UEFA to contribute €20 million more to Euro 2016 host-cities

Euro 2106 logo

By David Owen
October 28 – UEFA has agreed to chip in an extra €20 million for the 10 Euro 2016 host cities. The financial package will be released in two instalments, the first at once and the second after the competition finishes. The tournament, to be played in France, will be the 15th European Championship and the first to be contested by 24 teams.

Read more …

Leeds lunacy continues with latest manager sacked

Darko Milanic

By Andrew Warshaw
October 27 – Here today, gone virtually tomorrow. In less than seven months since taking over the club, Italian entrepreneur Massimo Cellino has turned Leeds United – not so long ago the proudest and most successful club in English football – into a laughing stock by sacking yet another manager almost as soon as he has walked through the door.

Read more …

Politics and football: A Brazilian love affair

Ronaldo and Neves

By Ricardo Setyon
Ocotber 27 – A pornstar called Stick Kid. The only ever Brazilian astronaut. A series of sexy women that adopted artisitic nicknames of fruits (Pear Maria, little strawberry), all linked to their body formats. A Hollywood-based plastic surgeon, born in Brazil. A blind comedian. Three Big Brother reality TV Show winners. Five or six local country singers. A Volleyball World Champion and a famous boxer. And 12 ex-football players and coaches. They all have two things in common: they are famous and they all failed to get enough votes to be winners in the recent elections in Brazil.

Read more …

Both sanctioned as Serbia vs Albania walk-off row keeps running

Serbia vs Albania

By Andrew Warshaw
October 24 – In one of the most scrutinised judgments handed down in recent years, UEFA have effectively punished both parties for the politically-fuelled mayhem that caused last week’s Euro 2016 qualifier between Balkan rivals Serbia and Albania to be abandoned while goalless on 41 minutes after descending into chaos.

Read more …