Celtic fireworks spark UEFA investigation
July 29 – Celtic are to be investigated by UEFA after supporters set off fireworks during last week’s Champions League qualifier against Northern Irish club Cliftonville.
Europe
Tribunal shows little mercy and rejects Italian match fixing appeals
By Andrew Warshaw
July 29 – Torino’s Belgian international goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet (pictured) has failed with his appeal against a 43-month match-fixing ban imposed by the Italian football federation (FIGC).
Bwin adds Anderlecht to its roster of European club partners
By Mark Baber
July 26 – In November last year, the Chief Executive Officer of Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment, Norbert Teufelberger (pictured), was arrested by Belgian authorities at the airport after he attended a business conference. On Thursday, his company become the online gaming and betting partner of Belgium’s most successful club and current Pro League champions RSC Anderlecht.
Clubs to celebrate world’s first football derby
By David Owen
July 25 – The origins of one of football’s most emotive and universal concepts are to be celebrated in a small town in north Derbyshire, not far from Sheffield, on Saturday.
Another Milan walk-off re-ignites racism issues in Italy
By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – Six months after Kevin Prince Boateng famously walked off the pitch during a winter break friendly because of racist abuse that led directly to strict new anti-discrimination measures by football’s two main authorities, another AC Milan player has followed suit.
Lazio prosecutor demands points, fines and suspensions as trial starts
By Andrew Warshaw
July 25 – Italian giants Lazio could start next season with a six-point deduction and be without their captain Stefano Mauri for more than four years following the start of their match-fixing trial.
Putin signs anti-hooligan measures into law
By Mark Baber
May 23 – Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law Tuesday legislation that increases the sanctions which can be applied to convicted hooligans at sports events. The so-called Fan Law will come into effect on January 19, 2014.
Juve tops payout table as UEFA distributes bumper €1.1bn
By Andrew Warshaw
July 24 – The financial importance of playing in the cash-rich Champions League for Europe’s top clubs has been starkly underlined yet again by the latest figures from UEFA which show that €904.6 million was distributed among the 32 teams competing in the competition from the group stage onwards last season. The payments cover participation, TV pool and performance-related revenue.
English Premier League out in the cold over opposition to Winter 2022
By Andrew Warshaw
July 23 – The English Premier League’s opposition to a winter World Cup in Qatar is looking increasingly isolated after the head of the European Club Association, which represents over 200 clubs across the Continent, re-iterated his organisation’s support for switching the 2022 tournament from the searing heat of the summer.
Portuguese cash crisis forces unpaid players to ask union for money
By Gareth Messenger
July 23 – Delays in wage payments by cash-strapped football clubs in Portugal have forced dozens of players to ask their union for money, according to the head of the country’s players’ association.
Germany may bid for Euro 2024 if they are cut out of 2020
By Mark Baber
July 22 – German Football Federation (DFB) president Wolfgang Niersbach says Germany are considering a bid to host the European Championships in 2024 and doesn’t rule out a personal bid for the UEFA presidency if it becomes vacant.
Madrid court forces Spanish federation to return training pitches
By Gareth Messenger
July 22 – Madrid’s High Court of Justice (TSJM) has confirmed the 2007 decision over the leasing of 120,000 sq m of land in 1998 by Las Rozas Town Hall to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), enforcing the return of the land to the local authority.
Sky gets a stranglehold on Football League sponsorship and TV
By Mark Baber
July 19 – Sky Bet have picked up the title sponsorship for the Football League in a five year deal that will also see Sky Television extend its coverage of the Football League to a total of 148 live games per season from the 2015/2016 season onwards.
Euro court rules in favour of major championships on free TV
By Andrew Warshaw
July 19 – In a blow to the revenue-boosting hopes of FIFA and UEFA but a huge boost for fans without access to pay-tv, the European Court of Justice has ruled countries can insist on the World Cup and European Championship continuing to be made available on free-to-air channels.
Levski start stadium rebuild before Gazprom sponsor deal is completed
By Alexander Krassimirov
July 19 – Bulgarian club Levski has begun a large-scale reconstruction of its Georgi Asparuhov stadium in Sofia, although it has not yet formally signed a sponsorship agreement with Russian energy giant Gazprom that will significantly help fund the redevelopment.