Micciche takes over Serie A presidency after a brief courtship in interim role
March 20 – Gaetano Micciche has been confirmed as the new president of the Serie A after stepping into the post temporarily less than two weeks ago.
Europe
Russia promises to keep Arsenal fans safe; survey finds 34% in favour of a 2018 boycott
March 19 – Russia has issued security guarantees to Arsenal fans planning to travel to Moscow for next month’s Europa League clash with CSKA in the wake of the diplomatic spat over the poisoning of a Russian double agent on British soil.
UEFA releases Kiev Champions League final ticket prices
March 16 – UEFA has released ticketing detail for their showpiece Champions League final in Kiev Ukraine, on May 26.
FIFA send emergency delegation to Greece as ECA suspends PAOK membership
By Paul Nicholson and Andrew Warshaw
March 14 – A FIFA delegation has landed in Greece to discuss the chaos of the weekend which has since seen the Greek Superleague suspended indefinitely by the Greek government. Separately the European Club Association has taken the unusual step of provisionally suspending PAOK following the unprecedented events in their match against league title rivals AEK Athens.
Greek government steps in to suspend Super League indefinitely
March 13 – Greece’s Super League has been suspended “indefinitely” by the Greek government following the pitch intervention in a top of the table clash between PAOK and AEK Athens by Ivan Savvidis, owner of PAOK. Savvidis entered the field carrying a holstered handgun on his hip and allegedly threatened the referee after a 90th minute goal was disallowed.
Germans bring in Burson-Marsteller Sport for ‘top priority’ EURO 2024 bid campaign
March 13 – The German Football Association (DFB) has appointed Burson-Marsteller Sport to advise on international strategy and communication for its bid to host the 2024 European Championships.
Gun-slinging PAOK owner Savvidis threatens referee at Greek Super League clash
By Paul Nicholson and Andrew Warshaw
March 12 – Greek’s football chaos took an ugly turn for the worse on Sunday after gun-carrying PAOK owner Ivan Savvidis stormed on to the pitch to threaten a referee after a goal was disallowed in the top of the table clash with AEK Athens.
Belgian outreach: Monaco’s Cercle Brugges win promotion, Qatar’s Eupen secure status
March 12 – Cercle Brugge gained promotion to the Belgian top flight following a tense 3-1 play-off win against Beerschot Wilrijk. KAS Eupen prolonged their stay in the Pro League with a thumping 4-0 victory over Mouscron.
UEFA charge PSG and Basel for fan disturbances
March 8 – UEFA have charged Paris St- Germain and Basel following their fans’ behaviour during their respective Champions League last-16 matches this week.
Italy mourns Fiorentina captain Davide Astori, 31
March 9 – Thousands of fans and representatives of every Serie A club turned out on Thursday for the funeral of former Fiorentina captain and Italian international Davide Astori, who died suddenly at the age of 31 last weekend.
Micciché takes on Serie A presidency in interim role
March 8 – Gaetano Micciché will become the new temporary president of Italy’s Serie A following an announcement by Giovanni Malago, the Italian Olympic Committee president.
Blustering Boris: first he pushes UK out of Europe, now he wants England out of World Cup
March 7 – Boris Johnson, the UK’s colourful foreign secretary with a reputation for outspoken – occasionally outlandish – comments, has caused something of a diplomatic storm by appearing to suggest that England could withdraw from the World Cup in retaliation for Russia’s suspected poisoning of a former double agent on British soil.
Koutsokoumnis, champion of Cypriot football unity, dies aged 61
By Andrew Warshaw
March 7 – Cyprus Football Association president Costakis Koutsokoumnis, who fought to build bridges on the divided island by trying to unify football and sought to eliminate matchfixing, has died aged 61 after a long battle with cancer.
Glenn apologises after his stars get mis-aligned
March 6 – Just when English football authorities appeared to have learned from the lessons of the past in terms of embarrassing gaffes, so another one has hit the headlines, this time involving Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn.
Italy’s Serie A to break with Christmas tradition and play football
March 6 – Italian football is breaking with tradition and going down the English road of playing over Christmas and New Year.