UEFA pushes Israel’s Euro 2024 qualifier vs Swiss into November
October 11 – Israel’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Switzerland has been postponed until November 15 following the deadly attacks by Hamas militants.
Europe
Samsunspor dispute FIFA sanction saying all debt have been paid
October 11 – Turkey’s Samsunspor have been handed a transfer ban by FIFA covering the next two transfer windows for non-payment due of wages and bonuses to former player Arvydas Novikovas.
UEFA rubber stamp UK and Ireland Euro 2028 hosting, but who will get automatic final slots?
October 10 – The UK and Ireland were today confirmed as joint hosts of Euro 2028 following a meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee amid considerable debate over how the qualification process will work.
CSKA Sofia greenlighted to build new stadium
October 10 – Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia has received the long-awaited local authority permits to begin construction of its new stadium. The new facility will be built on the site of the current Bulgarian Army stadium, which is located in one of the largest parks in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia.
UEFA calls off Israel’s home matches after Hamas terrorists launch assault from Gaza
October 9 – UEFA has postponed all matches scheduled to take place in Israel over the next two weeks following Saturday’s surprise infiltration of the country by Hamas and the shocking death toll that ensued.
Nilsson quits Swedish sports body after loss of trust over support for Russian return at UEFA
October 9 – UEFA vice-president Karl-Erik Nilsson (pictured) is no longer the president of the Swedish Sports Confederation (RFE) after pressure over the European governing body’s decision to ease the blanket ban on Russian teams.
Danes restate anti-Russian readmission position. ‘Compromised’ Møller stays quiet
October 9 – Danish FA (DBU) president and UEFA executive committee member Jesper Møller Pictured) remains under pressure after the Danish governing body reiterated that Danish national teams will not play Russia and Danish children will not play Russian children.
Bulgaria’s Ludogorets staff quit en masse after Conference League hammering at FC Nordsjaelland
October 9 – The entire management and technical staff of Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad have resigned, just minutes after a loss to the Danish club FC Nordsjaelland in a match of Group H of the UEFA Europa Conference League tournament.
Pogba faces doping ban after second sample reported positive
October 9 – Former World Cup winner and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba faces a possible lengthy ban following a positive doping test on a B sample one month after he was provisionally suspended.
Turkish FA boss chased out of Besiktas stadium by fans
October 6 – The UEFA Conference League match between Besiktas and Swiss Lugano in Istanbul was marred by Besiktas fans forcing the president of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) Mehmet Büyükekşi to leave the Tupras stadium before the end of the first half.
French league disciplines four PSG players for offensive song after Marseilles win
October 6 – Four Paris Saint-Germain players have been handed a one-match suspended sentence for offensive chants aimed at bitter rival Marseille after a league match last month.
Antwerp pay the penalty of learning Champions League lessons the hard way
By Samindra Kunti in Antwerp
October 5 – On a night of high and low emotions in the Champions League, Newcastle United spectacularly overcame star-studded PSG 4-1 at an electric St James Park, while Belgian champions Antwerp failed to win their first-ever UCL match after giving away a two-goal lead on home soil in a 3-2 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine.
Birkbeck and Football Benchmark debut special course in football management and finance
October 5 – Specialist football financial research and advisory group Football Benchmark is collaborating with London’s Birkbeck University to launch a special course in football management and finance.
EC ban on plastic infill playing surfaces looks set to hit grassroots costs and participation
October 5 – In April 2023, an EU committee voted for new restrictions against the use of rubber granules, which could doom artificial turf football projects across the continent.
UEFA confirms Turkey join Italy for Euro 2032 bid, leaving Britain and Ireland clear route to 2028
October 4 – UEFA have announced they have received the formal bid by Turkey and Italy to jointly host the 2032 European Championships, leaving Britain and Ireland as the sole bidder for the 2028 tournament, subject to final approval from the governing body’s executive committee next week.