French league crisis deepens as Canal+ hands rights back saying league is ‘devalued’
January 13 – In another major blow to French football, broadcaster Canal+ will return the Ligue 1 media rights to the LFP, demanding a new tender is issued.
Europe
France’s LFP opens club talks with call to cut salaries by 30%
January 12 – French football has been in talks to reduce players’ salaries in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 in a bid to mitigate the financial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the loss of the Mediapro media rights contract.
UEFA beefs up anti-doping regulations and whistle-blower protection
January 12 – UEFA has issued new anti-doping regulations including greater flexibility in the sanctioning process for violations and new provisions to protect whistle-blowers, the European governing body announced on Tuesday.
Back to the future: Laporta leads race for Barcelona presidency
January 12 – With battle lines drawn, Joan Laporta (pictured) looks set to become Barcelona president for the second time though his main rival says he would be a throwback to the past rather than a voice for the future.
From FA Cup giant killing to battle of the giants. Man Utd and Liverpool drawn together
January 12 – Manchester United will take on arch-rivals Liverpool in a mouth-watering heavyweight showdown in the fourth round of the FA Cup later this month that will be keenly followed by their legions of fans across the globe.
Hoppe springs eternal: American hat-trick hero saves Schalke’s losing record blushes
January 11 – Schalke 04 have avoided great embarrassment. On Saturday, the club from Gelsenkirchen finally picked up three points after 30 Bundesliga games without a win, leaving the all-time German winless record in the hands of Tasmania Berlin.
Challenges to Le Graët’s FFA presidency mount as Moulin and Thiriez declare for election
January 11 – French FA president Noël Le Graët (pictured), who came under pressure for prematurely closing down last season’s domestic league campaign despite other European countries managing to complete theirs, has not yet declared whether he is running again when his term ends in March.
Benzema to face trial in France over sex-tape blackmail case
January 8 – Real Madrid and former French international forward Karim Benzema will face trial for his alleged involvement in the attempted sex-tape blackmail of former teammate Mathieu Valbuena, prosecutors in Versailles have finally confirmed several years after the story broke.
(White boy) Cavani not a racist though ‘negrito’ post was ‘racially offensive’, says FA
January 8 – Manchester United’s Uruguayan international striker Edinson Cavani was not intentionally racist in the Instagram post that brought him a three-match suspension.
Anderlecht reshuffle as Van Eetvelt quits debt-challenged club
January 7 – Karel Van Eetvelt will leave Anderlecht as CEO on April 1 in a new boardroom shuffle at the heavily indebted Brussels-based club.
Covid outbreak now hits Man City women’s team
January 5 – Four of Manchester City women’s team have tested positive for the coronavirus, continuing the club’s covid-19 woes.
Sportradar and UEFA Foundation for Children mark safeguarding partnership
January 5 – The UEFA Foundation for Children and Sportradar Intelligence & Investigation Services are marking a three-year safeguarding partnership that reinforces the work carried out by the foundation.
Ceferin slams Perez’s short term European Super League thinking
December 30 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has denounced Real Madrid boss Florentino Perez’s persistent backing for a breakaway European Super League saying the Spaniard “is only interested in today, not what tomorrow will be.”
Bad bet: Atletico and England star Trippier gets 13-match worldwide ban
December 30 – England and Atletico Madrid defender Kieran Trippier has been given a 10-week worldwide ban and fined £70,000 after an English Football Association panel found he broke betting rules.
Barca presidential hopeful Farre, puts reuniting Messi and Neymar on his agenda
December 23 – Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Farre says he plans to try and re-unite Lionel Messi and Neymar if he lands the job in succession to Josep Maria Bartomeu.