By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – The bidding process for the groundbreaking pan-Continental Euro 2020 finals dominates the agenda of a two-day UEFA executive committee (ExCo) meeting today and tomorrow.
By Mark Baber
March 26 – There were disturbances outside the Ferenc Puskas stadium and teargas fired as Hungary and Romania played out a 2-2 draw in their World Cup qualifier behind closed doors. FIFA had ordered the match to be played in an empty stadium following anti-semitic incidents during a Hungary vs Israel friendly in Budapest last August.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 25 – Ever since Russia was awarded the 2018 World Cup over two years ago, racism and how to deal with it has been a constant thorn in the side of organisers. While Qatar, who clinched the 2022 tournament during that momentous simultaneous ballot, has been all about a winter World Cup, how to eliminate abuse has been a top priority for Russian officials.
By Mark Baber
March 22 – AEK Athens president Andreas Dimitrelos (pictured) has been arrested over €170 million in taxes owed by the Greek top flight club.
By Mark Baber
March 22 – The legal action brought by 15 year old Louis Cooper over restrictions placed on fans has been dropped after agreement with West Yorkshire police on a new set of conditions which improve fans’ access to the Huddersfield Town v Hull City football match on 30 March 2013.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 21 – Greg Dyke, a former BBC director general known for his direct and passionate views, will be the new chairman of the English Football Association in succession to David Bernstein who steps down in July. His appointment is still subject to approval from the full FA council.
March 21 – A CIES Football Observatory report, released today, highlights the issues of player hoarding and how this creates and sustains a competitive imbalance in European football.
March 21 – Barry Hearn, chairman of lower-league English club Leyton Orient, says he will give up his fight to move his club to the stadium used for the London 2012 Olympics if he loses a legal challenge into the bidding process.
21 March – UEFA president Michel Platini has hit back at Sepp Blatter’s criticism of his revolutionary plan for a pan-Continental 2020 European Championship, implying his FIFA counterpart has been disrespectful to UEFA’s national federations.
By Mark Baber
March 20 – Giorgos Katidis the 20-year old AEK player who made a Nazi salute to fans after scoring on Saturday has now been suspended by his club until the end of the season.
March 19 – As anticipated, UEFA has charged Inter Milan over the racist behaviour of their fans during the recent Europa League game at home to Tottenham Hotspur last week.
By Mark Baber
March 19 – Hull City has expressed frustration with the police and solidarity with its fans in advance of its away game against Huddersfield Town.
By Paul Nicholson
March 18 – The Russian ban on selling alcohol in stadiums looks to have been lifted, with drinks companies saying they have bought licenses to sell beer in stadiums from 2018, in time for the FIFA World Cup 2018.
March 18 – A top-flight Greek footballer has been handed a life ban from the national team for making a Nazi salute to fans. AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis (pictured), former captain of Greece’s under-19 team, conceded the “stupidity” of his actions after making the gesture in celebrating his winning goal in a 2-1 win over lowly Veria on Saturday.
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
March 15 – Third party ownership, the process by which professional footballers’ ‘rights’ and careers are controlled by outside parties, is one of the most serious issues facing the European game, according to UEFA, and could be banned from all its competitions.