Luka Modrić to leave Real Madrid after 12 trophy-laden seasons
May 23 – Luka Modrić will bid farewell to Real Madrid this summer, with the Club World Cup marking the final chapter of his glittering 12-year career in the Spanish capital.
Europe
Women’s Super League attendances drop 5%, finds data report
May 23 – Women’s professional football is growing like crazy – it must be because everyone is saying it is. So a sobering piece of analysis by Sportscasting.com that finds England’s Women’s Super League matches showed a 5.1% drop in attendances over the 2024/25 season statistically flies in the face of accepted wisdom.
Disney+ wins Women’s Champions League TV rights from DAZN
May 23 – The UEFA Women’s Champions League has found a new home in the UK with Disney+ clinching a landmark five-year deal to broadcast European women’s football’s premier club competition, wresting the rights from DAZN who had held them for the past four seasons.
Tottenham Hotspur lift Europa League crown to earn Champions League berth
May 22 – Tottenham Hotspur ended a 17-year trophy drought on Wednesday evening by defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League final in Bilbao, earning a Champions League berth for next season in the process.
No Free Pass: EURO 2028 hosts will be required to qualify for UEFA showpiece
May 22 – In a dramatic break from tradition, UEFA European Championship hosts will need to qualify for EURO 2028, meaning joint-organisers England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland could face the unprecedented scenario of missing their own tournament.
Real Valladolid fans guilty of committing hate crime towards Vinicius Júnior
May 22 – Real Madrid superstar, Vinícius Júnior has been the victim of racist abuse during his time in Spain, however, the court system is now fighting back on the Brazilian’s behalf, finding five Real Valladolid supporters guilty of committing a hate crime.
Disabled fans fury at Europa League final ticket allocation
May 20 – Disabled supporters of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have expressed outrage at UEFA’s “woefully inadequate” allocation of just 52 accessible tickets for the Europa League Final in Bilbao, Spain. The San Mames stadium has a capacity of nearly 50,000.
Ligue 1’s anti-homophobia campaign littered with incidents and controversy
May 20 – Ligue 1’s annual anti-homophobia campaign descended into controversy last weekend as multiple players declined to take part, one striker refused to play altogether, and a homophobic slur was heard during a tunnel exchange – putting French football’s commitment to inclusivity under fresh scrutiny.
Kerkez set to leave Botev Plovdiv as Bulgarian football faces financial Armageddon
May 20 – Dusan Kerkez, the Bosnian coach in charge of financially-stricken Bulgarian outfit Botev Plovdiv, has announced he will leave the club at the end of the current season.
2025 Ballon d’Or to be held in September 22 with three new female awards
May 19 – UEFA and Groupe Amaury, owner of France Football and L’Équipe, have set Monday September 22 as the date for the 69th edition of the Ballon d’Or.
UEFA warns fans against buying unofficial tickets for club finals
May 20 – UEFA has issued a warning to fans ahead of the club competition finals not to buy tickets on the secondary market, from unauthorised third parties, websites, agencies or from touts.
UEFA executive committee to meet in Bilbao after FIFA Congress walk-out
May 19 – The UEFA Executive Committee, most of whom spent last week in Paraguay at the FIFA Congress, will convene in Bilbao, Spain, on Wednesday May 21 ahead of the Europa League final between Spurs and Manchester United.
England’s Women’s Super League given a new look and feel
May 19 – England’s Women’s Super League is rebranding with new names and visual identity as the women’s professional game continues its transition from FA control.
Conmebol and UEFA meet to thrash out detail of Argentina-Spain Finalissima
May 19 – Conmebol and UEFA met on the sidelines of the FIFA Congress in Paraguay last week to discuss the staging of the second edition of the men’s Finalissima, the single match intercontinental championship between the winners of the 2024 Copa America and the 2024 Euro.