UEFA see red and charge Ramos over deliberate second yellow card
February 27 – Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has been charged by UEFA with “receiving a yellow card on purpose” in the Champions League last-16 first leg with Ajax.
World Football
Spain loses Euro U17 hosting and jeopardises UEFA backing for 2030 World Cup bid
February 26 – Spain’s hopes of gaining UEFA support for a 2030 World Cup bid has taken a potential political hit after European football’s governing body stripped them of hosting qualifying games of the Under-17 European Championship for refusing to recognise the national symbols of Kosovo.
Kiwis join Australia, Japan and SA in 2023 Women’s World Cup bidding race
By Samindra Kunti
February 26 – New Zealand have expressed their interest in hosting the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Last week FIFA launched the bidding process with Japan, Australia and South Africa among the other member associations that have declared an interest so far.
Sala crash pilot did not have a commercial license
February 26 – The pilot of the light aircraft which crashed into the English Channel killing both himself and the sole passenger, Cardiff City’s new striker Emiliano Sala, did not have a licence for commercial flights, investigators say.
Spanish clubs win EU tax ruling on ‘state aid’ case
February 26 – A European court has delivered a legal victory for Barcelona, Real Madrid and two other top Spanish clubs annulling a 2016 EU state aid ruling that had penalised them over tax breaks.
Rosell starts trial facing prosecutors’ call for 11 years in Spanish jail and €60m fine
February 25 – The high-profile trial of Sandro Rosell, the former Barcelona strongman who is accused of money laundering related to television rights and sponsorship of the Brazilian national football team, finally got under way today with Spanish prosecutors seeking an 11-year prison sentence plus a fine of nearly €60 million.
Brazilian clubs vote to bring in VAR and bring back Supercup
February 25 – Brazilian elite football has adopted VAR for the upcoming 2019 season after a unanimous vote in favour of the video review technology. Next year the Supercup will be reintroduced, but a measure to limit teams to firing one coach per season was rejected.
Gazprom boss Dyukov takes over as RFU president
February 25 – The end of an era in Russian football has been confirmed with Alexander Dyukov, chief executive of oil giant Gazprom, named as Vitaly Mutko’s replacement as president of the Russian Football Union (RFU).
UEFA closes 2021 Champions League bidding but opens up for 2022 and 2023
February 25 – Germany and Russia are going head-to-head for the hosting of the 2021 Champions League finals with Munich and St Petersburg as the candidate cities.
Brazil’s CBF to boost Serie A with VAR plans and squad controls
February 22 – The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) will present a number of measures to the technical council of its top league clubs to “advance” Brazilian football. They include adopting VAR in the Serie A, limiting the number of managerial changes and the introduction of a Brazilian Super Cup in 2020.
Banned Bwalya is back: CAF reinstate Zambian at Africa’s top table
February 22- The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has re-instated former Zambian president Kalusha Bwalya (pictured) to its executive committee after his two-year ban from all football was reduced on appeal by FIFA and thus covered the period already served.
Man City fan ‘critical’ after fight in Schalke’s Yeltsin Arena
February 22 – A Manchester City fan is fighting for his life after an alleged assault following their Champions League win over Schalke in Germany this week according to reports in both countries.
CAF pick Port Said as one of venues for AFCON 2019 in Egypt
February 21 – The stadium where 74 people lost their lives in one the worst tragedies to hit world football in recent years has been selected as one of the six venues for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Ref row forces Tunisian FA to reschedule Super Cup in Qatar
By Paul Nicholson
February 21 – The Tunisian Football Federation has postponed its Super Cup, played between the winners of the Tunisian league and the Tunisian Cup, and which was being hosted after a gap of 18 years in Qatar after a row broke out between clubs over the selection of match officials.
Cardiff and Nantes postpone hostilities over £17.25m Sala fee
February 21 – Cardiff and Nantes have agreed to extend the deadline on the first instalment of the €17.25 million transfer fee owed for Emiliano Sala until February 27, hopefully ending what threatened to become a bitter dispute at a highly sensitive time.