Roma are fined €50,000 but escape wider sanctions, this time
By Andrew Warshaw
May 14 – Italian authorities have wasted no time punishing Roma for the racist chanting of their fans by slapping them with a €50,000 fine – but nothing stronger.
Europe
SKY Italia wins anti-trust rights case on Champions League and World Cup
By Paul Nicholson
May 14 – After a two-year wait, the Italian Antitrust Authority (AGCM) has finally ruled in favour of Sky Italia that there is no evidence the broadcaster abused its dominant position in its acquisition of Champions League TV rights (2012-15) and FIFA World Cup rights for 2010 and 2014.
FTBpro raises $5.8 million in new wave of investment in football sites
By Mark Baber
May 13 – FTBpro has raised $5.8 million from Israeli investors, Battery Ventures and Gemini Israel Ventures to expand its “fan-generated” content offering into new markets.
Platini says it is time to record ref’s conversations
By Monica Villar
May 13 – UEFA President Michel Platini has suggested that the time has come to record conversations between referees during Champions League matches. He spoke during a visit to Lille in preparation for the 2016 European championship.
Serie A game halted as Roma fans chant racist abuse at San Siro
By Andrew Warshaw
May 13 – Despite a recent crackdown on racism by football’s governing bodies, Sunday’s high-profile Serie A clash between AC Milan and Roma was halted because of abusive chanting by fans. Play was stopped by the referee for about two minutes at the start of the second half after chants were aimed at Milan’s black players from visiting Roma fans.
Del Nido calls for fairer split of Spanish TV money and warns of more financial pain to come
By Monica Villar
May 10 – Sevilla president José María del Nido has again spoken out against the LFP, blaming the league for creating the economic difficulties Spanish clubs now face.
Sporting CP president criticises agents over confidentiality breaches
By Monica Villar
May 9 – Sporting Clube de Portugal President Bruno de Carvalho has struck out at players agents and representatives after newspapers published reports regarding his team’s squad.
Exclusive: Cyprus unification talks stall over wording of draft agreement
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
May 9 – Landmark talks with FIFA aimed at creating an historic deal to unify football in Cyprus have stalled as Greek and Turkish Cypriot officials grapple with the wording of a firm agreement.
Rights agency Kentaro hit with law suit over Brazilian national team profits
May 8 – Sports rights agency Kentaro, is being sued by football investment fund Global Eleven, over failing to return profits from matches played by world champions Brazil.
Tebas: Nobody is accusing Deportivo of any wrong-doing
By Monica Villar
May 8 – The newly-elected president of the LFP, Javier Tebas has spoken out about recent accusations of match-fixing in the Levante vs Deportivo match, but has said that the allegations are not aimed at the club directly.
Scots find compromise to merge leagues for future of national game
By Andrew Warshaw
May 8 – The cloud of doom that has hung over Scottish football all year has finally been lifted with an agreement to restructure the leagues, hopefully in time for next season. Under the deal there would be single merged governing body to oversee the domestic professional game, with improved financial redistribution.
Germans show solidarity with renewal of League and Federation treaty
By Mark Baber
May 7 – The German Football Federation (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL) have extended the basic treaty regulating their relationship until 30 June 2017.
Dupont files EU complaint over UEFA’s financial fair play rules
By Andrew Warshaw
May 7 – For the second time in a few weeks, the Belgian lawyer who helped change the face of European football has warned that UEFA’s Financial Fair Play system may not stand up in court if challenged.
Hoeness gets vote of confidence as Bayern board reject offer to stand down
By Paul Nicholson
May 7 – Bayern Munich president and chairman Uli Hoeness, at the centre of a personal tax evasion scandal in Germany, had his offer to stand down rejected by Bayern’s supervisory board yesterday.
Hearts edge towards stability, but Ukio Bankas cloud still looms large
By Paul Nicholson
May 6 – Scottish Premier League club Heart of Midlothian announced financial results to 30 June 2012 showing an increased turnover to £8.68m but a loss for the full year of £1.65m, mainly due to the settlement of an HMRC tax investigation of £1.56m.