Out: long walk to pick up the trophy. In: pitch party celebrations
May 18 – Winning team captains will no longer lead their players up to the VIP area of stadiums to receive European club trophies.
Europe
Terrorist motive ruled out of Dortmund bus bomb attack
May 17 – Federal investigators in Germany say they have not found any indications that there was a “terrorist background” to the attack on the Borussia Dortmund team bus on April 11.
Exclusive: FIFA’s loss could be UEFA’s gain. Maduro set for European role
By Andrew Warshaw
May 12 – The former Portuguese government minister unceremoniously ditched by FIFA in its clearout of senior governance experts looks set to make an immediate return – down the road at UEFA, FIFA’s biggest rival.
Italians bow to pressure and ‘de-criminalise’ Muntari with dropping of ban
May 7 – Sulley Muntari has had his controversial one-match ban for protesting against racist abuse overturned by Italy’s football authorities but says he was “treated like a criminal” for complaining.
Global outcry builds pressure on Italians to finally face their football racism
May 5 – Italian football’s reputation around the world has been damaged by the Sulley Muntari affair, the Italian Football Federation’s anti-racism advisor has charged.
Czech police swoop on FA offices and detain chairman Pelta
May 4 – The Czech football federation says it has been raided by police and its chairman Miroslav Pelta detained in the presence of his lawyer.
The winner takes it all – UEFA U17s to trial ABBA shoot-out system
By Andrew Warshaw
May 4 – Two months after football’s lawmakers gave the green light to experiment with a new tennis-style penalty shootout system, UEFA are employing it at the European under-17 championship, which began in Croatia today.
10-minute sinbins to debut in English grassroots leagues
May 5 – The English Football Association has agreed to trial rugby-style ‘sin bins’ in lower part-time leagues from next season.
Italy’s rampant football racism? Muntari banned over walk-off protest
By Andrew Warshaw
May 3 – How short-sighted can you get? Pescara’s former Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari has been banned for one game by the Italian FA for walking off the pitch complaining of racist abuse despite being praised by the United Nations’ top human rights official.
UEFA’s new human rights clause could stymie Turkey’s Euro 2024 bid
By Andrew Warshaw
May 2 – Turkey’s chances of ending years of disappointment by finally landing the European Championship finals in 2024 could be scuppered by a new human rights provision in UEFA’s hosting guidelines.
PSG title hopes shattered as Nice and Balotelli rattle their superiority
By Samindra Kunti
May 1 – OGC Nice have all but ended Paris Saint-Germain’s title aspirations in Ligue 1, winning an ill-tempered game 3-1. Thiago Motta and Angel Di Maria were both send off. PSG trail Monaco by three points with three match days left. PSG have been Ligue 1 champions for the past four seasons.
Chelsea influence and Wolfswinkel goals propel Vitesse to first Dutch Cup win
By Samindra Kunti
May 1 – Vitesse Arnhem won their first ever major trophy with a 2-0 win in the Dutch Cup final against AZ Alkmaar. Ricky van Wolfswinkel scored both goals.
Former FIFA chief Valcke back in events business with Spanish start-up
April 28 – FIFA’s former general secretary Jérôme Valcke, number two to Sepp Blatter before spectacularly falling from grace, has suddenly re-surfaced in Spain where he has set up an events business.
Belgians move to pro ref structure in bid to increase top level representation
April 28 – The Belgian FA (KBVB) has offered eight referees a two-year semi-professional contract in a move to modernise and upgrade refereeing in Belgium.
France’s LFP chiefs unveil battle plan to break into Europe’s Big 4
By Paul Nicholson
April 26 – French league president Nathalie Boy de la Tour and general secretary Didier Quillot have unveiled a new strategic plan for the French Football League (LFP) that will take them through to 2022 and close the gap on the English, Spanish, German and Italian leagues.