Trevor Steven: Chelsea must rise above off-field uncertainty against Real Madrid April 5, 2022 Chelsea go into their Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid in a uniquely challenging position, because of the sanctions placed on their owner Roman Abramovich. Having been in a comfortable position for so long, there is now uncertainty surrounding the future of the club which will be affecting it from top to bottom. Until it [...]
European football club chiefs defend controversial changes to Champions League qualification March 29, 2022 European football club chiefs have defended proposals to give more Champions League places to historically successful teams, saying they are “fair, add value and make sense”. The changes are set to take effect from 2024, when the competition’s group stage expands from 32 to a single 36-team league. Under plans approved by leading clubs, two [...]
Europe’s top football clubs back new spending cap in place of financial fair play March 28, 2022 The influential European Club Association (ECA) has backed the proposed scrapping of football’s controversial financial fair play (FFP) rules in favour of a new cost-control system based on a soft spending cap. Uefa’s planned shake-up is the biggest change to the financial regulation of European club competitions such as the Champions League and Europa League [...]
Super League, Mbappe and at loggerheads over lunch: the feud between PSG and Real Madrid March 9, 2022 In the hours before Paris Saint-Germain beat Real Madrid in the Champions League last month, their respective presidents met for a traditional pre-match lunch that summed up the antipathy between the two clubs. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez arrived late to the Pavillon Ledoyen restaurant near the Champs Elysees. Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Qatari president of [...]
Trevor Steven: PSG’s variety of goal threat gives them edge over Real Madrid March 8, 2022 Paris Saint-Germain take a slim lead to Real Madrid on Wednesday in an epic Champions League last-16 tie and a clash between potential winners of this year’s competition. PSG have spent the last decade bedding in at the top of European club football, reaching the final in 2020 and the semis last year, and are [...]
Sport is guilty of shutting its eyes to Russia’s geopolitical ambitions February 27, 2022 Roman Abramovich’s near 20-year ownership of Premier League club Chelsea has been shrouded in mystery and therefore subject to constant scrutiny and speculation. Indeed, until the weekend, it remained unclear why he is there and what he is seeking to achieve. The oligarch has denied having direct links with Vladimir Putin but has been seen [...]
Uefa to sever ties with Gazprom over Ukraine invasion February 25, 2022 Uefa is reportedly in talks to sever all ties with Russian sponsor Gazprom following the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. The governing body has set this course of action even though the 10-year partnership with Gazprom has been one of the most lucrative for Uefa, the i paper exclusively reported. Following calls to strip Russia of [...]
Uefa calls meeting to move Champions League final from Russia February 24, 2022 European football’s governing body Uefa has called an extraordinary meeting for tomorrow morning when it is expected to strip Russia of the Champions League final. St Petersburg had been due to stage the biggest game in club football on 28 May but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine this week has seen pressure on Uefa to move [...]
No plans to move Champions League final from Russia, says Uefa February 22, 2022 European football chiefs Uefa say there are no plans to move the Champions League final from St Petersburg despite Russia invading Ukraine. The final of club football’s most prestigious competition is due to take place at the Gazprom Arena in the Russian city on 22 May. “Uefa is constantly and closely monitoring the situation,” the [...]
Trevor Steven: Kylian Mbappe has emerged as the heir to Messi and Ronaldo February 16, 2022 Kylian Mbappe’s stunning individual goal in Tuesday’s Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid did a lot of things all at once. For PSG, it made a big difference to their chances of winning this last 16 tie. For Mbappe, meanwhile, that goal lifted his standing in the game and his confidence even [...]