Martinez quits England to take on Belgium national team challenge
August 4 – He’s managed several Belgian internationals at club level and now he’s in charge of the entire national team.
Europe
Van Praag outlines his UEFA platform built on unification and urgent action
By Andrew Warshaw
August 3 – UEFA presidential candidate Michael van Praag insists he is the right man to ensure unity in European football and offset what he describes as the “forces that want to drive us apart.”
All you need is love. But Lennon doesn’t find any at UEFA
August 3 – Hibernian manager Neil Lennon has been slapped with a five-match European touchline ban by UEFA after he was sent to the stands in the club’s recent Europa League loss to Brondby.
CAS rules in favour of Plaku; FIFPro says he is tip of abuse ice-berg
August 2 – He claimed he was forced to work 14 hours a day, often with no meal breaks, fined thousands of Euros if he was late for training by even 30 seconds and spend hours on end standing in the city centre selling newspapers.
Turkish turmoil as FA board resigns and Gulen investigations deepen
August 1 – The failed military coup in Turkey has spilled over into football with the entire governing board of the Turkish FA resigning.
Leeds United become latest Championship target for China’s big money players
By Paul Nicholson
July 29 – Chinese investors are reportedly circling around a third English Championship club. Leeds United, like Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers that are both under new Chinese ownership, are considered a ‘sleeping giant’ waiting to return to their glory years. Chinese money could provide the boost they need to achieve this.
UEFA publishes FSR report and promises more cash for projects
July 28 – UEFA, midway through its five-year Football and Social Responsibility (FSR) strategic and budgetary cycle, has published its third FSR report reviewing the activities of the 2014/15 season.
Israeli police swoop on Beitar Jersualem’s ‘La Familia’ gang
July 27 – More than 50 fans of Beitar Jerusalem, the club that contains the most notorious group of hooligans in Israeli football, have been rounded up following a series of police raids.
Forest fumble safety certificate as ‘suitable persons’ sought
July 27 – Nottingham Forest, subject of a bid from controversial Greek businessman and Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis, has been hit with a capacity reduction of their City Ground stadium of 20% for safety reasons.
Villar says he will fight to continue his reign in Spain if Euro bid fails
July 27 – Controversial Spanish FA president Angel Maria Villar Llona says he plans to seek re-election at home later this year if he fails in his bid to become UEFA president.
Higuain breaks Italian transfer records with €90m Juve move
July 27 – Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain has become the world’s third most expensive footballer after signing for Juventus form from Napoli for €90 million. The fee is also the biggest Italian domestic deal of all time.
Dutch start rethink of elite league structure
By Samindra Kunti
July 26 – The Dutch FA, the KNVB, is considering new structural reforms of its domestic club football with the aim of redesigning the Eredivisie, the second division and the Dutch cup from 2018/2019 season onwards.
Turks beef up security for Fenerbahce’s CL qualifier with Monaco
July 26 – Turkish authorities have taken additional precautions to ensure the safety of the Monaco team visiting Istanbul for this week’s Champions League qualifier against Fenerbahce following the recent failed coup attempt that shook the country.
Robin Hood or the Sheriff? Olympiakos owner Marinakis to buy Nottingham Forest
By Paul Nicholson
July 26 – In what would be one of the most remarkable club acquisitions of an English football club, if not the most controversial, Evangelos Marinakis (pictured), owner of Greek champions Olympiakos, is set to take majority control at Nottingham Forest, playing in England’s second-tier Championship.
Liverpool and Sevilla both fined over battle of Basel
July 26 – Liverpool and Sevilla have both been punished relating to crowd trouble at last season’s Europa League final in Basel.