Germany’s Bundesliga clubs mandate sustainability criteria in club licensing rules
May 31 – Germany’s Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs have agreed to the inclusion of a binding sustainability guideline in their club licensing regulations.
UEFA and French face tough questions over most dangerous Champions League final ever
By Andrew Warshaw
May 30 – Were Liverpool fans deliberately targeted because of past incidents involving English supporters?
Japan considering 2023 Asian Cup hosting, but Tashima says Asia must choose best option
By Samindra Kunti in Paris
May 29 – Japan are keen to host the 2023 Asian Cup, the president of the Japanese Football Association (JFA) Kozo Tashima confirmed to Insideworldfootball. China withdrew from staging the continental championship because of the Covid-19 crisis.
Nottingham Forest return to Premier League after 23-year wait
May 30 – Nottingham Forest ended their 23-year wait for a return to the top flight of the English football with a narrow 1-0 win over Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final on Sunday in the so-called richest individual match in the world game, worth an estimated £170 million.
Liverpool demand investigation into crowd chaos at Stade de France
By Samindra Kunti in Paris
May 29 – The Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid descended into chaos because of major safety concerns in the hours leading up to the final and even after kickoff had been delayed by 36 minutes. The complete disorder raises serious questions of UEFA and the Paris organisers.
UEFA to keep Belarus and Ukraine apart in competition draws
May 29 – UEFA has decided that teams from Belarus and Ukraine will be kept apart in the draws for any future UEFA competitions.
Saint-Etienne fans riot after Auxerre penalty shoot-out win sends them to Ligue 2
May 30 – After an 18-year stay in the top flight, Saint-Etienne, one of France’s most iconic clubs, were relegated from Ligue 1 on Sunday, prompting a pitch invasion by angry fans.
Topps and Ethernity warm up for Finalissima 2022 clash with NFT drops
May 30 – This Wednesday will see the Finalissima 2022 played at Wembley Stadium between South American champions Argentina and European champions Italy, a revived version of the Artemio Franchi Cup, last played in 1993.
Home unions agree 4-nation sponsorship with M&S Food
May 30 – M&S Food, the food division of the M&S retail chain, has agreed a sponsorship across the four UK Football Associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Courtois keeps Liverpool out as Vinicius goal lets Real Madrid in for record 14th UCL title
By Samindra Kunti in Paris
May 28 – Real Madrid won a record 14th European Cup with the narrowest of margins through a second-half Vinicius Junior strike against Liverpool in a Champions League final that failed to deliver on the promise of a great spectacle by the competition’s two finest teams. The final’s kickoff was delayed because of major crowd incidents and security breaches.
Liverpool vs Real Madrid, Salah vs Benzema. Paris set for another big finish
By Samindra Kunti in Paris
May 27 – In a repeat of the 2018 Champions League final, Liverpool will be marginal favourites to defeat Real Madrid and win a seventh European Cup, but the resilience and attacking firepower of the Spanish champions can never be underestimated following an extraordinary run to the final.
Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest vie for £170m+ riches of world’s most valuable match
May 27 – Forget the Champions League final, the most valuable fixture in world football will be played on Sunday between Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest at Wembley.
Players want limit on games with less than 5 days rest in between, finds survey
May 28 – No fewer than 87% of professional footballers want back-to-back matches limited in order to guard against a heavy workload, pointing out they are “athletes, not machines”, according to a new survey by global players’ union Fifpro.
Ukraine’s Zinchenko motivated to make his country proud against Scotland
May 27 – Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Zinchenko said his team hopes to make their country proud when they take on Scotland in a World Cup playoff semi-final next week.
Bayern boss Bundesliga’s best but Bellingham breaks barriers
May 27 – The CIES Football Observatory has produced a ranking of Best XI player for each of 32 European leagues analysed over the 2021/22 season.