Two more clubs pay the penalty for racism
October 23- Two more cases of racism at Europa League games have drawn the wrath of Uefa who have punished both Cypriot club Apoel Nicosia and Croatia’s HNK Rijeka.
Europe
The Italian company pinning its hopes on Iceland
By David Owen
October 23 – In their World Cup play-off next month, or even if they make it all the way to Brazil for their first appearance in the finals proper, the footballers of Iceland may find that they have an unexpected pocket of support around the cheese and prosciutto town of Parma in northern Italy.
No Hiding Place for Teixeira
By Andrew Warshaw
October 22- Ricardo Teixeira, until last year one of the most powerful men in world football, appears to have lost his bid to be granted residency in the tiny tax haven of Andorra.
“Ghost” goal in Germany rekindles technology debate
By Andrew Warshaw
October 21- German football’s decision not to employ goal-line technology has been brought into sharp focus by a bizarre and controversial “phantom” goal in the Bundesliga, pictures of which have been flashed across the world.
UEFA club audit calculates €4.9bn of fixed assets across Euro clubs
By Jake Gable
October 20 – Arsenal have topped a UEFA benchmarking report of tangible fixed assets with the governing body, valuing the club’s long-term assets at over €500 million. UEFA carried out an audit of all 237 clubs competing in this season’s Champions League and Europa League for its report in line with Financial Fair Play regulations.
Wanted: two clubs to share new stadium planned for Sofia
By Alexander Krassimirov
October 18 – German company IFS has unveiled its plans to build a new modern stadium in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia. The stadium will have a capacity of 24,000 (22 000 plus 2000 VIP) seats and should be completed in 2016.
Porto posts £20m profit as tax amnesty takes effect in Portugal
By Gareth Messenger
October 18 – Portuguese giants FC Porto have turned in a chunky €20.3 million profit for the 2012/2013 season. The profit came against a loss of €35.7 million in the previous campaign and despite a 39% slump in ticket revenue.
Cypriot roadmap to football unification gets timely boost
By Andrew Warshaw
October 18 – After months of sensitive negotiations, Greek and Turkish Cypriot officials are celebrating securing a landmark meeting with FIFA president Sepp Blatter aimed at possible footballing re-unification on the disputed Mediterranean island.
Euro 2016 will be a ‘rendez-vous’ with France and with history
By Mark Baber
October 18 – The slogan for UEFA EURO 2016 was announced in the Marseille city hall, after being approved by the tournament’s steering group. The new slogan is ‘Le Rendez-Vous,’ which represents the organisers’ desire to bring together the best of football, of Europe and of France.
No justice for French as they miss out on World Cup qualifier seeding by a point
By Mark Baber
October 17 – After failing in a forlorn attempt to get FIFA to make a last minute change to the seeding system, this morning’s FIFA Ranking confirms that France have missed out on being seeded for the decisive World Cup qualifiers, after being ranked 21st in the world on 870 points, just a single place and a single ranking point below Ukraine, who are in 20th place on 871 points and who will be seeded.
Barca chief Rosell defends new child ticket charges
By Gareth Messenger
October 17 – Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has backed his decision to start charging under-sevens for entrance to games at the Camp Nou.
Bernabeu to get a facelift as Real Madrid put naming rights on sale
By Mark Baber
October 16 – Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has revealed that a decision will be made on which project gets the go ahead for the planned refurbishment of the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu by the end of October, with the club now looking to find a sponsor to add their name to the stadium.
New owners at Inter as Moratti brings in Indonesian money
By Andrew Warshaw
October 16 – Inter Milan, winners of 18 Italian league titles, have become the latest iconic European club to be taken over by foreign investors. A trio of Indonesian businessmen led by media tycoon Erick Thohir have bought a 70% stake in the Serie A giants.
Murdoch in five-year deal to take Bundesliga to the world
By Mark Baber
October 16 – The DFL (German League Association) and Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox have agreed a new broadcast deal which will take the Bundesliga to more than 80 TV markets including Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, all of North and Latin America and much of Asia from the start of the 2015/16 season.
Crowdfunding comes to Kettering’s rescue
By David Owen
October 16 – A 141-year-old English football club may have been saved from closure thanks in part to the generosity of fans from as far afield as Iceland and Vietnam.