Ukrainian FA goes cold on CIS league proposal
February 22 – The prospects for the return of a CIS regional league look more remote after the Ukranian FA distanced itself from the Russian club proposal.
Europe
Spurs fans attacked in Lyon before Europa League tie
By Andrew Warshaw
February 21 – In what appeared to be yet another unprovoked anti-Semitic ambush, Tottenham Hotspur fans have been attacked in a bar in the French city of Lyon on the eve of their side’s Europa League last-32 tie.
Kosovan fury at international exclusion
By Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent
February 19 – Five years after celebrating their independence from Serbia, Kosovan football officials say they have been betrayed after being promised partial acceptance into the world game.
Ukrainians are no-shows for meet on Russian merger, but confidence is high
By Mark Baber
February 19 – Club officials met yesterday to discuss a cross-border Russian-Ukrainian league. A meeting attended by 14 Russian clubs, but with only one club from the Ukraine turning up.
Platini calls for solidarity and Fair Play
By Andrew Warshaw
February 19 – UEFA president Michel Platini has used his organisation’s own publication, Uefa Direct, to appeal for the game to pull together to eliminate both cheating and off-the-field foul play.
Europa Cup final corporate tickets still available
February 19 – Corporate hospitality packages for the UEFA Europa League final at the Amsterdam ArenA on May 15 are still available, 2 months after the sales programme was launched.
Harris sweetens his bid by opening to Pompey fans trust
By Andrew Warshaw
February 18 – A consortium led by Keith Harris, former chairman of the Football League but in recent years a leading football financier acting for a number of high-profile clients, has not given up taking over Portsmouth in yet another new twist to the biggest soap opera in English football ownership.
UEFA issues tender for big event ticketing
February 18 – UEFA has issued another tender for suppliers, this time a request for IT proposals for ticketing and hospitality solutions for its major events.
Serbian U21 penalties increased, slightly, after UEFA appeals racism ruling
February 18 – UEFA have increased the penalty on Serbia following the explosive Euro 2013 under-21 play-off match against England in October.
Barça chase former board members for €23m deficit
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
February 15 – Barçelona, with their fan membership scheme, have often been trumpeted as the ideal model for running a football club but even they are now embroiled in an off-the-field dispute making headlines in Spain.
Champions League odyssey wipes out Celtic’s debt
February 13 – Celtic may have lost on the pitch in their Champions League first leg last 16 tie with Juventus last night, but off the pitch they are without doubt Champions League winners.
Inter fined after Balotelli thrown into middle of second race row
February 13 – Football has been struck by yet another episode of racism with Inter Milan fined €15,000 euros by the Italian league for abusive chanting by their fans towards Mario Balotelli who has just joined arch-rivals AC Milan from Manchester City.
Hearts face uncertainty as Romanov loses control of Ukio Bankas
February 13 – Scottish Premier League club Hearts face more financial uncertainty after Lithuanian owner Vladimir Romanov had the operations of his Ukio Bankas bank suspended and put under temporary administration by Lithuania’s central bank.
Police ask for tapes of Sky Sports racism investigation
By Mark Baber
February 12 – A Special Report on the UK’s Sky Sports News broadcast yesterday (February 11) revealed how a 3 month investigation had filmed racist abuse by five white men at Millwall on November 18 aimed at Leeds forward and Senegal international El Hadj Diouf.
UEFA cuts price of Cat 4 Wembley final tickets
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
February 12 – Two years after its president Michel Platini admitted that inflated Champions League final tickets were a mistake, UEFA have cut the cost of the cheapest seats for this season’s showpiece finale.