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      Premier League teams will be BANNED from European Super League thanks to legislation introduced by Rishi Sunak

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      ENGLISH teams are set to be BANNED from the European Super League.The controversial proposal could come back into the limelight after a court determined Fifa and Uefa acted against law when they blocked its formation in 2021.
      English sides could be banned from any ESL comebackCredit: Getty
      Twelve clubs tried to form a breakaway division but after much backlash the sides pulled out one by one.
      But following the court’s new ruling, the European Super League is back in the fold with Barcelona already revealing they are “satisfied” with the decision.
      However, the British government could prevent Premier League teams from being involved in its possible comeback.
      After the debacle two years ago, an independent football regulator has been put in place by the government from 2024.
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      They promise to stop clubs from joining “breakaway or unlicensed leagues.”
      After this morning’s court decision a government spokesperson said: “We note the decision by the European Court of Justice’s judgement with regard to the European Super League.
      “The attempt to create a breakaway competition was a defining moment in English football and was universally condemned by fans, clubs and the Government.
      “We took decisive action at the time by triggering the fan-led review of football governance, which called for the creation of a new independent regulator for English football. 
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      “We will shortly be bringing forward legislation that makes this a reality, and will stop clubs from joining any similar breakaway competitions in the future.”
      Tory MP Tracy Crouch previously said: “I am pleased that the Rishi Sunak, a passionate football fan himself, recognises that fans throughout the pyramid want to see the long-term financial sustainability of their clubs and have a greater say in how they are run.
      “On the pitch, English football is admired the world over, but it is important that measures are put in place to ensure our national game is fit for the future.
      “This is exactly what an Independent Regulator will do.”
      The latest idea put forward by European Super League chiefs is that up to 64 clubs should leave Uefa to form a new competition.
      That would be without any Prem clubs and Madrid-based sports marketing firm A22 is using the success of English football as a justification for a rival tournament. More

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      Inside incredible stadium built on top of a SHOPPING CENTRE hosting big European tournament

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      THERE are few stadiums where you can nip to McDonald’s and H&M at half-time and make it back for the second half.But at this unique ground you might just manage it.
      The pitch is on the roof of a shopping centre
      The Vozdovac Stadium is also known as the Stadion Shopping CentreCredit: AFP
      The Voždovac Stadium stands on the roof of a SHOPPING CENTRE but can still sit 5,175 fans.
      The Vozdovac Stadium is also officially known as Stadion Shopping Center.
      And it has a McDonald’s and H&M within it.
      There’s an Intersport as well if fans fancy buying a replica shirt on the way out.
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      The Vozdovac stadium opened in 2013 and is approved by Uefa to host Champions League and Europa League games if required.
      It is one of the few rooftop stadiums in the world.
      Similar to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley, the stadium utilises escalators to helps fans get to their seats.
      Week in, week out, the stadium is home to Belgrade side Vozdovac, a minnow who have made their way to Serbia’s first division this season.
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      But to aid the club with revenue, it’s loaned out to Red Star’s youth side for their Uefa Youth League games due to its Uefa approved status.
      That’s led to Manchester City taking on Red Star Belgrade there this week in the Champions League.
      City’s youth team managed to do the business at the Stadion Shopping Centre, with a 2-2 draw enough to see them advance to the knockout stages of the Uefa Youth League.
      The stadium seats 5,175 fansCredit: TNT SPORTS
      And was host to Manchester City in the Europa League todayCredit: TNT Sports More

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      The return of hooliganism is turning European football into a lethal battleground & why English fans are targets

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      THEY once called it the English disease, but football violence is now damaging the image of the beautiful game across Europe – and spreading to other sports.This week Turkey has stopped all footie matches indefinitely after a referee was punched to the ground on the pitch by a club president.
      Referee Halil Umut Meler is clobbered by Faruk KocaCredit: Getty
      Ref Meler holds his face as Koca looks onCredit: EPA
      Meler was in hospital after the attackCredit: Getty
      President of the Turkish team MKE Ankaragücü, at the end of Monday’s gameCredit: Getty
      And Greece banned fans from top-flight football games for two months after violence erupted between rival volleyball supporters in Athens, severely injuring a police officer.
      Meanwhile, France is considering barring away supporters after a fan was stabbed to death ten days ago.
      In January an Italian motorway was closed when rival supporters piled into each other, and a year ago crowds of Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb fans delivered Nazi salutes in unison on the streets of Milan.
      Across the continent, authorities are struggling to control hooliganism — often aimed at travelling English fans, who receive massive police protection as continental supporters try to test their reputation for street brawling.
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      Two months ago in Milan a Newcastle United fan was stabbed in the stomach by a machete-wielding yob in a balaclava.
      This season was Brighton and Hove Albion’s first taste of competitive European football.
      But last month in Athens, tear gas aimed by police at riotous fans of the defeated home team AEK ended up choking Brighton supporters.
      In May, West Ham players tried to intervene when hooded fans of Dutch side AZ Alkmaar piled into the section of the stadium where the English team’s families were sitting.
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      Football’s ruling bodies fear the return of the hooliganism from decades ago, which in 1985 saw English teams banned from Europe for five years after the deaths of 39 mostly Italian fans in the riot at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels.
      In August Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said of the violence: “This is the cancer of football and those are not football fans.
      “We have to say enough, we have to stop this.”
      Then came Monday’s graphic display of football’s ugly side.
      Faruk Koca, president of Turkish side MKE Ankaragucu, ran on to the pitch and struck referee Halil Umut Meler in the face, landing him in hospital.
      The Turkish Football Federation then indefinitely postponed all games.
      Turkey’s “ultra fans” are notorious for carrying weapons, supposedly to kill opponents.
      Fenerbahce has a fan group called Kill For You, and in 2000 Galatasaray hooligans stabbed two Leeds United fans to death.
      Empty stadiums
      There are also stringent new fan restrictions in neighbouring Greece, where on Monday the government announced that teams would have to play in empty stadiums.
      It followed two deaths in bloody clashes between supporters this year alone.
      In February a 19-year-old student was bludgeoned to death in Thessaloniki just for saying he supported a rival team, then in August a 29-year-old AEK Athens supporter was stabbed to death by a Dinamo Zagreb thug.
      And not having matches to attend might not even stop the violence, as fan rivalry spreads between sports.
      The ban on football fans came after police were attacked with flares, stones and petrol bombs outside an Athens volleyball stadium last week after a match between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, who are also bitter football foes.
      Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said: “For years, criminals in the guise of fans have been committing serious crimes by critically injuring and killing people.”
      Brighton fans experienced those crazed elements at the end of last month in the Greek capital.
      The police tried to subdue rioting AEK Athens yobs with tear gas at the end of the game, but it drifted over to the away fans as well, and some Brighton fans had to be treated by paramedics.
      Dinamo Zagreb thugs give the Nazi salute on a march last year in MilanCredit: Twitter
      Legia Warsaw mob throw flares at police and horses last month at Aston VillaCredit: Reuters
      Life-long Seagulls fan Mike Purser, 54, told The Sun: “They tear-gassed their fans who were waiting for us to come out.
      “It blew back into the stadium. They locked us in and wouldn’t let us go down, but as soon as it happened, they took us down and gave us water.”
      The previous month in Marseille, the risk of things turning ugly meant Brighton fans had to be closely guarded.
      The French side’s ultras have attacked their own training ground and have a reputation for being the country’s most rabid fans.
      Property developer Mike continued: “Marseille was like a military performance to get to the ground. We had to be there three or four hours before kick-off.
      “Coming out was a palaver because they wouldn’t let us go down into the concourse. People were struggling because it was so hot and I saw some people passing out.”
      In September three men were arrested outside a Glasgow hostel after fans of Rangers and Spanish side Real Betis clashed following their Europa League match in the city.
      The fighting saw windows smashed and security locking the hostel with Betis fans inside in a bid to bring the violence to an end.
      Tartan Army fans have a reputation for being boisterous but well-behaved, with recent flashpoints on foreign trips emerging when police target supporters.
      Footage of a Spanish cop beating a Scotland fan emerged ahead of the side’s Euro 2024 qualifier in Seville in October.
      In February French police came in for criticism when Uefa said that Liverpool and Real Madrid fans could have died because the 2022 Champions League final in Paris was handled so badly by heavy-handed cops.
      The authorities already ban away fans from historically troublesome games, but may go further after a Nantes fan died during a fight with Nice supporters earlier this month.
      Clash in Naples as police come under attack from Eintracht Frankfurt yobs in MarchCredit: Rex
      Trouble after a hooded AZ Alkmaar gang charged Hammers fansCredit: Getty
      Trouble often breaks out away from stadiums.
      Newcastle fan Eddie McKay, 58, was slashed three times as he walked to his Milan hotel before his side played AC Milan.
      It is not uncommon for thugs to find out which bars the English fans are drinking in and to arrive spoiling for a fight.
      West Ham supporter Alfie Barker, 33, believes English fans are targeted.
      He said: “Two Belgian fans came up to me and my brother in a Brussels bar and asked, ‘Do you want a fight?’ We said no, but they didn’t go away.
      “It was just because we were speaking English. We weren’t wearing West Ham kits — I never have the team’s colours on in Europe.”
      West Ham supporters have seen a lot of trouble on the European mainland in the past couple of years.
      Eintracht Frankfurt fans were filmed charging towards Hammers supporters in a Seville bar in March 2022, Belgian side Anderlecht apologised for their fans throwing seats at West Ham supporters in October that year and at the AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar, Holland in May, the club’s fans were assaulted in their seats.
      West Ham boss David Moyes said after the Alkmaar game: “Was I worried? Yeah, my family were there and I had friends in that section.”
      Eintracht’s yobs are developing an unsavoury reputation.
      This year 50 German police officers were injured by them in Frankfurt and cars were set alight when they clashed with cops in Naples, even though they had been banned from Napoli’s stadium.
      But West Ham supporters also got into trouble for throwing objects on to the pitch in Genk, Belgium, and setting off flares in Prague.
      Hammers fan Alfie Barker said: ‘I didn’t see trouble at matches until we went into Europe’Credit: The West Ham Way Channel/Youtube
      And there are certainly signs that the “English disease” is making a comeback in Britain.
      Last season the police made the highest number of arrests at football matches in England and Wales for nearly a decade. In 2022-23 there were 2,264 football-related arrests, up 66 on the previous figure, and the worst since 2013-14.
      There have been several pitch invasions, including one in January in which Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale was kicked in the back.
      There was also great shame at the Euro 2020 final two years ago when England fans tried to storm into Wembley Stadium.
      But the most violent disturbance at a game in recent years in England was arguably the one at Villa Park in Birmingham at the end of November.
      Fans from Polish side Legia Warsaw threw flares at police and attacked their horses.
      Unless clubs across the Continent can stamp out the rising tide of often organised unrest, families will be afraid to attend matches, while some fans won’t go to Europe for fear of ending up bloodied or bruised.
      Read more on The Sun
      For supporters who are not used to the hooliganism of the 1980s it has been a shock.
      West Ham fan Alfie added: “I didn’t see trouble at matches until we went into Europe.”
      A PSV Eindhoven fan waves a flare at a Dutch league gameCredit: AFP
      Panathinaikos fans with their traditional display of pyrotechnicsCredit: Getty More

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      Aston Villa report Legia Warsaw to Uefa after chaos saw ‘cop engulfed in flames’ as rivals face ban for ALL away games

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      ASTON VILLA have reported Legia Warsaw to Uefa following the shameful scenes of violence which marred last night’s Europa Conference League clash.And sources close to Uefa claim the Polish side’s fans face being banned from all future away games.
      Police clashed with Legia Warsaw fans on Thursday nightCredit: Rex
      One officer was set on fire by a flareCredit: Rex
      Another officer suffered a hand injuryCredit: Rex
      A police dog and police horse were also injuredCredit: Rex
      West Midlands Police confirmed 46 Legia fans are in custody following last night’s serious disorder outside Villa Park.
      They will be charged with offences including violent disorder, assaulting police officers and possession of weapons.
      The chaos, which lasted for more than 90 minutes, was described by one police officer as “the worst violence I’ve experienced in 28 years.”
      Mounted police joined riot police and dog handlers as they battled to disperse around 2,000 Legia fans who had been penned into a nearby car park prior to kick-off.
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      Four officers were injured in the disorder, which saw them attacked with flares, bricks, metal poles and tree branches.
      A statement issued by West Midlands Police revealed: “One officer’s fluorescent jacket caught fire after they were hit with a flare.
      “Fortunately his jacket was removed quickly and he was not injured.
      “He was later taken to hospital with smoke inhalation after the smoke from the flare made it into his helmet.
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      Flares were chucked at the PoliceCredit: Reuters
      No away fans were allowed into Villa Park for the matchCredit: Getty
      “Another officer suffered a minor hand injury while a police dog and a police horse were injured in the disorder.”
      Assistant Chief Constable Damian Barratt said: “This was appalling and completely unacceptable disorder.
      “What we saw was 90 minutes of planned violence, with one officer saying it was the worst he had seen in 28 years of policing.
      “Our officers bravely put themselves in harm’s way and I would like to commend each and every one of them for their efforts.
      “We are committed to charging and remanding any and all responsible for attacking our officers and endangering the public.
      “We had no issues with the home fans and would like to thank them and Aston Villa for their support and kind words last night and this morning.
      “The only issues inside the ground last night were from a small number of away fans who had managed to get into home areas.
      “We will be liaising with the club and footballing authorities in the coming days to discuss last night’s appalling scenes.”
      Fans were kept inside the stadium during half timeCredit: Reuters
      Aston Villa won the matchCredit: EPA
      Villa have reacted swiftly to dismiss claims by some Polish media outlets, trying to lay blame on them for failing to provide enough tickets to Legia fans.
      And they have already contacted Uefa to report the unacceptable conduct of Legia Warsaw officials ahead of the high-risk tie.
      A statement from the club said: “This shocking behaviour followed Legia club officials’ complete lack of cooperation with West Midlands Police, Aston Villa and UEFA throughout the day.
      “It started during the standard pre-match operational meeting that commenced at 10.30am on Thursday morning and was attended by UEFA representatives, including UEFA’s security team, as well as West Midlands Police including representatives from both clubs.
      “Legia Warsaw refused to confirm if they would accept their allocation of tickets for the match at that point. This is in stark contrast to normal UEFA operational procedures.
      “They advised the meeting that they would meet with their supporters at 2.30pm and communicate the decision at 3pm but advised there was a possibility that they would not accept the tickets.
      “Despite repeated requests before and after the 3pm deadline for a decision, there was no communication until 4pm when Legia informed Aston Villa that they wished to receive their ticket allocation.
      “These tickets were handed to Legia officials immediately upon their arrival at the stadium at 6.16pm.
      “To reiterate, Legia officials were advised on a call that included a number of UEFA representatives on November 2 that they would receive an allocation of 1002 – exactly four weeks prior to last night’s fixture.”
      Visiting teams to Villa Park would usually receive 5% of capacity which amounts to 2,600 tickets for away supporters.
      However, trouble flared during Legia’s last visit to England when they lost 3-1 to Leicester City two years ago and 20 police officers were injured that night as Polish Ultras ran riot.
      In light of those disturbances, Villa agreed a revised figure of 1700 tickets with Legia officials nearly four weeks ago, with the full approval of Uefa.
      ASTON VILLA’S TIMELINEAccording to Villa the following timeline outlines Legia’s refusal to follow normal procedure.
      10:30am – Match Day meeting during which Legia failed to accept their ticket allocation and informed those in attendance they would not be able to confirm if they would until 2.30pm.
      2.30pm – Legia officials miss the first deadline to report back.
      3.00pm – Legia officials miss the second deadline to report back despite repeated calls to them.
      4.00pm – Legia officials finally confirm they wish to receive their ticket allocation, with a pick-up point arranged at the stadium.
      6.00pm – Villa hand over tickets to Legia to distribute among their fans.
      7.00pm – Police who have penned Legia fans into the Witton Lane car park, close to the Doug Ellis Stand they will occupy, begin to release fans.
      7.05pm – Legia Ultras orchestrate violence and try to storm through police lines to gain access for ticketless fans, four police officers are injured in the ensuing violence.
      8.00pm – The match kicks off – no Legia fans have been allowed into the away section.

      However, when Legia fans again fought with Dutch police during their recent tie in Alkmaar, Uefa banned their fans from their next away tie against Zrinjski Mostar in Bosnia.
      At that point, the UK Safety Advisory Group – which passes safety certificates for major events – refused to sanction the full 1700 allocation and slashed it by almost 700 to 1002 tickets.
      That decision was completely out of Villa’s control and was ratified by Uefa.
      Villa claim Legia failed to convey that message to their fans immediately, which led to around 1,000 ticketless fans travelling to the UK.
      Furthermore, Villa have accused Legia of being obstructive during a Match Day meeting on the morning of the match.
      At the customary meeting attended by representatives of both clubs, Uefa, broadcasters, security staff, police and emergency services, Legia stunned Villa representatives by refusing to confirm if they would accept the reduced ticket allocation.
      SunSport understands Legia representatives seemed determined to adopt and endorse their Ultras motto of: ‘Don’t leave anyone behind,’ and were reluctant to accept the reduced allocation.
      Uefa observers were present at the Witton Lane car park and witnessed the shocking scenes of violence which followed.
      They immediately launched an investigation into the shocking scenes but were quick to praise West Midlands Police and Villa for their handling of the explosive situation.
      It now appears certain Legia will face a lengthy ban from travelling to away fixtures after “off the scale violence,” erupted for the third time in recent away trips.
      At the height of the violence Villa raced to collect fire extinguishers from the stadium and nearby supporters hall and supplied police with them to try and douse the flames from hundreds of flares.
      At one flashpoint Legia thugs tried to overturn a police van which was blocking their route.

      SunSport understands some Legia fans arrived in the UK hell-bent on causing mayhem and spoiling for a fight with police or Villa fans. 
      We understand border police found Mixed Martial Arts mitts and gum shields in the luggage of some fans, who had clearly come prepared to battle. More

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      Chelsea could face Prem points deduction as leaked files raise questions over how Abramovich funded club

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      CHELSEA FC could face a points deduction after leaked docs revealed Roman Abramovich may have breached football rules.A string of secret payments by the Russian oligarch ex-owner allegedly helped fund the club’s success over more than a decade.
      Roman Abramovich may have breached ‘financial fair play’ regulations while Chelsea owner, new documents suggestCredit: Getty
      One secret payment appears to be linked to former coach Antonio Conte’s contract dealCredit: Getty
      The hidden payments allegedly may have helped fuel Chelsea’s success over more than a decadeCredit: AFP – Getty
      Leaked documents are said to reveal a hidden money trail worth tens of millions of pounds.
      Evidence suggests off-book funds, routed through offshore accounts belonging to Abramovich, could have broken “financial fair play” regulations.
      The transactions are alleged to have benefited Chelsea and questions are being raised over whether they were officially declared to football’s governing bodies.
      The beneficiaries appear to include an associate of former manager Antonio Conte, the former clubs of star signings Bertrand Traoré, Samuel Eto’o and Willian and various Chelsea FC officials.
      reda more on abramovich
      Experts said the transactions, uncovered by the Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, could lead to the Premier League imposing punishments such as a deduction of points or a large fine.
      Football finance expert Kieran Maguire, author of The Price of Football, said Chelsea’s huge spending meant the club habitually flirted with limits on financial losses.
      He said: “If there is proof that the club has used third party transactions to circumvent the profitability and sustainability rules then sanctions would be either financial or a points deduction.
      “The latter is more likely as any commission investigating a club’s circumstances will want to put out a deterrent that dissuades others from repeating such behaviour.”
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      Chelsea’s finances were already being examined by the Premier League as part of an investigation covering the period from 2012 to 2019.
      The west London club announced that “incomplete financial information” had been submitted while Abramovich was owner.
      Uefa, the governing body of European football, has already fined the club £8.6million over the admission, and the Football Association is also said to be investigating.
      The new documents – spanning a longer period – have sparked a fresh round of scrutiny over whether Abramovich repeatedly flouted football rules.
      The payments came to light after a major investigation known as Cyprus Confidential into 3.6million records.
      The alleged off-book payments link the signing of coach Antonio Conte and a business deal Abramovich made with an Italian football agent, Federico Pastorello.
      He signed a deal with in July 2017 with Conibair Holdings – an Abramovich-owned company registered in the British Virgin Islands.
      Conibair paid Pastorello – who is reportedly close to Conte – £10million for a 75 per cent stake in a US-based business fund.
      The same day, Chelsea announced that Conte had signed a new £9.6million-a-year contract.
      Another Abramovich owned company, Leiston Holdings, also paid £1million in 2013 to Bertrand Traoré’s ex-club, Association des Jeunes Espoirs de Bobo.
      The contract was signed two months after the full-back officially signed for the Blues.
      Other payments are said to be related to the signings of Willian and Samuel Eto’o in 2013.
      A further company owned by the ex-Chelsea boss made payments that appear to have benefited the owner of their former a club, Anzhi Makhachkala.
      After the payments were made the now defunct club, Chelsea signed Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o and Brazil forward Willian in two days.
      It comes after bombshell files also linked the oligarch to two men dubbed Vladimir Putin’s “wallets”, according to a BBC investigation.
      The dossier of uncovered documents revealed new evidence that reportedly links Abramovich to a secret £26million deal in 2010.
      The alleged covert deal saw a transfer of shares in Video International, a highly-profitable Russian advertising company, for less than they appeared to be worth.
      The transactions were allegedly made by companies owned by a trust connected with Abramovich to two members of Putin’s inner circle, who in return received millions of dollars in dividends.
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      Abramovich has been sanctioned by the UK and EU over to his links to Putin following his bloody invasion of Ukraine.
      He was forced to sell Chelsea FC last year after 19 years as owner.
      The leaked docs have raised questions over the signing of Brazil forward WillianCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Samuel Eto’o’s signing in 2013 coincided with an off-the-books payment to his former club, it is allegedCredit: PA
      The signing of midfielder Bertrand Traoré is also under scrutinyCredit: AFP or licensors
      Putin-linked billionaire Roman Abramovich owned Chelsea for 19 yearsCredit: Alamy More

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      Furious England fans blast ’embarrassing’ and ‘wrong’ FA request for Euro 2028 and say ‘how boring is that?’

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      THREE Lions fans were left fuming as the FA has reportedly requested for Wembley to host ALL of England’s Euro 2028 fixtures.The five-nation British Isles bid – featuring England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland – was accepted by Uefa this week.
      England are to be offered the chance to play all their Euro 2028 games at WembleyCredit: Getty
      The original plans include six venues across England – Wembley, Villa Park, St James’ Park, the Etihad, Everton’s in-construction new home at Bramley Moore Dock and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
      BUT now Gareth Southgate’s side are set to be given the chance to play all their Euro 2028 matches at Wembley.
      The commercial benefits of staging England matches there are likely to see the FA get their way.
      The other home nations will also lobby Uefa to play their own fixtures at their national stadiums, assuming they qualify.
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      With Casement Park in Belfast, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, Hampden Park in Glasgow and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium the non-English venues to be awarded matches.
      But England fans have blasted the proposition.
      One supporter wrote: “How boring is that!”
      A second added: “That’s totally wrong. I’d prefer it went around the country.”
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      A third fan said: “So they expect England fans to travel to London?”
      A fourth declared: “Absolutely embarrassing.”
      The Three Lions will stage 28 of the 51 matches, including both semi-finals and the final at Wembley.
      With Wembley originally expected to get eight games including both semi-finals and the final.
      Big stadiums to miss out are Manchester United’s Old Trafford, West Ham’s London Stadium and Liverpool’s Anfield.
      A final decision on the match schedule for Euro 2028 will not be discussed until after next summer’s Euros, when the qualification process for the tournament will be decided.
      FA chief executive Mark Bullingham confirmed that all the host nations wanted to go through qualifying, but Uefa will keep two spots open in reserve for any who fail to qualify. More

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      Uefa break their own protocol as Euro 2032 hosts are confirmed as Italy and Turkey

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      ITALY and Turkey will co-host Euro 2032 – despite the joint bid BREACHING Uefa’s own regulations.The European football governing body’s rule states that joint hosts must be neighbouring countries.
      UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin announced the news todayCredit: Reuters
      Juventus’ Allianz Stadium could host matchesCredit: Getty
      The Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul is set to be used again after hosting last season’s Champions League finalCredit: Getty
      Yet despite the nearest points of Italy and Turkey being around 600 miles apart – with Greece between them – the 2032 tournament will be split equally with five stadiums in each country.
      Astonishingly, the Turks are in a better place in terms of infrastructure than Italy.
      They are likely to use as many as four stadiums in Istanbul plus one in the capital Ankara.
      Meanwhile, Italy have received positive responses from Uefa on just three grounds.
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      Their FA boss Gabriele Gravina said: “The challenges we face are enormous and we’ve never had the courage to face them before.
      “Euro 2032 will be a great stimulus, full of opportunities.”
      Turkish counterpart Mehmet Buyukeksi added: “This is a great day for Turkish football, one that many of us having been dreaming about for years.”
      Before the action in nine years time, the 2024 Euros will be held in Germany at the end of this season.
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      It will be followed by the 2028 tournament, which Uefa confirmed will be hosted in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
      Turkey were competing with the British Isles bid but with them on course to lose they withdrew and turned there attention to partnering Italy for 2032. More

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      Russia could be allowed to play international football again as Fifa ‘considers lifting blanket ban’

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      FIFA could end its total ban on Russian teams this AFTERNOON.But the new position, bringing world chiefs in line with Uefa’s controversial move last week, will ONLY apply to Under-17 sides.
      Russia could return to international footballCredit: Getty
      They have been banned since Valdimir Putin the invaded UkraineCredit: Reuters
      Fifa and Uefa reacted to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 by booting Russia out of the World Cup play-offs.
      The nation were banned from entering the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign and all club sides also prevented from playing in official competitions.
      But last week an acrimonious meeting of Uefa’s ruling executive committee voted to allow Under-17 sides to compete, with the condition that no national flags or kit were used and the matches played outside Russian territory.
      The FA led a fierce backlash, with other countries including Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania backing Ukraine’s stance that there should be no leeway for Russia, even for “children”.
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      It subsequently emerged that the Swedish and Danish representatives on Uefa had SUPPORTED the move, despite the stance of the national federations they represent.
      And now Fifa is poised to take the same step at this afternoon’s meeting of its ruling Council.
      The Fifa decision would allow Under-17 Russian sides to play in the Fifa junior World Cup if they qualify through the Uefa tournaments.
      However, the finals of next year’s women’s version is due to be played in Sweden and the Swedish FA has reiterated its stance that Russia will not be allowed to compete.
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      Today’s likely vote represents a dilemma for FA chair Debbie Hewitt, elected as the Home Nations vice-president.
      As a representative of European football, she will be expected to back Uefa’s position but that is diametrically opposed to that of the FA.
      Russia have still been permitted to play friendly matches since being slapped with the ban.
      It was once reported that they were considering switching to the Asian confederation to escape Uefa’s sanctions. More