By Andrew Warshaw
March 17 – Following Insideworldfootball’s exclusive revelation that UEFA vice-president Marios Lefkaritis was exploiting a loophole in age restrictions in an attempt to cement his power base, the veteran Cypriot has agreed to withdraw from international football politics, bringing the curtain down on his 21-year career.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 16 – UEFA have confirmed that they will have to hold a special election for one single place on the FIFA Council since there are now only three candidates being elected for the four seats available at the European governing body’s congress next month.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 13 – New eligibility rules laid down by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has led to one of the European contenders for FIFA’s ruling Council to pull out of the running, inadvertently causing a major administrative snafu.
March 10 – Paris St-Germain say a police investigation is under way after fans angrily confronted players on their return from Barcelona following the greatest capitulation in Champions League history.
March 9 – Germany and Turkey will go head-to-head for the right to host the 2024 European Championship finals, UEFA have announced. The two federations were the only ones to submit a declaration of interest before the March 3 deadline after Scandinavian countries could not put together a credible bid.
March 8 – Arsenal and Bayern Munich have both been charged by UEFA following the behaviour of their fans in Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 tie at the Emirates.
March 8 – Bayern Munich could face sanctions after their supporters delayed Tuesday’s Champions League tie at Arsenal by throwing rolls of toilet paper on to the pitch in protest over ticket prices.
March 6 – UEFA held its first regional summit under the UEFA GROW theme last week in Tbilisi, Georgia, with the aim of boosting participation in football and the growth of the game across eastern Europe.
By Samindra Kunti
March 3 – French football may be in relatively good shape, with Les Bleus topping their World Cup qualifying group, Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League’s round of 16 and Ligue 1 enjoying more international exposure, but behind the scenes a battle for the French FA’s presidency is raging, with Didier Deschamps having joined the war of words.
March 2 – World players’ union FIFPro is advising foreign players against joining two of the 12 clubs in Malta’s Premier League after evidence emerged of poor treatment, including youngsters from Nigeria and the United States.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – Just days before the first UEFA-imposed deadline for national associations to confirm their interest, Nordic federations have ditched plans to bid for the 2024 European Championship – leaving Germany and Turkey to fight it out.
February 24 – UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has once again dismissed the idea of a breakaway European super league, repeatedly mooted as an inevitability despite UEFA’s decision to reform the Champions league in favour of the continent’s top four domestic leagues.
By Samindra Kunti
February 24 – On a historic night for Belgian football, AA Gent, KRC Genk and RSC Anderlecht all progressed from the Europa League’s round of 32. In the round of 16 Manchester United, the biggest team left in the competition, will face Russia’s FC Rostov.
By Andrew Warshaw
February 23 – When the previously little-known Aleksander Ceferin gained a stunning victory to win the presidency of UEFA last September, his landslide 42-13 triumph over Michael van Praag was a giant statement for the smaller European federations like his own Slovenia.
February 23 – Jersey’s appeal against UEFA’s rejection of their membership bid will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on June 28.