Euro fan group says crackdown on Spain’s ultras is not the solution
December 10 – Spanish football’s crackdown on misbehaving fans has been criticised by Europe’s main supporters group for being far too strict and indiscriminate.
After four heart ops and a defribrillator, Engelbrecht returns to goalscoring
By Florian Pertsch
December 10 – After four heart operations and 16 months of recovery for most athletes sport would be a thing of the past. Not so for third division Stuttgart Kickers forward Daniel Engelbrecht.
Parma hit with fine and point loss after falling foul of money rules
December 10 – Italian Serie A strugglers Parma have been handed a one-point deduction for financial irregularities last season.
Lee Wellings: Fourth pretences from underachieving clubs
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is a master, a genius. If only it were as a football coach.
No, his gifts come in a much more productive area for the modern manager, that of positive spin and subtle self-praise. First spotted from him in that toe-curling American-flavoured documentary inside the club from 2012 and used to full effect as Liverpool meekly exited the Champions League with 5 points out of a possible 18. In a group that included Basle and the mighty Ludogorets.
Hungary’s MTK picks new stadium design
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
December 10 – A jury composed of members of the Hungarian architects’ association Magyar Epiteszek Hazabanhas have picked the winning design for the planned new stadium for Budapest-based side MTK. The project is estimated to cost about HUF 6.5 billion (€21.3 million).
Bastia president arrested over irregular club payments
December 12 – The president of French Ligue 1 side Bastia, Pierre-Marie Geronimi (pictured), has been arrested and placed in police custody as part of an investigation into the club’s finances.
Platini keeps up his hunt to find a FIFA presidential challenger
By Andrew Warshaw
December 10 – UEFA president Michel Platini has given another strong hint that moves are going on behind the scenes to find a suitable challenger for Europe to back at next year’s FIFA presidential election.
Russia beds in tourism plan to cope with 3m fan influx in 2018
By Paul Nicholson
December 10 – Russia’s Federal Agency of Tourism is estimating there will be 30-40% more tourists visiting Russia during the 2018 World Cup, than there were during the Sochi Olympic games. During the whole period of the Sochi games, 2 million people visited the city.
Monaco face more FFP scrutiny as UEFA also pressure Lyon
By Samindra Kunti
December 10 – European football’s governing body UEFA has announced that it will continue to investigate Monaco under the Financial Fair Play Regulations, while Olympique Lyon has been asked to submit additional information.
Scotiabank joins the CONCACAF revolution as first official partner
By Paul Nicholson
December 9 – CONCACAF has announced Scotiabank as the first official partner of its revamped sponsorship programme. In an initial four-year deal, the bank will become the title sponsor of the CONCACAF Champions League, the official bank of the confederation, and a main sponsor of the Gold Cup.
Blatter leaves door open for January World Cup but underlines his opposition
By David Owen in Monte Carlo
December 9 – FIFA President Joseph Blatter appears to have left open the possibility that the 2022 World Cup may – after all – be played in January and February, in a prospect that will horrify winter sports federations.
Man City’s new £200m training facility takes academy to “a different level”
By Mark Baber
December 9 – Manchester City’s new £200 million youth development and first team training centre – the City Football Academy (CFA) – was on officially opened Monday by former manager and captain, Tony Book, with club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne in attendance.
Club World Cup set for kick off despite Aussie threat of pull out over pay
By Andrew Warshaw
December 9 – The Club World Cup, FIFA’s prized seven-team annual competition that was set up partially to try and wrest some of the global attention away from Europe and give all six continents their own trophy to play for, gets under way in Morocco on Wednesday amid a pay dispute that threatens to disrupt proceedings.
Tribunal rules turf challenge can continue as Brazil meeting mooted
By Andrew Warshaw
December 9 – Both sides in the ongoing spat over the use of artificial turf at next year’s women’s World Cup have received good and bad news in the last 24 hours.
Romanian court strips Steaua Bucharest of name, logo and colours
December 9 – Romania’s most famous club Steaua Bucharest, founded in 1947, have been stripped of their name, colours and emblem after losing a long legal battle with the country’s defence ministry over their trademark.