Fire sale? Abramovich shops Chelsea to billionaire boys club
March 2 – Speculation is mounting than Chelsea’s billionaire oligarch owner Roman Abramovich may be about to sell the club in the wake of his country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Europe
Belgians get radical with revamped second tier format, addition of U23 teams and play-offs
March 2 – The Belgian second division will expand to 12 teams with the introduction of both four U-23 teams and a playoff system from next season, the Pro League has confirmed.
UEFA Foundation releases €1m+ in emergency aid for Ukrainian children
March 2 – UEFA has released €1 million from its Foundation for Children to help children in Ukraine as well as child refugees in neighbouring countries.
ECA boots out its seven Russian club members
March 2 – The European Club Association (ECA) has kicked out its Russian members following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Gisdol quits Lokomotiv Moscow, Ukraine league’s overseas players evacuated
March 2 – While football’s governing bodies and clubs with Russian sponsorship are turning their back on the country following the invasion of Ukraine, individual protest action is also gathering pace.
Doors close on Usmanov who stands down as FIE president
March 3 – Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, a former Arsenal shareholder and who is linked to Everton via sponsorships and its chairman Farhad Moshiri, has stepped down as president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE).
Ukraine asked Abramovich to broker peace, claims advisor
March 1 – Chelsea’s billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich has been asked by Ukraine to help broker peace with his country according to the oligarch’s official spokesperson.
England say they will refuse to play Russia; but Russian women still inbound for Euro 2022
February 28 – England has become the latest country to refuse to play international fixtures against Russia.
UEFA switch Champions League final from St Petersburg to Paris
By Andrew Warshaw
February 25 – As widely anticipated, UEFA have stripped St Petersburg of hosting this season’s Champions League final and switched their annual showpiece fixture to the Stade de France in Paris as a result of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Schalke 04 drop Gazprom from shirt sponsorship
February 25 – German club Schalke 04 have removed Gazprom logo from the main shirt sponsorship position after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
FA wins £800k Arts Council grant to run Euro 2020 arts and cultural programme
February 25 – The FA has snagged an £800,000 grant from Arts Council England to run an arts and cultural programme alongside Women’s EURO 2022 in England. The money comes from the Arts Council National Lottery funding.
UEFA calls emergency meeting as Russia starts to bomb Kiev
February 24 – Under pressure to respond to Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has called an extraordinary meeting of his executive committee for tomorrow, Friday.
Benfica’s Yaremchuk reveals Ukraine emblem after scoring against Ajax
February 24 – UEFA’s resolve over how to react to Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine has been further tested after Benfica’s Ukrainian international Roman Yaremchuk unveiled a trident logo in support of his homeland during Wednesday night’s Champions League last-16 game against Ajax.
Poland demand clarification of Qatar 2022 qualifying play-off against Russia
February 23 – With pressure growing on UEFA to shift the Champions League final away from Saint Petersburg over the Russian invasion in Ukraine, Poland has demanded that FIFA clarify the fate of their World Cup playoff against Russia.
Greek crackdown on violence sees suspension of supporters’ clubs
February 23 – In yet another crackdown move to try and reduce fan violence, supporters’ clubs are being shut down in Greece for five months, triggered by the murder of a 19-year-old who was stabbed and beaten to death by hooligans in the northern city of Thessaloniki.