Birch swaps Spurs for EFL chief exec role
December 14 – The English Football League has appointed one of the country’s most sought-after and widely-travelled administrators, Trevor Birch (pictured), as its new chief executive.
Europe
Euro Leagues body calls on UEFA for more ‘solidarity’ over Champions League payouts
By Andrew Warshaw
December 11 – The umbrella body representing all of Europe’s major leagues has re-iterated its concern over the Continent’s financial haves and have-nots and has urged UEFA to hand more of its Champions League cash to those not participating in its elite competition.
Greizmann cuts ties with Huawei over tech giant’s ‘Uighur alert’ face recognition weapon
December 11 – Barcelona’s French international forward and World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann, who has been an ambassador for tech giant Huawei, has cut commercial ties with the company citing China’s treatment of Uighur Muslims.
New day, new officials: PSG and Basaksehir show solidarity as game gets played
December 10 – Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir players took a knee and wore ‘No to racism’ t-shirts before their rescheduled Champions League game on Wednesday, 24 hours after the original fixture was abandoned after 14 minutes when both teams walked off in protest after the Turkish club accused a match official of racism.
Italy mourns loss of World Cup legend Paolo Rossi, aged 64
December 10 – Another footballing legend has died prematurely, this time Italy’s 1982 World Cup hero Paolo Rossi at the age of 64, shocking friends, family and fans alike.
Inter Milan’s draw hands Champions League lifeline to Real Madrid
December 10 – Inter Milan were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage for the third consecutive season on Wednesday night following a goalless draw with Shakthar Donetsk, who were also eliminated, allowing Real Madrid to squeeze into the knockout phase.
UEFA investigate PSG and Basaksehir walk-off after match official accused of racism
December 9 – UEFA have opened a disciplinary investigation into the disturbing scenes that marred Tuesday night’s Champions League fixture between Paris St Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir, abandoned after both teams walked off in protest at alleged racism, the first time that has happened in Europe’s elite club competition.
Police swoop as Europol says organised crime has infiltrated 5 of Moldova’s 10 top tier clubs
December 9 – Five of the 10 football clubs in the Moldovan top flight have been involved in match-fixing linked to organised crime this season, Europol has said.
RB Leipzig crush Man Utd’s European rebirth putting renewed focus on Solskjaer
By Andrew Warshaw
December 9 – Manchester United became the first high-profile victims of Champions League elimination on Tuesday as they failed to make the knockout stages, heaping even more pressure under-fire manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
UEFA lifts home bans for Armenia and Azerbaijan whilst ceasefire holds
December 9 – UEFA have lifted their ban on club and national team matches under their jurisdiction in Armenia and Azerbaijan, imposed in October because of the military conflict in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Real Madrid and RB Leipzig focus on youth for new players. Spurs and Man City make top 20
December 8 – Real Madrid head a ranking of big-5 league clubs who recruit the youngest players to their squads, with an average age of 22.2 years.
Bruised knees: Millwall’s boos condemned by FA, clubs and anti-discrimination groups
December 7 – England’s Football Association have condemned fans of Championship side Millwall for booing as players from their team and opponents Derby County took a knee before their league fixture at the weekend – on the day supporters were allowed back in limited numbers for the first time since March.
Italy to host Nations League finals next October, Tirana to stage new Conference final
December 4 – Italy have been chosen to host the climax of the Nations League in October next year and will face Spain while Belgium take on France in two mouth-watering ties
UEFA goes green with new EC pact
December 4 – UEFA has gone green and it isn’t just about the greenbacks its top clubs and players so voraciously gobble up. Their ‘greenness’ this time is for the greater good.
Man Utd’s Woodward says club would not be part of any European Super League
December 4 – Manchester United boss Ed Woodward (pictured) has said that his club wouldn’t participate in a European Super League. He argued that changes to the European football structure should be “complementary to thriving domestic leagues”.