Bidders line up to host UEFA club competition finals in 2026 and 2027
July 18 – UEFA has reported that nine national associations have declared interest in hosting UEFA club competition finals in 2026 and 2027.
Europe
Ukraine call on FIFA and UEFA to take action over Crimean teams in Russian league
July 18 – Ukraine’s FA have sent an official letter to FIFA and UEFA urging them to take action over two Crimean clubs being incorporated into the Russian domestic league.
UEFA aims to raise the bar with launch of Euro 2024 ESG strategy
July 18 – UEFA has published its ‘UEFA Euro 2024 environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy’ which it says aims to be a benchmark for sports event sustainability for German and European societies.
UEFA fines Barca and Man Utd in latest round of FFP sanctions
July 17 – Barcelona and Manchester United are among a group of clubs punished by UEFA in the latest round of Financial Fair Play sanctions.
Juve discuss exit from Real Madrid and Barca’s Super League cabal
July 14 – Juventus have begun the process of pulling out of the doomed European Super League project.
Dele Alli opens up on career, health and facing demons
July 14 – In recent seasons, few English football fans have not quite been able to grasp why Dele Alli, one of the game’s most naturally gifted players, appeared to be failing to fulfil his undoubted potential.
Mediapro accuses Spanish FA of on-going discrimination over VAR contract award
July 14 – The on-going dispute between the Spanish football federation (RFEF) and the Mediapro group has hit a new impasse with the media giant accusing the RFEF of ‘covertly’ awarding the federation’s VAR contract.
Bundesliga top global league of attendance figures, Premier League second
July 14 – The German Bundesliga with an average attendance of 43,000 across the league stadiums in the 2022/23 season, is the highest attended football league in the world.
Carney report calls for fully professional top two ties of English women’s club game
July 13 – Former England international Karen Carney has called for the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship – the two top divisions of the domestic game – to become fully professional in order to bring about the necessary investment.
Kick It Out study finds ‘alarming’ 65% increase in reported abuse
July 12 – The UK charity Kick It Out received a 65% rise in reported incidents of discriminatory behaviour during the 2022-23 domestic season, describing the increase as “alarming”.
Spurs complete controversial signing of ‘free agent’ Solomon from Shakhtar
July 12 – Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Israeli international Manor Solomon, heightening the controversy over FIFA’s policy of allowing foreign players contracted to Ukrainian clubs to suspend their deals amid the war with Russia.
Surat Kargo agrees sponsorship of Turkish women’s teams
July 12 – Surat Kargo, one of Turkey’s leading logistic companies, has become the main sponsor of the Turkey’s Women’s national teams.
Welsh World Cup participation boosted country’s profile and economy, finds report
July 12 – A report by the Welsh Government on its promotion of the country around Wales’ first qualification for the World Cup since 1958 found that awareness pf the country had increased worldwide and facilitated new partnerships.
Agnelli hit with second ban and €60k fine over Juve player deals
July 11 – Former Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, who once ran Europe’s most influential grouping of elite clubs, has received a second lengthy ban in less than a year on Monday, this time for 16 months for the way he handled player salary cuts during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ukrainian FA makes official protests over Zenit St Petersburg pre-season tournament
July 11 – The Ukrainian FA has followed up Dynamo Kiev’s strongly-worded attack on Turkish club Fenerbahce for playing in Russia by lodging a formal protest to FIFA and UEFA against the pre-season tournament that was staged in St. Petersburg last week.