Fan worshipped Buffon fined for blasphemy
February 19 – Veteran Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been fined €5,000 by the Italian Football Federation for blasphemy.
Louis-Dreyfus family back in football with Sunderland takeover
February 19 – At the age of just 23, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is the new chairman of English League One club Sunderland – a hugely supported club which in recent years has punched well below its weight – after his takeover was approved by the English Football League.
In-your-face EFL ref told to stand down
February 19 – The referee who squared up to a player during an English league game last week has been removed from the next fixture he was due to take charge of tomorrow.
beIN’s Al-Khelaifi slams Swiss prosecutor’s appeal as a publicity stunt
By Andrew Warshaw
February 18 – Paris St Germain supremo Nasser Al-Khelaifi has hit back at the decision by Swiss prosecutors to appeal his acquittal on accusations of aggravated criminal mismanagement regarding the allocation of World Cup TV rights.
Players’ union says any new Champions League format must prioritise player health
February 18 – The international men’s players union FIFpro says ongoing discussions about the future of UEFA competitions with a view to preventing a breakaway Super League must include safeguards to protect the workload placed on its members.
FIFA report shows January transfer market fell off a $1.16bn cliff to $590m
By Paul Nicholson
February 18 – FIFA has released an international ‘Transfer Market Snapshot’ report that shows the impact of the pandemic on player movement is “even more severe” than it 2020 Global Transfer report.
OL’s Aulas calls on players to share the pain with 25% pay cut, offset by a share deal
February 18 – Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas has asked his players to take a pay cut in a bid to mitigate the financial fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic and loss of Ligue 1 TV rights revenue.
OM boss Eyraud says Ligue1 must reform to face post-Covid realities
February 18 – Olympique de Marseille president Jacques-Henri Eyraud (pictured) has said Ligue 1 is “no longer sustainable” and should shrink to confront a post-coronavirus reality.
Seven Serie A clubs put block on €1.7bn CVC deal arguing it undervalues rights
February 18 – Serie A’s €1.7 billion private equity deal for a 10% stake in the league’s newly created media business looks to have been scuppered.
Laporta says Messi is crucial to Barca’s playing and financial future
February 18 – Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has vowed to do all he can to keep Lionel Messi at the club despite another humiliating night in the Champions League.
Covid travel curbs derail UEFA’s Youth League
February 18 – The 2020-21 edition of the UEFA Youth League – a youth version of the Champions League – has been cancelled due to the difficulties in staging the competition caused by Covid-19 travel restrictions.
AS Monaco accelerates digital footprint with Line launch in Japan
February 18 – Ligue 1’s AS Monaco will become the first French club to launch on Japan’s Line social media platform when the club face Paris Saint-Germain this Sunday.
Infantino opens African tour in Mauritania with CAF presidential hopeful Yahya
February 17 – With politicking in the election of a new president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in full flow, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has begun a tour of African nations with Mauritania his first stop.
Guardiola to release players for internationals but fears new spike in new Covid cases
February 17 – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola fears next month’s international break could reap Covid chaos on elite clubs but says he will not stop his players from travelling abroad.
Swiss prosecutors appeal acquittal of beIN’s Al-Khelaifi in World Cup TV rights case
February 17 – Swiss prosecutors are appealing the acquittal of Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi (pictured) on accusations of aggravated criminal mismanagement regarding the allocation of World Cup TV rights.