German fans protest plans to sell off ‘ownership’ stakes to private equity
February 12 – Fans groups in Germany stepped up their protests at the weekend against the league’s plans to sell a stake of revenue to an outside investor.
Europe
UEFA and Adidas get Champions League final ball rolling
February 12 – UEFA and Adidas have unveiled the design for the 2023/24 Champions League final match ball.
UEFA says there is no appetite to ban Israel from competition
February 9 – UEFA has no intention of throwing Israel out of international competition despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza that has killed an estimated 25,000 people – almost half of them reportedly children – and left thousands more homeless.
UEFA doubles women’s exco slots, Ceferin suggests media should look at their own gender bias
By Andrew Warshaw
February 9 – Aleksander Ceferin’s surprise announcement not to stand for re-election for the UEFA presidency in 2027 overshadowed other key business on the agenda of UEFA’s Congress in Paris.
Denmark and Sweden drop neighbours to combine for 2029 Women’s Euro bid
February 2 – Nordic neighbours Denmark and Sweden have declared their intention to bid for the 2029 Women’s Euro, leaving their regional partner Norway out in the cold.
England adapt to life in second tier of Nations League, Scots look to future in top flight
February 9 – England were drawn with the Republic of Ireland in Group B2 of the Nations League with Finland and Greece completing the group. Elsewhere, Italy and France meet in League A.
With term limits clarified, Ceferin drops bombshell that he won’t run again in 2027
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
February 8 – In a dramatic move that took most of his supporters as well as his critics totally by surprise, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin announced today that he would be stepping down in 2027, ending months of speculation about his intentions.
Ceferin says ESL backers are predators, not victims, and can’t be allowed ‘to dig football’s grave’
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
February 8 – The threat of a revived European Super League and tackling the resurgence of racism – two of the main pressing issues across the European football landscape – dominated UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin’s address to delegates at the UEFA Congress today.
French sports minister warns UEFA federations of dangers of multi-club ownership
February 8 – French sports minister Amélie Oudea-Castéra gave her backing today to maintaining the status quo in European football, taking a veiled swipe at the idea of a European Super League and, more potently, warning of the dangers of multiple club ownership.
UEFA earmarks €2.46bn for Champions League clubs next season
February 8 – UEFA will hand out least €2.46 billion in prize money to clubs playing in the Champions League next season when the tournament is expanded to 36 teams under its new format.
England unveil pre-Euros warm-ups with St James Park on the itinerary
February 7 – England are set to return to St James Park for the first time in 19 years as they prepare for the European Championships.
Women’s Champions League: Barca draw SK Brann, Chelsea face Ajax in last eight
February 7 – Titleholders FC Barcelona have drawn unheralded SK Brann in the quarter finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
UEFA federations head for Paris and debate on term limits
By Andrew Warshaw
February 6 – Potential opposition to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin’s leadership appears to be dwindling ahead of the organisation’s annual congress in Paris on Thursday.
Norway’s Klaveness calls for full debate on UEFA statute proposals at Paris Congress
By Samindra Kunti in Trondheim
February 6 – Norwegian FA president Lise Klaveness (pictured) emphasised the importance of maintaining term limits ahead of the UEFA Congress in Paris.
Barca’s Laporta says ESL is still alive and doesn’t give a f**k if English don’t turn up
February 5 – Despite UEFA insisting the project is dead in the water, Barcelona president Joan Laporta (pictured) says a European Super League could be up and running as soon as next season.