Puma leaps ahead in Euro 2012 battle of the brands
By David Owen
June 20 – Puma is setting the early pace in the battle of the big sporting brands at the 2012 European Championship.
Croats punished following Balotelli racial abuse at Euro 2012
By Andrew Warshaw
June 19 – The Croatian Football Federation has been fined €80,000 (£64,500/$101,500) after Italy striker Mario Balotelli was racially abused by a section of its fans at the 2012 European Championships.
FIFA extends worldwide match-fixing sanctions
By Andrew Warshaw
June 19 – FIFA today extended worldwide a series of sanctions meted out to 13 individuals from South Korea and Croatia related to match-fixing.
SPL clubs to decide fate of new Rangers
By Andrew Warshaw
June 19 – Scottish Premier League (SPL) clubs will vote on Wednesday, July 4 on whether to admit Glasgow giants Rangers into the top flight of domestic football under their new guise.
Platini defends European Championship expansion for France 2016
By Andrew Warshaw
June 19 – UEFA President Michel Platini insists the next European Championship finals in France will not suffer from a drop in quality when the tournament expands to 24 teams – and says Euro 2012 has been one of the best ever, from a footballing standpoint at least.
Former international Gallacher hopeful four Scottish players will make Team GB
By Tom Degun
June 19 – Former Scotland striker Kevin Gallacher, who scored nine goals in 53 appearances for his country, said he is hopeful that at least four Scottish players will represent the Team GB men’s team at the London 2012 Olympics.
UEFA slap Bendtner with €100,000 fine for ambush marketing
By Andrew Warshaw
June 18 – UEFA’s strict rules against any suggestion of ambush marketing were made starkly clear today when Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner was banned for one competitive match and fined €100,000 (£80,000/$126,000) for his goal celebration in the 2012 European Championship game against Portugal.
FA to fight UEFA disciplinary proceedings against fan behaviour at Euro 2012
By Andrew Warshaw
June 18 – The English Football Association is to fight its corner over disciplinary proceedings issued by UEFA relating to England fans’ behaviour during the 3-2 win over Sweden at the 2012 European Championship.
David Owen: Why the new TV deal promises to strengthen English grip on Champions League
The latest Premier League television deal may have given some BT and British Sky Broadcasting shareholders the jitters.
But the alarm-bells will have been ringing much, much louder in non-English citadels of European footballing excellence from Barcelona to Munich.
The new tide of money that the £3 billion ($4.7 billion/€3.7 billion) settlement will send flooding into English Premier League club coffers from the 2013-2014 season should do much to restore the competitive advantage of English clubs in the top European competitions.
Exclusive: Euro 2012 director “very satisfied” despite fan and logistical woes
By Andrew Warshaw in Warsaw
June 18 – The tournament director of the 2012 European Championship insists he is satisfied with the finals so far despite constant UEFA sanctions, fan violence and logistical snafus.
European football taking off in India
By David Owen
June 17 – Television viewership of the early stages of 2012 European Championships suggests that football may be gaining popularity in one of the few parts of the world it has still to conquer: India.
Croatia receive first formal charge of racism at Euro 2012
By Andrew Warshaw in Warsaw
June 16 – In its clearest message to date of zero tolerance when it comes to discrimination, UEFA made its first formal charges of racism at Euro 2012 today, opening a case against the Croatian Football Association after receiving reports that fans made monkey chants directed at Manchester City’s Italian striker Mario Balotelli.
UEFA slam Croatia with €25,000 fine over poor fan behaviour at Euro 2012
By Andrew Warshaw in Warsaw
June 15 – UEFA have fined the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) €25,000 (£20,000/$32,000) after fans let off a series of flares during their European Championship 3-1 victory over the Republic of Ireland on Sunday (June 10).
Andrew Warshaw: Slow trains, kind strangers, antique computers and compelling football, welcome to my Polish Euro 2012
Some spread themselves out on restaurant seats, in shop doorways or on any piece of concrete they could find a spot to catnap. Others sat quietly, frequently yawning, peering longingly at their watches, drinking countless cups of coffee. The younger ones, faces still painted, scarves still brazenly hanging from their necks, continued the revelry of the previous few hours, laughing and joking, laden with cans of beer and dried sandwiches.
Welcome to Poznan railway station as we waited,
New owner does not have backing of Rangers fans, warns Walter Smith consortium
By Duncan Mackay
June 15 – An unsuccessful last-minute attempt by former manager Walter Smith to buy Rangers is hampering new owner Charles Green’s attempts to win over the supporters at Ibrox, he has admitted.