FIGC extends deals with Compass and D&G
By David Gold
September 4 – The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has agreed deals to extend partnerships with Compass and Dolce & Gabbana in a boost to the national team.
Europe
Celtic reinstated in Europa League after FC Sion ban
By David Gold
September 2 – Celtic will take their place in the hardest group of the Europa League after their qualifying round opponents FC Sion were thrown out for flouting a FIFA ban on transfers.
Summer transfer spending climbs new figures reveal
By David Owen
September 1 – Europe’s top football clubs shelled out increased amounts on new players during the summer transfer window, as the sport shrugged off the effects of the continent’s sluggish economic growth.
Sion set to learn fate over El-Hadary saga
By Andrew Warshaw
August 29 – UEFA is set to decide tomorrow whether to kick Swiss side Sion out of the Europa League and replace them with Celtic in a case that has served as a dangerous precedent for European football.
I can see red lights flashing, warns Platini
By Andrew Warshaw in Monaco
August 26 – UEFA President Michel Platini today launched his most hard-hitting rebuke for months on the state of European football, saying “red lights were flashing” throughout the continent and that he feared for the game’s very future.
Celtic set to be put back in to Europa League
By Andrew Warshaw in Monaco
August 26 – Scottish club football’s European season could be saved from total humiliation with Celtic being parachuted back into the Europa League, UEFA announced today.
Barcelona claim Super Cup in 2-0 win
By Andrew Warshaw in Monaco
August 26 – Barcelona picked up yet another piece of silverware to add to their bulging trophy cabinet tonight as they ultimately cruised past nine-man Porto 2-0 to lift the UEFA Super Cup, the annual early-season showpiece between the Champions League and Europa League winners.
Russian football flexes its muscles as Eto’o becomes world’s best paid player
By David Gold
August 24 – Russian football’s growing strength and financial muscle has been flexed this week as Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o became the world’s best paid player as he signed for big spending Anzhi Makhachkala.
A first on Facebook as this season’s FA Cup gets underway
By David Gold
August 17 – The opening match of this season’s FA Cup, between Ascot United of the Hellenic League and Combined Counties League outfit Wembley FC, is to be the first football match ever broadcast live on social networking site Facebook.
Rupert Murdoch company being probed over Champions Leagues television rights
By David Gold
August 16 – An investigation into Rupert Murdoch’s Sky Italia by Italy’s competition authority for its acquisition of the rights to air the 2010 and 2014 World Cups has been extended to include the News Corp subsidiary’s UEFA Champions League rights.
Turkish league season to belatedly begin following match-fixing probe
By David Gold
August 15 – The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has confirmed that their league season, which had been postponed due to a match-fixing probe, will begin on September 9, and that no sanctions would be forthcoming for the teams involved.
FIFA says FC Sion’s ban on fielding new signings must be enforced
By David Gold
August 15 – FIFA has warned Switzerland to enforce its ruling that FC Sion are unable to field six new signings after the Swiss League allowed the club to select three players barred from competition by world football’s governing body last weekend.
Strike action by players hits La Liga fixtures
By David Gold
August 11 – Players in Spain have announced that they will go on strike for the opening two rounds of fixtures in La Liga and the Segunda Liga, Luis Rubiales, the President of the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE), has confirmed.
Atalanta docked six points for their role in Italian match fixing affair
By David Gold
August 9 – Newly promoted Atalanta will start the Serie A season with a six point penalty for their role in the match fixing affair which has rocked Italy, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) confirmed today.
Dutch friendly is off as safety of players cannot be guaranteed
By Andrew Warshaw
August 9 – England’s decision to postpone tomorrow night’s prestige friendly with the Netherlands because of the widespread rioting in London reverberated around the world as Football Association chairman David Bernstein (pictured) admitted he was not able to guarantee the safety of players.