AEK fans heap more disgrace on Greek football, leaving Ajax fans battered and bloodied
November 28 – Just as Greek football is battling to re-instil confidence in its domestic game, violent AEK fans have heaped new disgrace on the Greek game.
Europe
Russian tensions forces UEFA to move Vorskla Poltava vs Arsenal to safer haven of Kiev
November 28 – The escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine off the coast of Crimea have spilled over into football with UEFA deciding to relocate Arsenal’s Europa League tie against FC Vorskla Poltava on Thursday to Kiev following the introduction of martial law in some parts of Ukraine.
Russian roulette in Monaco? Rybolovlev celebrates his birthday with three 3 points
By Paul Nicholson
November 27 – Sometimes life can really get you down. Arrest in your tax haven home, suspicion you have been turned over to the tune of $1 billion in a series of fraudulent art deals, and seeing the football club you rescued from bankruptcy sitting next to bottom of a league you were at the top of a year ago would be enough to make even the most happy clappy Russian billionaire a little fed up.
Holland’s Eredivisie blazes revenue solidarity trail sharing UEFA money deeper into league
By Paul Nicholson
November 23 – Dutch clubs in the Eredivisie have agreed a package of reform measures that will increase the revenue distribution amongst its clubs and a requirement for them to invest deeper in youth training programmes.
Sevim Ebeoglu, a symbol of unified Cypriot football’s past, dies aged 87
By Andrew Warshaw
November 23 – One of Cyprus’ most iconic and celebrated players, Sevim Ebeoglu, who perhaps more than anyone epitomised what it would have meant for football on both sides of the divided island to be re-integrated, has died at the age of 87.
Russia’s Mutko keeping a foot in the door at RFU
By Andrew Warshaw
November 22 – Evidence that Vitaly Mutko is back in favour within the Russian Football Union (RFU) hierarchy has been given further credence by the fact that he was present at the RFU’s executive committee meeting this week, having stepped aside from his role as president late last year.
Quotas: Premier League rejects FA’s Brexit proposal on foreign players
November 22 – The Premier League is opposing a post-Brexit proposal by the English Football Association limiting the number of non-homegrown players clubs can include in their senior squads.
World’s highest paid union boss calls for ‘open review’
November 22 – English football’s players’ union boss Gordon Taylor has responded to growing criticism of his leadership by announcing “a full and open review” into his organisation.
Nations League off to good start, says UEFA chief. But Super League is a non-starter
By Andrew Warshaw
November 21 – Europe’s new Nations League competition, designed to do away with meaningless friendlies, has proven far more successful than UEFA imagined, according to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
Ceferin promises more robust FFP but refuses to be drawn on Man City or PSG
November 21 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has admitted that “weak” aspects of Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules are potentially allowing clubs to exploit loopholes and says the system will be tightened up.
Video refs could debut in Champions League this season
November 21 – UEFA looks set to fast-track the implementation of video assistant referees (VAR) for the knockout stages of this season’s Champions League after growing pressure to fall into line with most of Europe’s domestic leagues and following the system’s success at the World Cup.
Ceferin slams ‘secret’ FIFA deals as UEFA and its clubs draw closer with EU support
By Andrew Warshaw
November 20 – Without mentioning Gianni Infantino by name, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin today issued a veiled attack on what he described as “secret” deals orchestrated by his opposite number at FIFA as the row over an alleged plan to sell off FIFA’s World Cup rights as part of a $25 billion deal with a consortium linked to Saudi Arabia escalated.
Ceferin and Agnelli call for European unity and dismiss Super League as ‘fiction’
November 20 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has made his most categoric statement to date against the idea of a European Super League.
Dutch last-gasp equaliser knocks French out of Nations League final spot
November 20 – No Germany, no Spain – and now no France. It may be premature to suggest that the power in European football is shifting but few would have predicted the four finalists of the inaugural Nations League competition.
Swiss and English win Nations League thrillers to reach finals; Portugal to host
November 19 – England, Switzerland and Portugal emerged as the big winners at the weekend as the new Nations League competition, initially derided by many as being unwieldy and over-complicated, took centre stage.