Compiled by Ranjika Perera

 

UEFA has opened an investigation against the three clubs in connection to their involvement with the European Super League project. Twelve clubs across Europe initially joined together for a breakaway league which attracted more money. The nine clubs who pulled out of the European Super League - included Premier League clubs Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham. They signed a Club Commitment Declaration with UEFA on Friday (7) and re-joined the European Association.

UEFA issued a statement saying, “UEFA has reserved all rights to take whatever action it deems appropriate against those clubs that have so far refused to renounce the so-called ‘Super League’. The matter will promptly be referred to the competent UEFA disciplinary bodies.”

After their recommitment to UEFA on Friday, the nine clubs will make a combined goodwill contribution of £ 13 m (Rs. 3.5 b) to benefit children and football in the grassroots across Europe. They will also have five per cent of UEFA competition revenues withheld for one season and this money will be redistributed. Also, they could face fines up to £ 87 m (Rs. 24 b) each if they seek to join a breakaway competition in the future, and a fine of half that amount if they breach any other terms of the declaration. Lampard could return to the Premier League Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, who was sacked from his Stamford Bridge post in January, is now a ‘frontrunner’ for the Chrystal Palace hot-seat. According to The Telegraph, the 42-year-old is eager to return to the Premier League. Current manager, Roy Hodgson is out of contract this summer and is tipped to leave the club after six years in charge. The 73-year-old took charge of his 361st game in the English top-flight when on Tuesday evening, when Southampton defeated Palace three goals to one. Talks over Hodgson’s future have been delayed until the season is over. But it is believed he is on his way out and it will be Lampard, who will replace him. Champions League final moved out of Turkey

With two English clubs in the Champions League final, UEFA had wanted to move the final to Wembley and was in talks with the UK government. However, there was disagreement over waiving quarantine rules for the 2,000 staff, sponsors, VIPs and foreign media.

The Major event was due to take place at the Ataturk Stadium on May 29, but since the UK government placed Turkey on its ‘red’ list of high risk countries and urged fans not to travel for the fixture. If fans were to travel, they would be required to quarantine at a government-approved hotel for 10 days.

UEFA is currently looking at shifting the game to Porto. The Estadio do Dragao has a capacity of 50,000, and UEFA is in talks with the Portuguese government to allow 20,000 to attend the final. That would mean up to 6,000 tickets for fans of each club. However, Fans have not been allowed to attend games in Portugal all season but they would be able to watch the final round of league games next Wednesday (19).

Portugal is on the UK government’s green list so fans will not need to quarantine. This will be the third Champions League final in Portugal in eight years but the first in Porto.