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Tag: UEFA

  • UEFA confirms Arsenal’s Europa tie against Vorskla will hold

    UEFA confirms Arsenal’s Europa tie against Vorskla will hold

    Arsenal’s Europa League clash with Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava will take place at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev on Thursday, UEFA has confirmed.

    The match had been in doubt after the Ukrainian side said they could not guarantee they would be able to fulfil the fixture, following a change of venue. Vorskla later confirmed the game will take place, following an official Instagram post that showed the squad boarding a coach for the country’s capital.

    UEFA took the decision to move the game to Kiev, following the introduction of martial law in some parts of Ukraine due to escalating tensions with Russia amid a row over Ukrainian ships in Crimea.

    Around 500 Arsenal fans are expected to make the trip and some have already been affected by the late change of venue, with the club’s supporters critical of UEFA’s decision.

    Speaking ahead of the game, Arsenal boss Unai Emery said he was respectful of the process UEFA had undertaken to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

    “First, we need to respect UEFA’s decision because I think it’s not easy for Vorskla,” said Emery.

    “It’s not changing a lot to play here. It is clear they are playing in Ukraine, not in their town, but here in Kiev they can also move their supporters.

    “In 90 minutes we want to do our work here. The decision is not easy but with big responsibility. UEFA yesterday found the best decision to play and also with protecting everybody, us and them.”

    Emery has taken a youthful-looking squad to Ukraine with the Gunners already through to the knockout stages of the Europa League.

  • UEFA to use VAR in Champions, Europa Leagues

    European football’s governing body Uefa has said that Video assistant referees (VAR) could be introduced to the Champions League and Europa League this season.

    Uefa originally opted against using VAR this season despite it being used by most major European leagues and Fifa at the World Cup in Russia.

    Speaking at a joint Uefa and ECA press conference in Brussels on Tuesday, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said the organisation’s refereeing chief Roberto Rosetti has been leading efforts to make sure Uefa’s pool of referees are ready for VAR and all “technical aspects” have been addressed.

    “I expect the report in a week or so and then we will see when we can implement it – (at) the latest, next season,” said Ceferin.

    With the Premier League agreeing last week to introduce VAR from next season, Uefa is the last major competition organiser in world football to allow referees to use video replays to make better decisions.

    It has previously been suggested that Uefa may try to roll out VAR for the Champions League’s quarter-finals, which start on April 9, although the clubs are keen to introduce the system as soon as possible, which could be the first knockout round starting on February 12.

    The Europa League’s 32-team knockout round starts on February 14, with the first leg of the quarter-finals on April 11.

  • Munich, St. Petersburg bid to host UEFA Champions League final

    Munich and St Petersburg are the two candidate cities bidding to host the 2021 UEFA Champions League final match, the European football governing body said on Thursday.

    UEFA said the Russian and German federations had on their behalf sent declarations of interest in hosting the match by last Friday’s deadline and were the only ones to do so.

    Three others — Vienna in Austria, Tbilisi in Georgia and Seville in Spain —- expressed interest in hosting the Europa League final of the same year.

    Prague in the Czech Republic and Gothenburg in Sweden were candidates for the women’s Champions League final, UEFA said.

    UEFA said the declarations of interest were not binding and the formal bids will have to be delivered with full dossiers by Feb. 15.

    It is no longer possible for national Football Associations (FAs) who have not declared an interest to bid for the finals, UEFA added.

    UEFA’s executive committee will choose the hosts in May or June.

  • UEFA bans Russian club Rubin Kazan from Europe

    Russian club Rubin Kazan have been banned from playing in the Champions League and Europa League if they qualify for either tournament in the next two seasons.

    European football’s governing body Uefa handed down the punishment for the breach of financial fair play rules.
    The Russian Premier League side had a ‘settlement agreement’ with Uefa after initially breaking the rules.
    But it broke that arrangement, leading Uefa to open a new investigation.
    Financial fair play rules are designed to stop clubs spending more than they earn.
    Settlement agreements usually see clubs accept restrictions on transfers and squad sizes for a set period of time.
    Founded 60 years ago, Rubin played its first domestic top flight season in 2003 and has remained there since, winning the Russian Premier League in 2008 and 2009.
    In recent seasons, the club – whose Kazan Arena home ground is in Russia’s sixth most populous city Kazan – has been a regular in European contests.
    BBC

  • Champions League draw: Man Utd face Juventus, Tottenham take on Barca

    Manchester United will face a reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo after drawing Serie A champions Juventus in the Champions League group stage.

    Ronaldo, who was at United between 2003 and 2009, joined Juve for £99.2m in July after nine years at Real Madrid.

    Valencia and Young Boys are the other teams in Group H.

    Tottenham have been drawn in a tough group to face Barcelona, while last season’s runners-up Liverpool face Paris St-Germain and Napoli.

    Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan complete the line-up in Spurs’ Group B and Red Star Belgrade are the other team to play Jurgen Klopp’s side in Group C.

    Premier League champions Manchester City were drawn in Group F alongside Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon and Hoffenheim.

    Last season’s winners Real Madrid, who have won the competition for the past three years, are in Group G with Roma, CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen.

    Full Draw:

    Group A: Atletico Madrid, Dortmund, Monaco, Club Brugge

    Group B: Barcelona, TOTTENHAM, PSV, Inter Milan

    Group C: PSG, Napoli, LIVERPOOL, Red Star Belgrade

    Group D: Lokomotiv Moscow, Porto, Schalke, Galatasararay

    Group E: Bayern Munich, Benfica, Ajax, AEK Athens

    Group F: MAN CITY, Shakhtar, Lyon, Hoffenheim

    Group G: Real Madrid, Roma, CSKA Moscow, Viktoria Plzen

    Group H: Juventus, MAN UTD, Valencia, Young Boys

  • Ronaldo bags 2018 UEFA goal of the season award

    Portugal forward, Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning overhead kick for Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final clash with Juventus has been voted UEFA’s Goal of the Season for 2018.

    Ronaldo’s effort in the first leg of the last-eight encounter in Turin helped Real to establish a 3-0 lead over Juventus.

    They were to see that lead whittled away on home soil, but ultimately prevailed courtesy of another timely effort from a talismanic presence – with Ronaldo netting a dramatic penalty at the Santiago Bernabeu.

    He would go on to help the Blancos conquer Europe for a third year in succession, landing him a fifth continental crown, while also finishing as the Champions League’s top scorer.

    Ronaldo can now also boast a first UEFA Goal of the Season award, with his strike against Juve claiming almost 200,000 of the 346,915 votes cast on the official website of European football’s governing body.

    That haul saw him finish well clear of Marseille star Dimitri Payet in second, with the Frenchman claiming the runner-up spot for his effort in a 5-2 Europa League win over RB Leipzig.

    Third place went to Eva Navarro for her goal for Spain in their Women’s U17 EURO final victory against Germany.

    Ronaldo is just the third player to scoop the top prize, which was first handed out in 2015.

    Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi took the award in its first two seasons, before the baton was passed to Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic in 2017.

  • Roma fan jailed for Liverpool violence

    Roma fan jailed for Liverpool violence

    An Italian man has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for his part in violence before a Champions League tie which left a Liverpool fan badly hurt.

    Daniele Sciusco, 29, admitted violent disorder before Liverpool’s semi-final against AS Roma at Anfield on April 24.

    Sciusco was not responsible for the attack which left Sean Cox, 53, from Ireland, with a serious head injury.

    But a judge at Preston Crown Court told him: “It did occur during violent disorder of which you were a part.”

    The court heard Sciusco was among a group of Roma “ultras” who had flown from Italy for the match.

    CCTV footage showed about 25 of the group in Walton Breck Road, near the stadium.

    “Your actions and the actions of the Italian group tarnished significantly what was intended to be a sporting and enjoyable occasion,” said Judge Brown.

    “You and others in the ultra group were armed with weapons such as belts and chains and you were threatening and were being abusive towards the Liverpool fans.”

    Doctors put Mr Cox, from County Meath, in an induced coma after he was attacked outside a pub near the stadium about an hour before kick-off.

    The court heard he was now out of the coma but his condition remained “very dire”.

    “The impact on him has been catastrophic,” said Judge Mark Brown.

    Nigel Power, defending, said Sciusco worked at a large pharmaceutical practice and volunteered teaching pupils in schools and colleges to use defibrillators.

    Mr Power said the defendant, of previous good character, had not drunk any alcohol before the game.

    “Although the incident that we have seen on the CCTV was an ugly one, it wasn’t one that this defendant, at least, set out in anticipation of,” he said.

    Filippo Lombardi, 21, denies violent disorder and wounding/inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Cox and is due to stand trial later this year.

    BBC

  • Georgia captain gets UEFA award for wearing rainbow armband

    When Guram Kashia, then vice-captain of Georgia’s national side, wore a rainbow armband while playing for Dutch Eredivisie side Vitesse last October, anti-LGBT protestors in his homeland reacted with riots, smoke bombs and flares.

    A rainbow flag was burned outside the headquarters of the Georgian Football Federation, while the defender faced threats and abuse, with calls made for him to be dropped from the national team.

    But Kashia, who in June was named Georgia’s captain, has now become the inaugural recipient of Uefa’s #EqualGame award.

    The award recognises players who have “acted as a role model” in “promoting diversity, inclusion and accessibility in European football”.

    “Guram has taken an important stand to support the LGBT community and equality overall and deserves to win this award,” said Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin.

    “Even though his actions sparked threats and abuse from many groups, he preached tolerance and acceptance, and helped change perceptions of this minority group in his native country of Georgia.”

    Kashia, who now plays for MLS side San Jose Earthquakes, says he has never regretted wearing the rainbow armband.

    “I believe in equality for everyone, no matter what you believe in, who you love or who you are,” said the 31-year-old.

    He will be presented with his award at the Uefa Champions League group-stage draw and gala in Monaco on 30 August.

    “Football is a force for social change,” Ceferin added.

    “People who are role models in their communities and who utilise sport for good should be rewarded.”

    BBC

  • David Beckham to receive UEFA President’s award

    David Beckham will become the third Englishman to receive the UEFA President’s Award.

    The former England captain was described as “a true football icon of his generation” by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and will receive the award in Monaco later this year.

    Sir Bobby Robson (2002) and Sir Bobby Charlton (2008) are the previous English winners.

    “The President’s Award recognises outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities,” said Ceferin.

    “I have chosen David Beckham as the recipient of this year’s award because he has been a global ambassador for football, promoting the game and all its values in every corner of the planet.

    “His tireless humanitarian efforts, which have helped the lives of many children around the world, should also be celebrated. Beckham is a true football icon of his generation.”

    Beckham made 762 appearances for club and country, scoring 130 goals in a career that spanned over 20 years, and was a member of the Manchester United side that won the Champions League in 1999.

    “During my career I always gave 100 per cent and tried to uphold the values of teamwork and fair play and I am proud to join the illustrious list of players who have previously won this award,” said Beckham.

    “Many of the unforgettable moments I had on the pitch came in the UEFA Champions League such as that magic night in Barcelona in 1999 when we beat Bayern Munich in such dramatic fashion.

    “My career in football allowed me to actively participate in helping to improve the lives of numerous children across the globe in cooperation with UNICEF and it gives me great pleasure that I am able to give something back to society.

    “When people believe in you, you believe in yourself. By giving children, especially girls, the support they need, my 7 Fund is helping them realise their potential.”

  • Ronaldo, Messi, Salah nominated for UEFA Champions League awards

    Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah have all been nominated for UEFA’s Champions League positional awards, with the list dominated by Real Madrid players, Goal reports.

    Real won their third consecutive European title with thanks to a 3-1 win over Liverpool in Kiev, Gareth Bale netting a brace.

    Bale did not make the cut of players voted for by coaches of the 32 teams from the 2017-18 Champions League group stage and 55 journalists representing each of UEFA’s member nations, with Ronaldo, Messi and Salah the attackers put forward.

    Keylor Navas may have his position at Real under serious threat following the signing of Thibaut Courtois but is nominated in the goalkeeping category alongside Alisson and Gianluigi Buffon.

    Real have a clean sweep among the defenders in the shape of Marcelo, Raphael Varane and captain Sergio Ramos, while only Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne – accompanying Luka Modric and Toni Kroos – prevents a similar scenario for the midfielders.

    The three nominees for the Europa League Player of the Season award are drawn from the final and continue the Spanish theme.

    Atletico Madrid duo Antoine Griezmann and Diego Godin have been named alongside Marseille’s Dimitri Payet.

    Godin lifted the trophy after Griezmann scored twice in a 3-0 win over the Ligue 1 side in Lyon.

    The winners will be announced at the respective Champions League and Europa League group stage draws in Monaco on August 30 and 31.