London, United Kingdom | AFP | British lawmakers called Tuesday for tough action from UEFA after England players were subjected to repeated racist chanting during a Euro 2020 qualifier as Bulgaria’s prime minister urged the country’s football chief to resign. England recorded a 6-0 victory over their hosts in Sofia on …
Read More »Platini free to return to football but Qatar investigation goes on
Lausanne, Switzerland | AFP | Former UEFA president Michel Platini is finally free to return to football next week when his four-year ban for ethics violations ends, although he remains linked to a corruption investigation in his home country relating to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The former France …
Read More »AC Milan banned from Europe for financial fair play violations
Lausanne, Switzerland | AFP | AC Milan were banned from European football for next season on Friday over breaches of financial fair play rules, CAS, the top court for sport, announced. European football’s governing body UEFA had accused the club of violating financial fair play (FFP) regulations over the past three …
Read More »Nations League thrills and spills win over skeptics
Porto, Portugal | AFP | Portugal’s victory in the inaugural Nations League sparked celebrations long into the night in Porto on Sunday, but the hosts were far from the only ones happy at the end of UEFA’s attempt to add more competition to the international calendar. A complex format that saw …
Read More »Ex-UEFA president Johansson dies at 89
Stockholm, Sweden | AFP | Lennart Johansson, who was president of European football body UEFA from 1990 to 2007, has died at the age of 89, the Swedish football federation said on Wednesday. “Swedish football is in mourning. Lennart Johansson has died. He passed away on the evening of June 4 …
Read More »‘Do fans in Baku not deserve it?’ – UEFA chief Ceferin defends Europa League final
Berlin, Germany | AFP | UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has defended the decision to host the Europa League final in Baku in an interview with German news magazine Der Spiegel set to be published on Saturday. Chelsea and Arsenal are set to play in Baku on May 29, and UEFA has …
Read More »All change? What next for European club football
Paris, France | AFP | Plans by UEFA to reform European club competitions would see 128 clubs playing a total of 647 matches starting in the 2024 season (with 407 per season 2021-2024) spread over three continental competitions, according to a document seen by AFP on Friday. The 128 teams would …
Read More »Chaos and comebacks: Champions League proves the ultimate in sporting drama
Amsterdam, Netherlands | AFP | After all that, why exactly would you want to change it? Just as moves are being stepped up that threaten to change the Champions League into more of a closed shop than ever, along comes the drama of this week at Anfield and in Amsterdam of …
Read More »UEFA considering Champions League with promotion/relegation
Nyon, Switzerland | AFP | UEFA has drafted a controversial plan to introduce promotion and relegation to the Champions League at a meeting at its Swiss headquarters in Nyon, sources told AFP on Wednesday. There would be four groups of eight teams from 2024 if the proposal is put into action …
Read More »Neymar banned for three Champions League matches over ref rant
Lausanne, Switzerland | AFP | Neymar was suspended for three Champions League matches by UEFA on Friday for a foul-mouthed tirade at match officials following Paris Saint-Germain’s shock exit from this season’s tournament to Manchester United. The Brazil star missed the 3-1 Champions League second leg last 16 defeat on March …
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