Israel says lockdown will not derail Scotland Euro 2020 play-off
September 15 – Israel are happy to travel to fulfil their European Championship play-off against Scotland despite a national lockdown.
Europe
FA boots minnows out of Cup for refusing to play Covid-depleted rivals
By Andrew Warshaw
September 14 – Spare a thought today for a tiny English non-league team who put the health of its players first yet have been thrown out of the FA Cup, the world’s oldest domestic knockout tournament, for refusing to play.
Belgium reopens stadia for fans with full round of fixtures
By Samindra Kunti
September 14 – Belgian football fans returned to stadiums this weekend for the first since the Covid-19 pandemic began and following specific protocols that were approved by local authorities.
Chaos in Paris as PSG lose to OM, 5 sent off and accusations of racist comments
September 14 – France’s most hostile domestic football rivalry resulted in no fewer than five dismissals on Sunday and a claim from Neymar that he heard a racist slur as visitors Marseille upset reigning champions Paris St Germain 1-0.
US investors Bolt, take leap into Belgian football with Waasland-Beveren buy
September 14 – Waasland-Beveren have become the latest foreign-owned club in the Belgian top flight following investment by Bolt Football Holdings, the American majority owners of Crystal Palace.
Barca budget for €315m revenue loss and set date March date of presidential election
September 14 – With the crisis over whether Lionel Messsi is staying or leaving resolved, the club have moved on to the next personnel issue and whether president Josep Maria Bartomeu will stay on, setting 20 and 21 March 2021 as the election date for the club presidency.
UEFA report highlights Premier League clubs top academy spends with €6.1m a year
September 11 – European top-flight clubs have invested €870 million for youth development in 2020, according to a study by UEFA. With an average of €6.1 million per club, the Premier League clubs top the list.
Covid concerns force UEFA to move Champions League draw from Athens to Nyon
September 10 – UEFA have shifted the draw for the Champions League and the Europe League away from Athens to Nyon over Covid-19 concerns.
Premier League swims against the tide as ECA lobby UEFA for 5 subs rule to continue
By Andrew Warshaw
September 9 – Europe’s leading clubs are to lobby UEFA to let them use five substitutes per game in the group stages of this season’s Champions League and Europa League as part of the effort to ease fixture congestion and the physical burden on players after such a short pre-season.
LaLiga gets go-ahead to continue with 5 subs rule
September 9 – Spain’s FA (RFEF) has approved an extension of the five-substitutions rule until the end of the 2020/21 season after a request from the league, allowing Spanish clubs to apply the rule and mitigate the consequences of what is projected to be physically daunting season for their players.
‘Huge amount at stake’ as Scots pilot return of 300 fans for Aberdeen and Celtic games
September 9 – In a potentially significant breakthrough after a six-month shutdown that has crippled club finances, two Scottish top-flight grounds are being allowed to welcome a limited number of fans to games this weekend.
Barca’s socios bid to oust Bartomeu gathers support
September 9 – A campaign by Barcelona fans to force a vote of no confidence in club president Josep-Maria Bartomeu (pictured) is halfway to its goal according to local reports.
Bellerin buys into the eco-agenda with stake in Forest Green Rovers
September 9 – Recognised by FIFA and the United Nations as the world’s most environmentally sustainable club, Forest Green Rovers have now attracted attention from Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin who has become the club’s second-largest shareholder.
ECA and Juve boss Agnelli warns of two year €4bn Covid cash crisis for clubs
By Andrew Warshaw
September 8 – The head of European club football’s umbrella organisation warned today of the “deep scars” caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the probable “cash crisis” for scores of clubs in the months ahead.
UEFA puts Super Cup tickets on sale for travelling Bayern and Sevilla fans
September 8 – Tickets have gone on sale for the European Super Cup between Bayern Munich and Sevilla, due to be the first UEFA club match with fans in attendance since the coronavirus shutdown.