Europe Archives - Page 280 of 514 - Inside World Football

Champions League final outside Europe a possibility, as Kiev logistics and prices frustrate

By Samindra Kunti in Kiev

May 24 – UEFA president Alexander Ceferin has remained tight-lipped about staging the Champions League final outside Europe, repeating that it is a ‘theoretical possibility.’ This week’s showpiece event in the Ukrainian capital has been a logistical nightmare, provoking renewed debate over which cities are suitable to host the showpiece game. The UEFA Executive Committee awarded the 2020 Champions League final to Istanbul.

Europe

Real Madrid fans return tickets as Kiev’s sky-rocketing costs price supporters out

By Samindra Kunti

May 22 – More than 2,000 Real Madrid fans have been forced to return their tickets for Saturday’s Champions League final in Kiev over logistics and sky-rocketing expenses. Ticket touts have ramped up ticket prices ahead of the showpiece game of the European club season, asking up to £14,000 for ticket.

Europe

Ozil and Gundogan clear the air with Steinmeier after Erdogan gaffe

May 21 – British-based German internationals Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan met German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the weekend in a series of clear the air talks after they were pictured with Turkey’s controversial president President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Europe

Luis Rubiales takes helm at Spanish FA, finally ending reign of ‘untouchable’ Villar

May 18 – He was among the biggest kingpins in European football – a FIFA and UEFA vice-president – and even for a time stood as interim UEFA president.

Europe

Europa League final: Atletico show their class, but fans show their lack of it as UEFA issue charges

By Samindra Kunti in Lyon

May 17 – Atletico Madrid outclassed Marseille 3-0 to win their third Europa League with an Antoine Griezmann’s brace and captain Gabi’s late goal. The final in Lyon passed off without major crowd incidents, though UEFA have still issued disciplinary charges against both clubs from racism to causing acts of damage in the stadium.

Europe

European stakeholders refuse to be railroaded into Infantino’s $25bn calendar shake-up

UEFA headquarters

May 17 – Europe’s leading football stakeholders have joined forces to oppose Gianni Infantino’s plans to radically change the game’s global landscape by saying they have “serious reservations about the process” surrounding his proposal to enlarge the Club World Cup to 24 teams and create a biennial global Nations League.

Europe

UEFA Council meets to agree battleplan to challenge Infantino’s ‘takeover’ plan

uefa flag

May 16 – UEFA’s top brass were meeting today in an attempt to forge a united stance against Gianni Infantino’s plans to change the landscape of world football.

Europe

Turkey talk credentials as they lobby for Euro 2024 hosting

By Andrew Warshaw

May 15 – The similarities are striking. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Up against a heavyweight rival. Eager to reward a football-mad nation with the ultimate prize. Just as underdogs and four-time losers Morocco are desperate to upset the odds and land the 2026 World Cup, so Turkey are equally determined to make up for lost time and hold the 2024 European Championship finals after three demoralising failures.

Europe

No Turkish delight at DFB after Ozil and Gundogan’s ‘symbolic’ meet with Erdogan

May 15 – British-based German internationals Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan, both of Turkish origin, have been lambasted by their national federation and German politicians for posing for photos with Turkey’s controversial President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Europe

Violence, rioting and HFF ‘won wager’ as PAOK vs AEK Cup final ends in chaos

By Andrew Warshaw and Paul Nicholson

May 14 – Despite the Greek authorities going to extraordinary lengths to maintain order by flying in a Spanish referee to take charge of last weekend’s domestic cup final, a season of unprecedented turmoil was capped by yet more trouble – on and off the pitch.

Europe

UEFA feels wrath of Liverpool over Kiev and the CL festival of money-grabbing

May 14 – UEFA’s decision to stage next week’s Champions League final in Kiev “needs explaining” according to Liverpool’s head of club and supporter liaison.

Europe

Greek tragedy adds a farcical chapter as Spanish ref in the firing line for cup final

By Paul Nicholson

May 11 – At the end of a season of unprecedented turmoil and allegations of corruption that have pointed to matchfixing and match manipulation within the highest administrative levels of the Greek game, the Hellenic Football Federation (HFF) have finally decided to fly in a non-Greek referee for the final match of its season.

Europe

Wenger warning for top Euro leagues, saying big club Super League is inevitable

Arsene wenger2

May 11 – Outgoing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says the introduction of a European super league, resisted for years by football’s authorities, is “inevitable” and says Premier League matches will ultimately be moved to midweek.

Europe

Messages of support flow for Ferguson as surgery reported to have gone ‘extremely well’

Sir Alex Ferguson 3

May 8 – Goodwill messages are continuing to pour in for Sir Alex Ferguson, one of world football’s most iconic managerial figures who is recovering in hospital after undergoing emergency surgery for a brain haemorrhage.

Europe

Can le rouge et le noir of Les Herbiers beat PSG to provide fairy tale finale to French Cup?

By David Owen

May 8 – All cup competitions produce shock results, but the century-old Coupe de France must be in a league of its own.