Platini makes veiled attack on critics in New Year’s message
By Andrew Warshaw
December 28 – UEFA President Michel Platini has made a veiled attack on his critics in a mixed New Year message to European football’s various stakeholders.
Europe
Serie A games targeted by illegal betting rings, claims former defender
By David Gold
December 28 – Three Serie A games were targeted by a betting ring which sought to manipulate the results of football matches according to former Piacenza defender Carlo Gervasoni (pictured).
Michael O’Neill appointed Northern Ireland manager
By David Gold
December 28 – Michael O’Neill has been confirmed as the new Northern Ireland manager following his heroics with Shamrock Rovers this season.
Barcelona’s Sandro Rossell asks UEFA for agents’ fee reforms
By David Gold
December 28 – Barcelona President Sandro Rosell wants UEFA to reform agents’ fees and says that players should themselves cover such costs.
Football League announces Prostate Cancer Charity partnership
By David Gold
December27 – The Football League has announced The Prostate Cancer Charity as its official charity partner for 2012-2013.
Russian billionaire buys controlling stake in troubled AS Monaco
By David Gold
December 23 – AS Monaco were given a timely boost when Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev acquired a controlling stake in the struggling Principality club.
Phone call settles French race row
By David Gold
December 22 – It may have been with a phone call rather than a handshake, but Auxerre midfielder Kamel Chafni and French assistant referee Johann Perruaux have done as FIFA President Sepp Blatter advised, and settled a race row between themselves after a league game.
Sevilla President Del Nido given seven year prison sentence
By David Gold
December 20 – The Sevilla President, Jose Maria del Nido, has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of involvement in the embezzlement of public funds.
Exclusive: European clubs abort club versus country row peace talks
By Andrew Warshaw
December 20 – European clubs have called off a potentially ground-breaking peace deal with FIFA and UEFA that would have paved the way for easing the club-versus-country war after years of acrimony between the various parties.
Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales look to Scotland to reduce Carling Nations Cup fees
By David Gold
December 19 – Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are hoping to come to agreement with Scotland over their fees for the Carling Nations Cup tournament, which took place earlier this year, and avoid bringing FIFA into the dispute.
Doni arrested again in latest Italian match fixing probe
By David Gold
December 19 – Former Italy midfielder Cristiano Doni, who was banned from football for three-and-a-half years earlier in 2011, has been arrested today by police investigating another match fixing and betting scandal in the country.
Rangers FC extend partnerships with Coca-Cola and Powerade
By Declan Warrington
December 18 – Glasgow Rangers have extended their drink partnerships with Coca-Cola Enterprises and Powerade for a further two years.
Head of Swiss FA hits back over FIFA threat to suspend Switzerland from international football
By Andrew Warshaw
December 18 – The head of the Swiss Football Association (SFV) has implied that FIFA bullied his federation into an impossible position by threatening a suspension from all international football over the Sion affair.
Switzerland facing international exile because of Sion affair
By Duncan Mackay at the Ritz Carlton in Tokyo
December 17 – Switzerland face the prospect of being banned from world football unless they take action against FC Sion, who have conducted a high-profile legal campaign to oveturn a ban from the Europa League.
Sion lose CAS battle to return to Europa League
By Andrew Warshaw
December 15 – One of the most significant rulings since the Bosman affair went the way of UEFA today when FC Sion lost their fight to be allowed back into the Europa League.