By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent, in Monaco
August 30 – It may not quite have had the razzmatazz of previous years but the group stage draw for the Champions League nevertheless provided its fair share of anticipation and excitement today.
By Mark Baber
August 29 – Gibraltar-based online casino operator 32Red is to become the official casino partner of Italy’s Bologna FC in a new two year deal. 32Red’s logo will be displayed on the pitch-side LED advertising boards at every home game, on interview backdrops and on the official club website.
By Panos Bletsos
August 29 – The Greek football authorities have again reformatted the leagues in a desperate bid to create more revenue. This time the format of the Football League, the country’s second tier, has been changed with immediate effect as the league seeks to generate more TV money.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 29 – Turkey’s Fenerbahce have had their appeal against Champions League expulsion rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport which upheld UEFA’s two-year ban from European competition over a much-publicised match-fixing scandal.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 29 – Will he or won’t he stand for FIFA President? It’s a question that has persued UEFA boss Michel Platini wherever he has turned up in recent months – and now he has told the football world exactly when he will give a clear indication one way or the other. Platini says he is still weighing up whether he wants to succeed Sepp Blatter in 2015 but will most likely end all the waiting during UEFA’s next executive committee meeting in Dubrovnik on September 19 and 20.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 29 – Kazakhstan champions Shakhtar Karagandy, dramatically knocked out by Celtic 3-2 on aggregate in the Champions League playoff round on Wednesday, have been warned by UEFA that they could face disciplinary action if they continue the practise of ritually slaughtering sheep before European games.
By Alexander Krassimirov
August 29 – Bulgaria’s former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov (pictured) has set a record as the oldest professional football player in the history of Bulgaria. The leader of the GERB political party was registered as a professional footballer in the Bulgarian Football Union on August 19 and a week later officially made his debut in Vitosha Bistritsa’s goalless draw against Rakovski in the country’s second-tier league (B grupa).
By Andrew Warshaw
August 28 – Football clubs are often accused of self-interest and lack of sportsmanship so hats off to Yeovil Town boss Gary Johnson for at least trying to partially make amends after admitting poor judgement by him and his team.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 28 – The thorny issue of Kosovan eligibility is back in the spotlight after a Swiss-based player was refused a visa by Russia to play for St Gallen in a Europa League game on Thursday. St Gallen midfielder Kristian Nushi, who moved to Switzerland 11 years ago but still holds a Kosovan passport, will therefore miss the playoff second leg at Spartak Moscow.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 28 – Inter Milan have renewed their sponsorship agreement with Nike by signing a 10-year deal worth a reported €200 million in what has become one of football’s longest established partnerships.
By Mark Baber
August 27 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter is expecting a reply in the next few days from Russian authorities about the recently passed law banning “propaganda” to minors on “non-traditional relations.”
By ‘Alex O’Loughlin
August 27 – Gareth Bale looks set to join Real Madrid before the close of the transfer market for a world record fee in excess of €90 million, and Madrid have already started work on recouping that ooutlay.
By Alexander Krassimirov
August 27 – Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia will lose its main sponsor GLOBUL. The telecommunication company, which is the second largest in Bulgaria announced that it would not continue its cooperation with the club when the current sponsorship contract expires at the end of August.
By Andrew Warshaw
August 26 – Former French international striker Nicolas Anelka is reported to be considering retiring following the death of his agent, Eric Manasse.
By Mark Baber
August 26- Swiss billionaire investor Klaus-Michael Kühne wants to see radical reforms and Felix Magath, known for his tough management style, brought in to run Hamburger SV – and unless he gets his way he will not be putting any more of his money into the club.