradicated.
By Panos Bletsos
Ocotber 24 – Olympiakos have announced a two-year deal to promote the UNICEF logo on the front of their shirts and to help the Fund raise at least €2 million. The Greek champions and UEFA Champions League regulars have joined Barcelona in supporting the global children’s charity.
October 23- Two more cases of racism at Europa League games have drawn the wrath of Uefa who have punished both Cypriot club Apoel Nicosia and Croatia’s HNK Rijeka.
By David Owen
October 23 – In their World Cup play-off next month, or even if they make it all the way to Brazil for their first appearance in the finals proper, the footballers of Iceland may find that they have an unexpected pocket of support around the cheese and prosciutto town of Parma in northern Italy.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 22- Ricardo Teixeira, until last year one of the most powerful men in world football, appears to have lost his bid to be granted residency in the tiny tax haven of Andorra.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 21- German football’s decision not to employ goal-line technology has been brought into sharp focus by a bizarre and controversial “phantom” goal in the Bundesliga, pictures of which have been flashed across the world.
By Jake Gable
October 20 – Arsenal have topped a UEFA benchmarking report of tangible fixed assets with the governing body, valuing the club’s long-term assets at over €500 million. UEFA carried out an audit of all 237 clubs competing in this season’s Champions League and Europa League for its report in line with Financial Fair Play regulations.
By Alexander Krassimirov
October 18 – German company IFS has unveiled its plans to build a new modern stadium in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia. The stadium will have a capacity of 24,000 (22 000 plus 2000 VIP) seats and should be completed in 2016.
By Gareth Messenger
October 18 – Portuguese giants FC Porto have turned in a chunky €20.3 million profit for the 2012/2013 season. The profit came against a loss of €35.7 million in the previous campaign and despite a 39% slump in ticket revenue.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 18 – After months of sensitive negotiations, Greek and Turkish Cypriot officials are celebrating securing a landmark meeting with FIFA president Sepp Blatter aimed at possible footballing re-unification on the disputed Mediterranean island.