UEFA wants to add Nations League Qatar 2022 qualification route
December 5 – UEFA wants to tweak the qualifying process for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, allowing a pathway via the Nations League to reach the global finals.
Europe
PAOK’s gun-slinging owner Savvidis in new shoot-out over report he also owns Xanthi
By Paul Nicholson
December 4 – A club ownership storm has broken in Greece linking controversial Russian-Greek oligarch Ivan Savvidis to control of two clubs in the Greek Super League.
Ceferin says more will be done to fight racism but warns Boris to look closer to home
By Andrew Warshaw
December 4 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has re-iterated his long-held view that more needs to be done to combat racism in European football following an unwelcome resurgence of discrimination across the Continent, from Bulgaria to Italy.
Tebas plots route to new 4-year term at LaLiga
December 3 – Javier Tebas has resigned as La Liga president, but the Spanish football administrator will stand for re-election.
Messi beats Van Dijk for sixth Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo comes third
December 3 – Lionel Messi is football. At least he is when it comes to award ceremonies with the Argentinean last night picking up a record sixth Ballon d’Or, edging Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk by a mere seven points.
Justice? Police chief Duckenfield escapes manslaughter conviction of Liverpool’s 96
November 29 – In a ruling that prompted outrage among relatives of the victims, the police commander in charge of operations at Britain’s worst sporting disaster, the Hillsborough stadium tragedy, was acquitted Thursday of gross negligence manslaughter.
Liverpool share plans for boosting Anfield capacity to 61,000
November 29 – Liverpool begin the first stage of a public consultation exercise today for the proposed expansion of their Anfield stadium to a capacity of more than 61,000.
Loophole keeps Russia clear of WADA ban demands for Euro 2020
November 27 – Russia will be able to compete at Euro 2020, and play its part in co-hosting the 12-city tournament in St. Petersburg, even if a four-year doping-related ban on the country comes into effect.
Bruges double sending off in stoppage time, a Champions League record?
November 27 – In what was surely a first, Bruges had two players sent off after a stoppage-time equaliser away at Galatasaray on Tuesday night in the Champions League.
UEFA hits Feyenoord with fan ban and fine after Swiss rampage
November 26 – Feyenoord have been banned from selling tickets to their fans for next month’s Europe League game at Porto.
No joke: Cellino’s Balotelli ‘black’ comment falls flat
November 26 – The controversial president of Italian club Brescia is facing accusations of racism after wading into the debate over striker Mario Balotelli who earlier this month briefly walked off in protest at being targeted by Hellas Verona fans.
Brest halt BATE’s Belarus winning streak at thirteen
By David Owen
November 25 – Their reign at the top could not quite match the 25 years – and counting – of Alexander Lukashenko, the country’s president. Nonetheless, BATE Borisov’s dethroning on Sunday as national champions of Belarus very much qualifies as ‘the end of an era’.
Russia ready for more big football hosting as St Petersburg sets up for 2020
It may be unprecedented for a city which stages the World Cup to host the subsequent European Championships but St. Petersburg is gearing up once again to take centre stage with three group games and a quarterfinal of the pan-European 2020 finals. In his second report from Russia, Andrew Warshaw reports from a city that promises to rekindle memories of the riveting atmosphere that pervaded last year’s global competition.
Miccichè quits Serie A presidency over election allegations
November 20 – Gaetano Miccichè has sensationally resigned as president of Serie A with immediate effect following an investigation into his election last year.
Singing in the valleys: Welsh joy as they qualify for Euro 2020
November 20 – Wales have reached their second straight European Championship finals thanks to a 2-0 home win over Hungary in their winner-takes-all Group E qualifier on Tuesday.