English Championship boosts FFP loss allowance to £13m pa for rich owners
November 7 – English second tier clubs have agreed a new set of Financial Fair Play regulations to be implemented from the start of the 2016/17 season.
Europe
Hagi laments second 16-match ban for bone-breaking tackle
November 7 – A second Romanian player has been banned for 16 games for a reckless challenge in a domestic league game as the authorities crack down on foul play.
Milan looking for San Siro replacement in new ‘Milan quarter’
By Mark Baber
November 6 – On the same day as AC Milan lifted the Trofeo Luigi Berlusconi after a 2-0 victory against San Lorenzo of Argentina in the San Siro, it emerged that joint CEO, Barbara Berlusconi, is pursuing the concept of a new stadium for the Rossoneri – in the same neighborhood as the Casa Milan – to form a new “quartiere Milan.”
Romanian elbowed out with 16-match ban for violent play
November 6 – A Romanian midfielder has been handed an unprecedented 16-match domestic ban for fracturing the eye socket of an opponent.
Gornik Zabrze puts 6 month deadline on stadium upgrade
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
November 5 – Polish construction company PB Dombud has won the PLN 20.5 million (€5 million) contract to modernise Gornik Zabrze’s stadium. The upgraded and expanded stadium will be increased to a capacity of 31,871 spectators.
Tel Aviv derby turns violent and is abandoned at half time
November 5 – Israeli football usually makes the news when linked to the Middle East crisis but television pictures flashed around the world of dreadful scenes during the Tel Aviv derby have plunged the domestic game into disgrace.
UEFA slams home fan bans on Romania and Hungary, but away fans can attend
November 3 – UEFA has imposed partial stadium closure orders on both Romania and Hungary after their ill-tempered Euro 2016 qualifying tie – but the sanctions will not affect away fans.
RB Leipzig lines up stadium expansion as club wings towards Bundesliga 1
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
November 3 – RasenBallsport Leipzig has unveiled plans to increase the capacity of its stadium. Under the plan, the German club’s stadium will be increased 55,000 as the club targets promotion to the Bundesliga’s top tier and, ultimately, qualification for European competition, an ambition of its Red Bull owners.
Tonev denies racism but SFA hand down 7 game ban
October 31 – In an unprecedented ruling that has stunned Scottish football as well as his English parent club, Celtic’s Bulgarian international winger Aleksandar Tonev has been handed a seven-match ban for racial abuse.
English FA gets tough with Ferdinand on Twitter and Clattenburg on travel
By Andrew Warshaw
October 30 – English football authorities have split public opinion by clamping down hard on former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand and one of the country’s top referees, Mark Clattenburg, for two unrelated misdemeanours.
Euro 2016 build provides ‘20,000 job’ boost for France
By David Owen
October 30 – The construction and renovation of the 10 football stadia to be used for Euro 2016 is generating a total of 20,000 jobs in the building and services sector, according to Patrick Kanner, the French Sports Minister.
Bolton left wondering over mooted east Asian tie-up
October 30 – English second-tier club Bolton Wanderers are playing down rumours of a potential takeover by a Thai consortium which would represent the latest foreign incursion into English football.
Real sign £20m sponsorship with Abu Dhabi petrol giant
October 30 – Real Madrid have struck another deal with affluent Gulf investors as they bid maintain their status as the world’s richest club.
UEFA cuts CSKA fan ban but warns it is still watching
October 29 – UEFA has reduced on appeal CSKA Moscow’s stadium ban imposed for serious fan trouble at their Champions League match at Roma – but any further outbreaks over the next five years and UEFA will almost certainly come down even harder on the club.
Poland’s I Liga pushes for stadium upgrades to secure new TV rights deal
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
October 29 – Poland’s I Liga, the second tier of the country’s professional football league, is pushing local clubs to upgrade their stadiums with the aim of securing a new broadcasting rights deal. Starting in the 2015/2016 season, the sides will be required to install lighting at their sports facilities to enable evening matches.