Platini says FFP is staying, but rules will be modified
May 22 – UEFA president Michel Platini insists financial fair play (FFP) is still working and “here to stay” despite the decision to tweak the project in the face of legal challenges.
Europe
Gent rise from financial ashes to take first Belgian league title
By Samindra Kunti
May 22 – In July 2013 KAA Gent chairman Ivan De Witte inaugurated the Ghemlanco Arena with the promise that his club would become champions within the next five seasons. It was perceived as grandiloquence and bluff, bordering on megalomania, but yesterday’s 2-0 victory against Standard de Liege, propelling De Witte’s club to a first-ever title, proved De Witte was not bluffing. Gent’s success is the result of the modernisation of a once troubled club.
Juve build on Mexican fanbase with Tecate beer deal
May 21 – Italy’s Juventus has agreed a regional beer sponsorship with Cervezas Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma S.A. DE C.V. – Heineken Mexico, with its Tecate brand becoming the new Juventus Official Regional Beer.
Bulgarian racists target Silva again scratching swastika on car
By Alexander Krassimirov
May 21 – CSKA Sofia’s Portuguese winger Toni Silva has again been the victim of racially motivated vandalism. His car was marked with a nail as vandals scratched a swastika on it. Silva published a photo of his car on his Twitter account and wrote “Oh and again and again”.
Bulgarian clubs fail to gain licenses for European competition
By Alexander Krassimirov
May 21- Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia have failed to get licenses for European club competitions and for the domestic championship in Bulgaria. Alongside CSKA, three other clubs – Lokomotiv Sofia, Marek Dupnitsa and Haskovo – alson failed to get licenses, according to the Bulgarian Football Union.
Italian women’s cup final off after lesbian comment angers players
May 20 – Italy’s women’s cup final has been cancelled as a result of the alleged description of female players as a “bunch of lesbians” by the president of the Italian Amateur Football Association (LND), Felice Belloli (pictured).
Italian anti-Mafia unit swoops to arrest 50 suspected of match-fixing
May 20 – More than 50 people including coaches, directors and players, have been arrested as part of a massive match-fixing crackdown in Italy.
Dinamo Bucharest push 30,000-seat stadium plan for Euro 2020
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
May 20 – Elisabeta Lipa, the chief executive of Dinamo Bucharest, has unveiled plans to demolish its Stefan cel Mare stadium and build a new sports facility with a total capacity of 30,000.
Juve vs Lazio cup final in TV first with Ultra-HD format
May 20 – Italy are making TV production history with the first broadcast of a football match in the new 4K Ultra-HD format. The Juventus versus Lazio TIM Cup Final at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico tonight, will be the first to offer broadcasters a live feed in the fledgling TV format.
Hamburg in danger of historic Bundesliga relegation as Olympic race nears
By David Owen
May 19 – Hamburg, a confirmed runner in the race for the 2024 Olympics, may be about to suffer an immense blow to its sporting prestige. With just one game to go, the city’s premier football club – Hamburger Sport-Verein – is in serious peril of relegation from Germany’s Bundesliga for the first time in its history.
UEFA promise to relax FFP rules as transfer window warms up
By Andrew Warshaw
May 19 – With a raft of clubs struggling to comply, UEFA have agreed to relax the rules on financial fair play that were introduced in 2011 to curb overspending, but which have led to the widely anticipated threat of legal challenges.
Real Madrid to unveil new app in football’s global technology wars
By David Owen
May 18 – Top football clubs face a common problem: as their global brands become more powerful, their fan-bases become more remote and harder to engage with – and to monetise. Digital technology seems an obvious route to addressing this issue, and this week Real Madrid, which has been notably quick off the mark in the use of social media, will launch its latest initative for connecting with supporters worldwide.
Italy’s Belloli under fire for ‘bunch of lesbians’ comment
May 18 – Six months after federation president Carlo Tavecchio was banned for his notorious “banana eaters” comments when referring to African footballers, Italian football has been plunged into fresh embarrassment with another less than savoury verbal faux pas.
Besiktas fans attack Fenerbache captain on ferry crossing
By Alexander Krassimirov
May 18 – Turkish international and current captain of Turkey’s Fenerbahce Emre Belozoglu (pictured) has been attacked by Besiktas supporters while traveling on a ferry.
Greek clubs rebel as divisions deepen with threats to quit Super League
By Matt Scott
May 15 – Major Greek clubs are in open revolt over the corruption scandal that has put the owner of Olympiacos in the dock over allegations of extortion, bribery and arranging a bombing.