Rangers deny Bury takeover
By Andrew Warshaw
June 21 – Debt-ridden Scottish giants Rangers have denied a report that they plan to re-emerge as an English club by taking over third-tier team Bury.
Europe
Italy hands out point deductions and five-year bans to match-fixers
By Andrew Warshaw
June 20 – Italy may have progressed to the last eight of the 2012 European Championship but off the field the image of the game has taken another damaging blow after the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced it had upheld newly promoted Pescara’s two-point deduction and banned four players for five years over the country’s match-fixing scandal.
SPL clubs to decide fate of new Rangers
By Andrew Warshaw
June 19 – Scottish Premier League (SPL) clubs will vote on Wednesday, July 4 on whether to admit Glasgow giants Rangers into the top flight of domestic football under their new guise.
New owner does not have backing of Rangers fans, warns Walter Smith consortium
By Duncan Mackay
June 15 – An unsuccessful last-minute attempt by former manager Walter Smith to buy Rangers is hampering new owner Charles Green’s attempts to win over the supporters at Ibrox, he has admitted.
Remove Israel as Under-21 European Championship host, demands Palestine
By Andrew Warshaw in Warsaw
June 14 – Palestinian football officials have called on UEFA to strip Israel of hosting the 2013 European Under-21 Championship over Palestine national team players being detained without trial.
Rangers condemned to liquidation after creditors’ deal is rejected
By Andrew Warshaw
June 12 – Crisis-torn Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers, one of the most iconic names in European football, seem certain to go out of business in their current guise after tax authorities rejected an offer to buy the ailing club by a consortium headed by former Sheffield United supremo Charles Green.
Paris St Germain to stay at Parc de Princes
By David Gold
June 9 – Paris St Germain will be staying at the Parc des Princes for “the long term”, Paris City Council have said.
UEFA confirms racist chanting at Dutch training session in Poland
By Andrew Warshaw
June 8 – UEFA today confirmed there were “isolated incidents of racist chanting” aimed at Netherlands players during a pre-European Championship open training session in Kraków yesterday and reiterated its stance against all forms of discrimination.
Top football scandal buster to quit UEFA after Euro 2012
By Andrew Warshaw
June 7 – The UEFA lawyer charged with eradicating the growing scourge of match fixing in Europe is to quit after the 2012 European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.
Qatar’s Aspire Zone Foundation takes over Belgian side KAS Eupen
By Andrew Warshaw
June 7 – The increasing involvement of Qatar in European club football has taken another significant step forward with the takeover by the country’s Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) – one of the world’s most sophisticated sports facilities – of Belgian Second Division club KAS Eupen.
Manuel Preciado dies just 24 hours after accepting Villarreal coach job
By David Gold
June 7 – Spanish coach Manuel Preciado (pictured) has died of a heart attack at the age of 54, just after agreeing a deal to take over at relegated Villarreal next season.
VGTRK makes $110 million bid to broadcast live Russian Premier League matches on terrestrial TV
By David Gold
June 6 – Russia’s public broadcaster VGTRK has reportedly made a $110 million (£71 million/€88 million) bid to show Russian Premier League football for the next three years.
Messi named most productive player, according to CIES
By David Gold
June 6 – Triple World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has been named the most productive player in Europe’s top five leagues by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) Football Observatory.
Mauri released from jail in Italian match-fixing probe – but remains under house arrest
By David Gold
June 5 – Lazio captain Stefano Mauri has been released from jail as the investigation into match fixing in Italy continues.
AEK Athens expelled from Europa League over debt crisis
By Andrew Warshaw
June 2 – Just days after banning a raft of Turkish clubs from Europe for financial irregularities, UEFA has now come down hard on Greek football, kicking AEK Athens out of next season’s Europa League.