FIFA pours cold water on Norwegian FA ‘dinner’ talk
November 11 – FIFA have moved quickly to dispel a report that claimed Sepp Blatter believes Qatar will be stripped of hosting the 2022 World Cup.
Europe
Ajax Amsterdam seals €8 million sponsorship deal with Ziggo
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
November 11 – Ajax Amsterdam has inked a sponsorship deal with local cable and media firm Ziggo. Starting in January 2015, Ziggo will replace insurance and pension firm Aegon as the club’s main sponsor under a deal worth at least €8 million per year, the side said in a statement.
France top Brazil in table of exported players to big-5 Euro leagues
By Paul Nicholson
November 11 – There has been a subtle shift in the balance of expatriate players in the big-5 leagues in Europe with a marked increase in the numbers of Europeans moving to leagues outside their home country, with the balance moving away from the exporting South American markets. The overall percentage of ‘foreign’ players in the big-5 leagues continues to rise, hitting a record 45.9%, according to figures from the CIES Football Observatory.
Shakhtar Donetsk owner in talks to buy Lviv Arena in western Ukraine
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
November 7 – Rinat Akhmetov, the owner of Shakhtar Donetsk, is considering buying Arena Lviv, where the Ukrainian club is currently hosting its home matches, according to local authority representatives.
Sportradar expands data gathering with Ukrainian partnership
November 7 – The Ukrainian Premier League (UPL) has signed a data partnership deal with Sportradar taking them to the end of the 2017/18 season.
Call for Ligue 1 boycott as comments reignite French racism row
By Mark Baber
November 7 – Racist comments by Bordeaux coach Willy Sagnol have ignited a new row in French football with his remarks being defended in some quarters whilst Pape Diouf, the former president of Olympique de Marseille) called for a boycott of Ligue 1.
English Championship boosts FFP loss allowance to £13m pa for rich owners
November 7 – English second tier clubs have agreed a new set of Financial Fair Play regulations to be implemented from the start of the 2016/17 season.
Hagi laments second 16-match ban for bone-breaking tackle
November 7 – A second Romanian player has been banned for 16 games for a reckless challenge in a domestic league game as the authorities crack down on foul play.
Milan looking for San Siro replacement in new ‘Milan quarter’
By Mark Baber
November 6 – On the same day as AC Milan lifted the Trofeo Luigi Berlusconi after a 2-0 victory against San Lorenzo of Argentina in the San Siro, it emerged that joint CEO, Barbara Berlusconi, is pursuing the concept of a new stadium for the Rossoneri – in the same neighborhood as the Casa Milan – to form a new “quartiere Milan.”
Romanian elbowed out with 16-match ban for violent play
November 6 – A Romanian midfielder has been handed an unprecedented 16-match domestic ban for fracturing the eye socket of an opponent.
Gornik Zabrze puts 6 month deadline on stadium upgrade
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
November 5 – Polish construction company PB Dombud has won the PLN 20.5 million (€5 million) contract to modernise Gornik Zabrze’s stadium. The upgraded and expanded stadium will be increased to a capacity of 31,871 spectators.
Tel Aviv derby turns violent and is abandoned at half time
November 5 – Israeli football usually makes the news when linked to the Middle East crisis but television pictures flashed around the world of dreadful scenes during the Tel Aviv derby have plunged the domestic game into disgrace.
UEFA slams home fan bans on Romania and Hungary, but away fans can attend
November 3 – UEFA has imposed partial stadium closure orders on both Romania and Hungary after their ill-tempered Euro 2016 qualifying tie – but the sanctions will not affect away fans.
RB Leipzig lines up stadium expansion as club wings towards Bundesliga 1
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
November 3 – RasenBallsport Leipzig has unveiled plans to increase the capacity of its stadium. Under the plan, the German club’s stadium will be increased 55,000 as the club targets promotion to the Bundesliga’s top tier and, ultimately, qualification for European competition, an ambition of its Red Bull owners.
Tonev denies racism but SFA hand down 7 game ban
October 31 – In an unprecedented ruling that has stunned Scottish football as well as his English parent club, Celtic’s Bulgarian international winger Aleksandar Tonev has been handed a seven-match ban for racial abuse.