Bolton given lifeline in search for cash to pay £2.2m tax bill
January 12 – Bolton Wanderers, one of the most iconic names in English football, have been given a stay of execution by avoiding an immediate winding-up order.
Europe
Galatasaray face ban; Hull, Panathinaikos and Sportlng Lisbon clear FFP
January 19 – Hull City, Panathinaikos and Sporting Lisbon have all settled their financial fair play issues with UEFA but Galatasaray have failed to comply with break-even rules and have been referred to the governing body’s adjudicatory chamber.
Swimming with the fish. Arrested Swiss banker could open a new can of worms
By Paul Nicholson
January 19 – The US investigation into money laundering by South American football officials has gained a wider perspective as news has broken that one of the senior bankers at Swiss bank Julius Baer has been in US custody since the autumn.
La Liga says Real and Atletico transfer bans are excessive
January 18 – The Spanish league has come out in support of Real and Atletico Madrid describing the FIFA transfer bans meted out to both of them as “disproportionate” and “excessive”.
Madrid in chaos: Real transfer ban could keep Ronaldo and Bale in Spain
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – Real Madrid and their cross-town rivals Atletico have reacted with shock and dismay after being slapped with transfer bans by FIFA for breaching regulations on the acquisition of non-Spanish minors under the age of 18.
Rummenigge resurrects spectre of breakaway European Super League
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of the body that represents Europe’s biggest clubs, has rekindled speculation about a breakaway European Super League.
Germans volunteer Bundesliga as video ref test bed
January 15 – The German Football Association has expressed its interest in testing video replay technology at the highest level domestically if the game’s rulemakers give the idea the thumbs up in March.
PSG fly into rage and threaten rapper over refugee song
By Mark Baber
January 12 – Paris Saint-Germain have sent a legal letter demanding Sri Lankan-British rapper MIA takes down the video for her new song ‘Borders’ as it features the singer wearing a PSG shirt modified to read “Fly Pirates” instead of “Fly Emirates”.
Spanish giant killers Eibar punch their way into European qualifying position
January 11 – There are underdogs and teams who punch above their weight – and then there is the tiny Basque club of Eibar.
Real, Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd, Juve and Spurs have most international players
By Paul Nicholson
January 11 – International players account for 90% of the minutes played by Real Madrid last year, compared to a much lower 70% at Barcelona. Europe’s other ‘international’ leaders are predominantly in England with Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd and, perhaps surprisingly, Spurs all at more than 80%.
UEFA agree HomeAway as vacation rental sponsor for France 2016
January 11 – UEFA and Abritel-HomeAway, a world leader in vacation rentals, are joining forces in the lead up to and during EURO2016 to serve visitors with official fan accommodation for the tournament.
Spanish prosecutors want Neymar in court to face corruption charges
By Samindra Kunti
January 11 – Spanish prosecutors have taken the next steps in their investigation of Brazilian superstar Neymar and requested that legal action be taken against him over alleged fraud and corruption surrounding his transfer to Barcelona in the summer of 2013.
Barca transfer ban ends with club immediately registering 77 players
By Mark Baber
January 6 – Barcelona celebrated the end of their 14-month “transfer ban” by registering 77 players across all age groups, many of whom had been signed to the club during the ban and who will now be able to play in competitive matches.
Zidane takes Real Madrid hot seat as Benitez is burned
By Andrew Warshaw
January 5 – Once again, a hugely experienced and knowledgable coach has been unable to make it at Real Madrid where demands are possibly higher than anywhere else.
Messi tops transfer value list, Hazard is at 3 with Kane and Sterling at 5 and 6
By Paul Nicholson
January 5 – Lionel Messi is worth €100 million more than Neymar and he is worth €66 million more than Luis Suarez who is the eighth most valuable player in Europe, according to a CIES Football Observatory ranking of the 100 most valuable players in the Big 5 European Leagues in England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy.