Slovenian women’s team wins equal pay deal after summer of discontent
December 12 – The Slovenian women’s national team has achieved equal pay with the country’s men’s team, Fifpro said on Wednesday.
Federations
Turkish chaos: Istanbulspor leave the pitch after president protests referee’s decisions
December 20 – Turkish football has been hit with another scandal involving club presidents and match officials.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Germany’s Bundesliga to expand GLT technology to its second tier
December 12 – Germany’s Bundesliga 2 is set to embrace goal-line technology in the 2024-25 season for the first time.
Arsenal set new WSL attendance record of 59,000 for win over Chelsea
December 12 – Arsenal set a new Women’s Super League attendance record of 59,042 for their top-of-the-table clash against Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
CSKA Sofia’s final match at Bulgarian Army Stadium descends into chaos and violence
December 11 – Ugly scenes marred last weekend’s big derby in the Bulgarian championship between CSKA Sofia and Ludogorets in the last round of the efbet League before the winter break.
Matic tells youth to steer clear of Red Star and Partizan, the ‘viruses’ of Serbian football
December 8 – Former Serbian Manchester United star Nemanja Matic (pictured) has launched another attack on Serbian football, its president Dragan Džajić, and the country’s biggest clubs – Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade – who he calls the “viruses” of Serbian football.