Real Madrid recruit young while Chelsea prefer maturity
October 21 – Youth or experience? Real Madrid on average recruit the youngest players out of the Big 5 European leagues at 22.87 years of age.
Europe
European Super League back in play with new CEO and a fresh assault on UEFA
By Andrew Warshaw
October 20 – Those backing the seemingly doomed European Super League have hired a new CEO in the clearest move yet that the much-maligned project will press ahead regardless of the forthcoming European Court of Justice ruling.
UEFA appoints 2024 Hospitality Experience as Official Hospitality Provider for Euros
October 20 – UEFA has appointed 2024 Hospitality Experience AG, a joint venture between Sportfive and Fortius, as the global exclusive Official Hospitality Provider for UEFA EURO 2024.
Independent report slams UCL final as an ‘abject failure’ saying it was lucky no-one died
October 18 – An independent panel has labelled UEFA’s handling of last season’s Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid as “an abject failure” and says it was lucky no-one died.
Benzema and Putellas top Ballon d’Or awards night in Paris
October 18 – For the first time in his illustrious yet often controversial career, Real Madrid’s French international forward Karim Benzema won the Ballon d’Or award for the best men’s player in the world on Monday, while Barcelona’s Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas retained her women’s crown.
Mbappé says he is going nowhere and never asked for PSG release in January
October 17 – French superstar Kylian Mbappé has denied reports that he wants to leave Paris St Germain during the January transfer window insisting he was “just as shocked as everyone else” over the claims.
UEFA confirm France, Poland, Switzerland and Nordic bids for 2025 Women’s Euro hosting
October 24 – France, Poland, Switzerland and a quartet of Nordic countries will vie to land the hosting rights for the 2025 Women’s Euro, European governing body UEFA confirmed on Thursday.
Neymar back in court over hiding fees in transfer to Barca. Accusers demand 5-year jail term
By Andrew Warshaw
October 14 – Just weeks before leaving for the World Cup, Brazilian ace Neymar stands trial next week on fraud and corruption charges over his transfer to Barcelona from Santos in 2013.
Pro-IRA-singing Irish women under UEFA investigation
October 14 – UEFA is investigating “potential inappropriate behaviour” by Republic of Ireland women’s players after they sang a pro-IRA chant following their World Cup play-off victory over Scotland.
Russia moves to integrate Crimean Premier League clubs despite UEFA’s cross-border ban
By Andrew Brown
October 13 – Russia is proceeding with its incorporation of the Crimean Football Union (CFU) and its eight Premier League clubs into Russia’s national football league, an action prohibited by UEFA.
Irish women’s pro-IRA singing celebration lands them in hot water with UEFA
October 13 – The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and national team manager Vera Pauw have apologised for players singing a song with a pro-IRA chorus after they beat Scotland 1-0 and qualified for the women’s World Cup finals for the first time.
Club Brugge break Champions League glass ceiling to progress to last 16; Liverpool thump Rangers
October 13 – On a dramatic night of Champions League action, Club Brugge became only the third Belgian club in the competition’s modern history to progress from the group stages after holding Atletico Madrid to a goalless draw.
Why did Nottingham Forest sign 22 players?
October 13 – Nottingham Forest broke a 20-year record for the most signings by a British club in a single transfer window – a record previously jointly held by Dundee United and Livingston in Scotland.
Nordic countries submit 8-city bid for 2025 Women’s Euro hosting
October 12 – The Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden are to bid jointly for the 2025 Women’s European Championship – supported by the Faroe Islands and Iceland.
Sevilla, Villarreal and Valencia question Rubiales impartiality after offensive text
October 12 – Sevilla, Villarreal and Valencia are demanding an apology from the president of the Spanish FA (RFEF) after he allegedly said in leaked text messages that they were his least favourite clubs.