Champions League draw throws up mixed fortunes for Manchester clubs
August 28 – If there wasn’t quite a group of death, Manchester City arguably again drew the short straw in the draw for the group stages of the Champions League.
Europe
Schalke 04 strikes €1.4m deal with Turkish Airlines
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
August 28 – FC Schalke 04 has inked a new sponsorship deal with Turkish Airlines. The deal, which is estimated to be worth a total of €1.4 million, will see the airlinesupport the Gelsenkirchen-based side for two years.
Messi scores UEFA player award over Ronaldo and Suárez
August 28 – Lionel Messi’s role in Barcelona’s treble-winning 2014/15 campaign has resulted in him being been named UEFA’s European player of the year for the second time in the accolade’s five-year history.
Ascoli Picchio plans €12 million stadium overhaul and push for Serie A
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
August 27 – Following the club’s return to Italy’s Serie B, Italy’s second tier, Ascoli Picchio FC has unveiled detail of a planned €12 million stadium redevelopment.
Levski battle racist fans with visual lesson in the unacceptable
By Alexander Krassimirov
August 27 – Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia have started an educational campaign in a bid to combat the extreme racism of their fans. The club is one of the most frequently fined by the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU). Recently the fines for Bulgarian teams for racist incident, of which there are sadly many, have been increasing.
Batman’s peace doves ire Turkish federation. Perhaps robins next time?
By Mark Baber
August 27 – The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has referred the Batman Petrolspor team to the Professional Football Disciplinary Committee after the club released white doves representing peace prior to their first game of the season.
High five for La Liga and Spanish clubs going into CL draw tomorrow
August 26 – The English Premier League may generate the most income of Europe’s domestic leagues but tomorrow’s Champions League draw features no fewer than five Spanish clubs, the first time one country has had that many representatives in the competition.
Match-fixing? Who cares? CAS backs UEFA over Olympiacos despite Athens court bans
By Matt Scott
August 25 – Olympiacos have been cleared to play in this season’s Champions League group phase after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Monday that UEFA had been right to admit the serial Greek champions.
Tavecchio pushes new money rules to avoid another Parma disaster
August 25 – Italian authorities say they are working hard to ensure clubs balance the books to avoid any repetition of what happened to Parma, a once illustrious name now declared bankrupt and playing in an amateur league this season after finishing bottom of Serie A.
Serbs form police hit squads to probe fans over match-fixing accusations
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
August 24 – Following an investigation launched by the Serbian Football Association (FSS), as a response to reports indicating that a match between local rivals Red Star Belgrade and OFK Belgrade was rigged, the Serbian Ministry of Interior has formed special police teams tasked with investigating managers, footballers and clubs’ supporters.
CSKA Sofia fans asked to tone down their political songs
By Alexander Krassimirov
August 24 – Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia may have been relegated to the country’s amateur leagues for failing to pass the financial criteria to receive their club license, but their fans still manage to capture national headlines.
Swiss find more ‘suspicious’ transactions in World Cup bid probe
By Andrew Warshaw
August 24 – The Swiss probe into possible money-laundering linked to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid process has now uncovered more than 100 incidents of “suspicious financial activity” according to the Swiss attorney general’s office.
Italian FA dumps Catania to third tier for match-fixing crimes
August 21 – Catania have been relegated to the third tier of Italian football for their involvement in a match-fixing scandal last season. The Sicilian side were also deducted 12 points for this season and fined €150,000 while club president Antonino Pulvirenti has been banned for five years and fined €300,000.
Fans as agents: Sint-Truiden and kickrs.net link to crowd-fund player market
By Samindra Kunti
August 20 – Belgian topflight club Sint-Truidense V.V. have partnered with Swiss start-up kickrs.net to crowd-fund the transfers of football players. Fans of STVV can invest in 18-year old Greek striker Panagiotis Kynigopoulos.
Sun sets on Roda JC’s new shirt sponsor, deepening club’s cash crisis
By Samindra Kunti
August 19 – Dutch club Roda JC’s financial woes have been aggravated by shirt sponsor Solland Solar filing for bankruptcy. The club is at least €1.3 million in debt.