Atletico’s Metropolitano to host 2019 CL final, Baku wins Europa League hosting
September 21 – Atletico Madrid’s brand new stadium has beaten off competition from Baku to win the right to stage the 2019 Champions League final.
Europe
Sorokin to bring Russian voice to FIFA Council, as UEFA adds EPFL to its top table
By Andrew Warshaw in Geneva
September 20 – Four months after the embarrassment of its most powerful sports supremo being blocked from keeping his place at FIFA’s top table, Russia regained its influence in world football politics today when Alexei Sorokin was elected to FIFA’s ruling Council until 2021.
Ceferin calls for political help on salary caps to ‘protect the magic of football’
By Andrew Warshaw in Geneva
September 20 – UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has challenged European governments to help bring about greater competitive balance within the game, not least allowing salary caps which has long been close to the Slovenian’s heart.
Russia 2018 chief Sorokin set for FIFA Council as UEFA to unveil Nations League
By Andrew Warshaw
September 19 – Alexey Sorokin (pictured), the public face of next year’s World Cup in Russia, is set to be elected on Wednesday as Europe’s last remaining representative on the FIFA Council in place of the barred Vitaly Mutko, ensuring his country retains an influential voice at FIFA’s top table.
Cologne demand replay after claims VAR broke protocol and changed the course of match
September 19 – Already charged by UEFA because of the behaviour of their fans last week in the Europa League at Arsenal, Cologne are back in the spotlight – this time domestically where they are demanding a replay claiming that video technology in their 5-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday was at fault.
Germany picks key stadia to lead Euros 2024 bid submission
By Samindra Kunti
September 18 – The German FA (DFB) has confirmed the ten venues Germany plans on using for Euro 2024. The main venues will be Hertha Berlin’s Olympiastadion, Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena and Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion.
Ceferin puts FFP and competitive balance at top of UEFA agenda
September 15 – A year into his UEFA presidency, Aleksander Ceferin says strengthening competitive balance will be his biggest priority going forward and singled out deciding to stage last season’s Europa League final in the wake of the Manchester terrorist attack as the toughest decision he had to make.
Cologne fan invasion delays Euro game as Arsenal outgunned in the stands
September 15 – As anticipated, UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings following chaotic scenes that marred Arsenal’s Europa League fixture against Cologne last night.
Violence in Slovenia as Spartak Moscow fans fire flare at ref
September 14 – As concerns grow about hooliganism at the World Cup, Russian fans are in trouble again after a dangerous flare was fired from the away end in the direction of the referee during Moscow Spartak’s Champions League draw away to Maribor.
Beitar boss quits after saying he would never sign a Muslim at the club
September 14 – The new adviser to Israel’s Beitar Jerusalem, the most nationalistic club in the country, has quit a mere 10 days after assuming the post for refusing to apologise for declaring he would never sign a Muslim player.
UEFA deny Ceferin wants PSG kicked out, but investigation is open and money talks
By Andrew Warshaw
September 12 – UEFA have been quick to deny suggestions that its president Aleksander Ceferin wants to throw Paris St Germain out of Europe over alleged lack of financial fair play compliance.
Dynamo Kiev lose point after refusal to play at Mariupol over safety fears
By Mark Baber
September 12 – The Control and Disciplinary Committee of the Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU) has awarded a technical victory to Mariupol after Dynamo Kiev refused to travel to the eastern port city to fulfil their August 25 away fixture.
Steinhaus blazes trail and wins praise for performance
September 11 – Footballing history was written on Sunday when Bibiana Steinhaus became the first ever female referee to take charge of a top flight match in Germany or any of Europe’s five major leagues.
Bibiana Steinhaus to make Bundesliga history this Sunday
September 8 – Bibiana Steinhaus has been announced as the referee for the game between Werder Bremen and Hertha Berlin on Sunday. She will be the first female referee to officiate in the Bundesliga.
Van der Sar says UEFA must reform loan system to protect clubs’ young talent
September 8 – Edwin van der Sar, the former Dutch and Manchester United goalkeeper and now CEO of his beloved Ajax, says something has to be done about the European loan system which, he says, is stifling the first-team development of the brightest young talent.