Police escort after Helsingborg fans turn on rival player spotted in stands
September 3 – A Swedish footballer who was watching his brother play was forced to have a police escort from the ground following death threats from rival fans.
Europe
Germans opt for Munich over Berlin for 2020 Euros hosting pitch
By Andrew Warshaw
September 3 – Munich has been given the nod over Berlin to bid for part of the 2020 Euro finals which are to be played across 13 venues under UEFA president Michel Platini’s unprecedented pan-Continental blueprint.
Finally, Bale deal is done, records broken and all sides ‘moving on’
By Andrew Warshaw
September 2 – The worst kept secret in football was officially rubbed-stamped on Sunday as Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale joined nine-time European champions Real Madrid on a six-year deal for a staggering world record transfer fee of €100 million (£85m).
Platini calls for transfer window shake-up and a healthier system
By Andrew Warshaw in Monaco
August 30 – UEFA boss Michel Platini wants to shorten the summer transfer window to try and end the instability and brinkmanship across Europe that is increasingly infuriating coaches who are unable to plan ahead.
FFP is working with UEFA reporting club losses cut by €600m
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent, in Monaco
August 30 – With the threat of sanctions hanging over them, European clubs have drastically reduced their losses in order to abide by UEFA’s strict financial fair play regulations which include the ultimate punishment of throwing teams out of the Champions League and Europa League. Figures provided by European football’s governing body show that overall losses among the 237 clubs participating in UEFA competitions fell from €1.7 billion in 2011 to €1.1 billion last year –
Trabzonspor’s Sen walks off in tears after verbal abuse from his own fans
By Alexander Krassimirov
August 30 – Trabzonspor footballer Volkan Sen walked off the pitch in tears after receiving verbal abuse from his own side’s supporters during the game against Rizespor in the Turkish Super Lig.
Euro drama as Besiktas out, Tromsø and Apoel in, and execs dash for Prague
By Paul Nicholson in Prague
August 30 – Besiktas have lost their last minute appeal against the decision by UEFA to exclude the Turkish club from the Europa League 2013/14. The draw for the group stages, taking place today in Monaco, will now see Besiktas replaced by Norwegian club Tromsø – who had lost to Beşiktaş in the play-off round.
Europe’s giants get their CL match-ups and Infantino gets tough on racism
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent, in Monaco
August 30 – It may not quite have had the razzmatazz of previous years but the group stage draw for the Champions League nevertheless provided its fair share of anticipation and excitement today.
32Red expand into Serie A with Bologna deal
By Mark Baber
August 29 – Gibraltar-based online casino operator 32Red is to become the official casino partner of Italy’s Bologna FC in a new two year deal. 32Red’s logo will be displayed on the pitch-side LED advertising boards at every home game, on interview backdrops and on the official club website.
Greeks revamp league system in bid for TV cash
By Panos Bletsos
August 29 – The Greek football authorities have again reformatted the leagues in a desperate bid to create more revenue. This time the format of the Football League, the country’s second tier, has been changed with immediate effect as the league seeks to generate more TV money.
Fenerbahce out Europa League as CAS upholds two-year ban
By Andrew Warshaw
August 29 – Turkey’s Fenerbahce have had their appeal against Champions League expulsion rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport which upheld UEFA’s two-year ban from European competition over a much-publicised match-fixing scandal.
To FIFA or not to FIFA, that is the question for Platini
By Andrew Warshaw
August 29 – Will he or won’t he stand for FIFA President? It’s a question that has persued UEFA boss Michel Platini wherever he has turned up in recent months – and now he has told the football world exactly when he will give a clear indication one way or the other. Platini says he is still weighing up whether he wants to succeed Sepp Blatter in 2015 but will most likely end all the waiting during UEFA’s next executive committee meeting in Dubrovnik on September 19 and 20.
UEFA warns Kazaks to stop pre-match sacrificing of sheep
By Andrew Warshaw
August 29 – Kazakhstan champions Shakhtar Karagandy, dramatically knocked out by Celtic 3-2 on aggregate in the Champions League playoff round on Wednesday, have been warned by UEFA that they could face disciplinary action if they continue the practise of ritually slaughtering sheep before European games.
Age is no barrier in football; Bulgaria’s ex-PM makes pro debut at 54
By Alexander Krassimirov
August 29 – Bulgaria’s former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov (pictured) has set a record as the oldest professional football player in the history of Bulgaria. The leader of the GERB political party was registered as a professional footballer in the Bulgarian Football Union on August 19 and a week later officially made his debut in Vitosha Bistritsa’s goalless draw against Rakovski in the country’s second-tier league (B grupa).
Doing the right thing: Yeovil boss allows equaliser after controversial goal
By Andrew Warshaw
August 28 – Football clubs are often accused of self-interest and lack of sportsmanship so hats off to Yeovil Town boss Gary Johnson for at least trying to partially make amends after admitting poor judgement by him and his team.