European Leagues body expels Russian members over Ukraine crisis
March 7 – Europe’s leagues have moved to expel the Russian Premier League and the Football National League of Russia from their association.
Europe
LaLiga and Latvia’s Virsliga look to future with MoU
March 7 – Spain’s LaLiga and Latvia’s Virslīga have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together topromote football development, with a special focus on technology solutions.
Russian exodus continues as former Norwich boss Farke and 8 players quit Krasnodar
March 4 – Eight foreign players plus German manager Daniel Farke, who was in the job for just six weeks, have quit Russian Premier League club Krasnodar in a continuing exodus since Russia invaded Ukraine.
UK adds Usmanov to sanctions list. Everton face life without Russian cash
March 4 – The doors are closing on Alisher Usmanov. Having already had sanctions applied to him by the EU, he has now been added to the UK’s hit list of Russian oligarchs.
Ukraine crisis: UEFA bans Belarus teams from playing at home
March 3 – Belarus and its club sides have been banned from playing matches at home by UEFA. Instead they will have to find neutral venues to play behind closed doors.
Albanian elections postponed after local court suspends president
March 3 – The Albanian Football Federation has postponed its presidential election until March 15, following a dispute with one of its regional associations.
Fire sale? Abramovich shops Chelsea to billionaire boys club
March 2 – Speculation is mounting than Chelsea’s billionaire oligarch owner Roman Abramovich may be about to sell the club in the wake of his country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Belgians get radical with revamped second tier format, addition of U23 teams and play-offs
March 2 – The Belgian second division will expand to 12 teams with the introduction of both four U-23 teams and a playoff system from next season, the Pro League has confirmed.
UEFA Foundation releases €1m+ in emergency aid for Ukrainian children
March 2 – UEFA has released €1 million from its Foundation for Children to help children in Ukraine as well as child refugees in neighbouring countries.
ECA boots out its seven Russian club members
March 2 – The European Club Association (ECA) has kicked out its Russian members following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Gisdol quits Lokomotiv Moscow, Ukraine league’s overseas players evacuated
March 2 – While football’s governing bodies and clubs with Russian sponsorship are turning their back on the country following the invasion of Ukraine, individual protest action is also gathering pace.
Doors close on Usmanov who stands down as FIE president
March 3 – Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, a former Arsenal shareholder and who is linked to Everton via sponsorships and its chairman Farhad Moshiri, has stepped down as president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE).
Ukraine asked Abramovich to broker peace, claims advisor
March 1 – Chelsea’s billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich has been asked by Ukraine to help broker peace with his country according to the oligarch’s official spokesperson.
England say they will refuse to play Russia; but Russian women still inbound for Euro 2022
February 28 – England has become the latest country to refuse to play international fixtures against Russia.
UEFA switch Champions League final from St Petersburg to Paris
By Andrew Warshaw
February 25 – As widely anticipated, UEFA have stripped St Petersburg of hosting this season’s Champions League final and switched their annual showpiece fixture to the Stade de France in Paris as a result of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.