Lens win last-minute appeal and take spot in Ligue 1
August 4 – Lens have won their fight to gain promotion to the French fop flight that begins this week but will be playing home games elsewhere.
Europe
Tavecchio’s latest gaffe turns more Italians against him in race for presidency
By Andrew Warshaw
August 4 – In what will be regarded as, at best, an unfortunate turn or phrase and at worst another disgraceful gaffe, the Italian official at the centre of the latest racism storm in European football says he believes he has suffered more pressure than even former US president John F Kennedy’s assassin.
Bulgarian U19 players arrested after match-fixing tip-off at Euros
By Alexander Krassimirov
August 4 – A Bulgarian national youth team player has been arrested on suspicion of manipulating U19 matches. Although the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) has not released the name of the 20-year-old player it is known that he is plays in Bulgaria’s A Grupa.
Russian tensions take toll on Adidas plans and share price
By David Owen
August 1 – Shares of Adidas, the sportswear group that recently agreed a record £750 million 10-year kit deal with Manchester United, have been hit hard following a profit warning.
Suarez will return hungrier than ever, reckons Barca star
August 1 – Barcelona defender Gerard Pique says Luis Suarez will be more motivated than ever when he completes his four-month ban for biting at the World Cup.
Moldovan businessman buys Romania’s Rapid Bucharest
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
August 1 – Moldovan businessman Valerii Moraru has acquired 94.72% of the shares in Romanian club Rapid Bucharest. The full cost of the club to Moraru has not been declared but it has been reported he paid between €2.7 million and €4 million for the 20% stake he purchased from Adrian Zamfir, one of the club’s former co-owners.
Crimean clubs to play in Russian second division from next season
By Mark Baber
August 1 – Meeting in the House of Football, the Russian Football Union (RFU) decided on Thursday to allow Crimean football clubs to play Russian league football from next season.
Barca post a record €500m+ performance despite a poor on-field season
By Andrew Warshaw
July 31 – Barcelona may have had one of their worst seasons in recent years by their own high standards – having not won a single trophy – but the Catalan giants have still managed to post record revenues and their second highest profit ever.
High Court pulls plug on Arsenal’s stadium concert business
By Mark Baber
July 31 – The High Court has rejected Arsenal’s appeal against a planning inspector’s decision against their proposal to increase the number of concerts held at the Emirates Stadium from three to six per year, rejecting Arsenal’s contention the inspector had not properly taking into account the benefits of the proposal and its overall accordance with the local area’s development plan.
Capello pledges to build Russian staff as he commits through to 2018
By Paul Nicholson
July 31 – Fabio Capello committed his future to the Russian team through to the 2018 World Cup yesterday. There had been criticism internally of Russia’s failure to make it through the group stages of the Brazil World Cup, as well as of Capello’s reported $12 million salary.
LFP shows leniency with sanctions on players caught betting on matches
By Mark Baber
July 30 – The Disciplinary Committee of the French Professional League (LFP) last Thursday imposed sanctions on some of the 87 first and second division players who were caught out after the files of the LFP were compared to lists of those betting on league games. The low-key announcement saw the toughest penalties imposed being three match suspended suspensions and fines of €1,500.
Tebas banks on top players to drive up value of La Liga globally
By Andrew Warshaw
July 30 – With the European pre-season spending spree in full swing despite the apparent advent of financial fair play, the president of La Liga in Spain has made it clear his country is prepared to out-muscle the Premier League when it comes to financial clout.
City partner WSFF to open channels to more female participation
July 29 – Manchester City Women’s Football Club (MCWFC) have partnered with Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) to launch a scheme aimed at getting more women and girls involved in sport.
Borussia Dortmund seeks new cash to boost Bayern challenge
By Mark Baber
July 29 – Borussia Dortmund (BVB), main challengers to Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga, are looking to take on another two major investors as strategic partners to sharpen their challenge to the Bavarian dominance.
Too old, too white and too male, says FA chief Dyke
July 28 – English FA chairman Greg Dyke, speaking via video message to members of the Football Supporters Federation and Supporters Direct via video message at their annual Supporters Summit, described his own organisation as being too old, too male and too white and that it was time for change.