Toeing the line: UEFA poised for early VAR intro after Sterling’s penalty trip
November 8 – Was it the most disgraceful penalty call in refereeing history at either European or domestic top-flight level?
Europe
As PSG and Man City continue to feel the FFP heat, La Liga bosses demand UEFA act now
By Andrew Warshaw
November 7 – Spanish league chiefs have called on UEFA to punish Paris St Germain and Manchester City following the latest explosive leaked documents about their financial activities.
European Leagues body slams ‘franchised’ Super League as threatening professional game
November 7 – A breakaway European Super League would have “serious and lasting implications” according to organisation representing Europe’s major leagues.
Murky picture: Monoco’s Russian owner Rybolovlev arrested
By Andrew Warshaw
November 7 – Eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday with two rounds to go and in trouble near the foot of the French league, Monaco have been rocked off the pitch with the news that their Russian billionaire owner has been taken into in custody.
Business as usual for Subies at RFEF after Spanish police release him without charge
November 6 – The Spanish FA has decided to keep Andreu Subies (pictured) in his post as vice-president despite the fact that he was recently arrested as part of the same police operation that also saw the federation’s former president and FIFA powerbroker Angel Maria Villar resign on corruption charges.
Rummenigge says Bayern has not held secret European Super League talks
November 5 – Bayern Munich boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (pictured) says the club will consult its lawyers following Der Spiegel’s allegations that it was one of the European elite who took part in secret discussions to form a European breakaway ‘Super League’.
Political selection: Liverpool leave Shaqiri out for Red Star Belgrade match
November 5 – Liverpool have left Xherdan Shaqiri out of their squad to face Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League on Tuesday because they want to “avoid any distractions” that may be caused by the midfielder’s Albanian heritage.
BBC and Sky call on EU to take action against Saudi-backed rights piracy
By Paul Nicholson
November 2 – The global sports backlash against Saudi Arabia and its support of pirate streaming service BeoutQ has now extended to other general entertainment players with BBC and Sky in the UK calling on the European commission to take formal action against Saudi Arabia.
Man Utd to crack down on toy gun-toting pitch invaders
November 11 – Manchester United have launched a security review at Old Trafford to determine how a pitch invader during last month’s Champions League match with Juventus got into the stadium with two toy guns.
Irish cross borders with joint bid for 2023 European U-21 finals
November 2 – The Irish FA and Football Association of Ireland have launched a ground-breaking joint bid to host the 2023 European Under-21 Championship finals.
Bidders line up to host UEFA 2021 club competition finals
November 1 – UEFA has received declarations of interest from 11 member associations to host their club competition finals in 2021, with Munich and St Petersburg going head to head to stage the Champions League climax.
Former Juve and Italian World Cup star Iaquinta sentenced to 2 years for firearm offences
November 1 – An Italian court has sentenced former international World Cup star Vincenzo Iaquinta to two years in jail for firearm offences and his father, Giuseppe, to 19 years at the end of a trial of almost 150 people.
Police step in at Hibs-Hearts derby after missiles thrown and players and officials attacked
November 1 – Authorities in Scotland have intervened after Hibernian manager Neil Lennon was struck by a coin thrown from the crowd in the Edinburgh derby at high-flying Hearts on Wednesday.
Catalan Subies arrested on suspicion of stealing money from Spanish FA
October 31 – Spanish FA vice president Andreu Subies has been arrested as part of the same police operation that also saw the federation’s former president and FIFA powerbroker Angel Maria Villar resign on corruption charges.
Reggae Girlz win hearts and minds with Nottingham carnival of football
October 29 – Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz attracted the biggest crowd for a women’s game in Europe at the weekend with 3,914 watching the World Cup qualifiers play Nottingham Forest Ladies at The City Ground.