UEFA lodges Nations League trademarks in the US and Europe
February 18 – UEFA has registered a logo and a trademark related to the Nations League in its ongoing feud with FIFA over new competitions that would reshape the football landscape.
Europe
FIGC fury as Pro Piacenza’s unlucky 7 lose 20-0 in Italy’s third tier
February 18 – A financially destitute Italian third-tier club is under fire for fielding just seven players at the weekend and losing 20-0 in the process – the worst trouncing in the league’s history.
Did he? Didn’t he? UEFA to probe Ramos ‘deliberate’ booking
February 15 – UEFA have launched an investigation that could rule Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos out of a potential Champions League quarter-final after he admitted getting booked on purpose in Wednesday’s 2-1 win at Ajax Amsterdam.
LFP join LICRA lawsuit against abusive anti-Mbappe graffiti authors
February 15 – The French football league (LFP) says it will join a lawsuit against the perpetrators of racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic graffiti targeting Paris St Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.
UEFA ref boss Rosetti happy with VAR debut in Champions League
February 15 – Despite a hugely controversial offside call at Ajax that went Real Madrid’s way and could have changed the outcome of the game, the Video Assistant Referee system “worked perfectly” at all stadiums that hosted first leg games in the last 16 of the Champions League this week, according to UEFA’s chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti.
Big vs Little: VAR’s debut in Champions League sparks Ajax allegations of favourtism
February 14 – The video assistant referee system made its eagerly anticipated Champions League debut in the last-16 this week – and immediately caused huge controversy.
Player safety: Former England player advocates re-look at dangers of heading
February 14 – A former England midfielder has called for a ban on children heading footballs to be introduced
Barca and LaLiga confirm overseas matches as ‘logical next step’
February 13 – LaLiga have not given up on their ambition of playing a ground-breaking domestic game overseas, with Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu (pictured) supporting the initiative in an interview with the BBC.
English goalkeeping legend Gordon Banks dies, aged 81
February 12 – England’s 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeping hero Gordon Banks has died aged 81.
Champions League results are more predictable than ever before, says report
February 12 – With UEFA searching for ways to find a greater competitive balance between clubs for its competitions, the latest research report from the CIES Football Observatory shows “a clear trend towards less balance and more predictability.”
Minute’s silence for Sala before European club games
February 12 – In memory of Emiliano Sala, the Argentine player tragically killed en route to join his new club Cardiff City, a minute’s silence will be observed at all Champions League and Europa League games this week.
Ceferin says still no ‘concrete’ detail on Infantino’s $25bn FIFA competition revamp
By Andrew Warshaw
February 8 – With just over a month to go until the issue is due to come to a head, Aleksander Ceferin has re-iterated his call to FIFA to provide more information about Gianni Infantino’s plans to change the landscape of world football competitions.
Sala’s body is recovered from seabed wreckage
February 8 – The body recovered from the wreckage of the light aircraft carrying Emiliano Sala to his new club Cardiff City, which tragically plunged into the English Channel, is that of the Argentine-born footballer, police have confirmed.
UEFA Congress: Al-Khelaifi and Clarke take seats at Europe’s top table
By Andrew Warshaw
February 7 – Calls for UEFA to block the election of Paris Saint Germain supremo Nasser Al Khelaifi to its executive committee fell on deaf ears today when he was duly added to the organisation’s inner sanctum.
Ceferin tells FIFA it must respect UEFA’s views and warns of ‘delusional’ leadership
By Andrew Warshaw
February 7 – On the day he was re-elected as UEFA president for four more years, Aleksander Ceferin pulled no punches in his opposition to FIFA’s controversial proposals to change the landscape of world football, declaring he would not be a “yes man” over the highly divisive $25 billion project