Report shows rise in referee abuse, England extend bodycam trial
December 19 – Allegations of serious offences against match officials in English grassroots football increased slightly last season compared to 2021-22, figures show.
Europe
Sheffield United review of Cusack death finds no wrongdoing but ‘processes’ to be reviewed
December 19 – An external investigation into the events leading up to the death of Sheffield United midfielder Maddy Cusack found “no evidence of wrongdoing”.
FIFA slaps transfer ban on Botev Vratasa for failing to pay Brambilla’s wages
December 19 – Bulgaria’s top tier clubs continue to struggle with financial issues with Botev Vratsa being the latest to break financial rules. FIFA have imposed a transfer ban on the club over its failure to pay the wages of former player, Brazilian Lucas Brambilla.
UCL draw: Serie A and LaLiga clash as Inter draw Atletico, and Barca meet Napoli in last 16
December 18 – Holders Manchester City were handed arguably the easiest tie in the last 16 of the Champions League after being paired with FC Copenhagen, while Spanish heavyweights Barcelona will face Napoli as today’s draw kept Europe’s giant clubs apart.
Ankaragucu’s hard-hitting president Faruk Koca banned for life
December 15 – The former president of Turkish top flight club Ankaragucu, Faruk Koca, has been handed a permanent ban by the Turkish Football Federation for punching a referee that has drawn widespread revulsion.
VAR error contributed to Espanyol regulation, rules Spanish court
December 15 – In a rare case of seeking justice for a wrong VAR decision, a Spanish judge has ruled in favour of Espanyol whose relegation in May was partly precipitated by a ‘ghost’ goal scored by opponents Atletico Madrid.
Turkish SuperLig to return Dec. 19 after attack on referee Meler; government reviews sports laws
December 14 – The Turkish FA (TFF) have said that all its football leagues will resume play on December 19 after matches in Turkey were postponed indefinitely following the assault by Ankaragücü president Faruk Koca on referee Halil Umut Meler after the end of the Rizespor match.
UEFA bans Legia Warsaw fans for five matches after Villa violence
December 14 – Legia Warsaw have been banned from selling tickets to their travelling fans for five European away games as a result of the violent scenes that marred their recent Europa Conference League defeat at Aston Villa.
Ukraine relief funds from Chelsea sale frozen as guarantees sought
December 13 – Funds from Roman Abramovich’s sale of Chelsea that were supposed to go to victims of the war in Ukraine have still not been released 18 months after the sale because of a disagreement over how to use them, according to UK reports.
Marinakis quits presidency of Greek Super League warning ‘criminal elements’ are killing the game
December 13 – Evangelos Marinakis is stepping down as president of the Greek Super League following the latest wave of football-related violence and the recent government announcement that matches are to be played behind closed doors for two months until improved safety measures are put in place.
Ceferin undecided on whether to run again as UEFA old boy Gill pushes him towards the exit
December 13 – UEFA sources have said that if president Aleksander Ceferin decided to run for a third full term, the confederation’s statutes might not necessarily need to be changed to make that possible.
Turkish Super Lig suspended indefinitely after attack by Ankaragüdü president hospitalises referee
December 12 – Turkish football has been plunged into all-out crisis with top-flight matches indefinitely suspended following an on-the-field attack on a referee by a club president, dubbed as the sport’s night of shame in the country.
Greek government closes stadia for two months in bid to curb spiralling football violence
December 12 – All top-flight matches in Greece will be played behind closed doors for the next two months in the latest crackdown on supporter violence that for decades has plagued Greek football.
Spanish protest French banning of 300 travelling fans for Lens-Seville UCL tie
December 12 – In an 11-hour move that marked a new and depressing low in French football, Sevilla fans have been banned from travelling to Lens for their final Champions League group stage match tonight.
Bundesliga clubs greenlight €1bn private equity money raise for commercial rights
December 12 – Germany’s Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs have greenlighted a proposal to raise an estimated €1 billion in private equity investment in return for a 20-year share in their commercial rights.