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 …
Read More »Sterling calls for Premier League to clamp down on racism
London, United Kingdom | AFP | England star Raheem Sterling has called on the Premier League to show the way to other European countries in the fight against racism. Sterling and his England team-mates were subjected to racist chants during Sunday’s 5-1 victory in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro …
Read More »UEFA probe Ronaldo for ‘improper conduct’ over ‘cojones’ goal celebration
Milan, Italy | AFP | UEFA on Monday opened an investigation into Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal celebration after scoring a hat-trick in Juventus’ Champions League comeback win against Atletico Madrid last week. European football’s governing body said Ronaldo was facing charges of “improper conduct” after he mimicked Diego Simeone’s crotch-grabbing ‘cojones’ gesture in last Tuesday’s 3-0 …
Read More »Did VAR get big calls right? Debate rages on after Champions League drama
Paris, France | AFP | Neymar called the decision that led to Paris Saint-Germain being dumped out of the Champions League a “disgrace”, while elsewhere on Wednesday Roma were left raging — both clubs are out of Europe and both feel cheated by controversial VAR calls. “It’s a disgrace. They …
Read More »Ramos charged by UEFA with drawing deliberate booking
Paris, France | AFP | Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos was charged by UEFA on Tuesday for “receiving a yellow card on purpose” during their Champions League last-16 tie with Ajax. The Spaniard was booked for a tackle on Kasper Dolberg in Real’s 2-1 first-leg victory in Amsterdam on February 13, two minutes after Marco …
Read More »Unopposed Ceferin re-elected as UEFA president
Rome, Italy | AFP | UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was on Thursday re-elected for a four-year term as head of European football’s governing body by acclamation. The 51-year-old Slovenian lawyer was the only candidate going forward for election at the UEFA Congress in Rome. Ceferin took over two and a half years ago after the corruption …
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