Sports

Russian clubs banned from next season’s Champions League

Russian clubs have been banned by UEFA from participating in the Champions League and all other European competitions next season, European football's governing body announced on Monday (2 May).

UEFA drops Gazprom, may contribute to more sustainable image

Europe's top football-governing body UEFA ended a multi-million euro contract with Russian state-owned Gazprom on Monday (28 February) due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in a move that is not only good for solidarity but has green benefits as well.

Germany boosts decarbonisation of amateur football

As Germany is preparing to host the 2024 UEFA European championship, several ministries have banded together to support climate-friendly projects in amateur football.

MEPs to ask UEFA to move Champions League final amid Ukraine tension

European lawmakers are preparing a letter to ask Europe’s football governing body UEFA not to host the final of its most prestigious competition next May in St Petersburg, Russia.

Beijing closes curtain on ‘closed loop’ Games

Beijing doused its Olympic flame on Sunday night (20 February), closing a Games that will be remembered for the extremes of its anti-COVID-19 measures and outrage over the doping scandal that enveloped 15-year-old Russian skating sensation Kamila Valieva.

Dutch beer maker enters fight against plastic in UK football

As the football industry continues to grapple with the financial implications of the pandemic, the Dutch beer maker Heineken has reignited the fight against plastic in UK leagues.

The EU and its member states must impose a diplomatic boycott on the Beijing Olympics

The EU and its member states must adopt statements in advance of the Beijing Olympics and boycott the games at the political level, a group of MEPs and national MPs write in a letter sent to EURACTIV.

New Bundesliga CEO faces COVID-19 challenges amid sustainability push

For one of the world’s largest football leagues, 2022 has been the stage of massive changes: the Bundesliga finally has a new CEO, Donata Hopfen, who must now tackle the massive tasks that await it.

Australia cancels tennis star Djokovic’s visa citing health risk

Australia cancelled Novak Djokovic's visa for a second time on Friday, saying the world tennis number one who has not been vaccinated for COVID-19 may pose a health risk, effectively ending his bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title.

UN chief to attend opening of Beijing Winter Olympics

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday (13 January) that he would attend the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics next month with the message that the event "must be an instrument of peace in the world."

Sustainability core requirement for German Bundesliga

It is the start of a new era in German football: a female chief at the helm of one of the largest European football leagues and mandatory sustainability criteria for the 36 biggest German clubs.

Extreme weather, floods, is a ‘huge issue’ for football

As temperatures rise and the likelihood of extreme weather events increases, football has discovered a new passion for sustainability. Could climate adaptation enter the sporting limelight?

EU calls on China to show proof of tennis star’s wellbeing

The European Union called on Beijing on Tuesday (30 November) to show proof of the wellbeing of tennis star Peng Shuai, adding its voice to international concern about her fate since she alleged sexual assault by a former top Chinese official.

Critics claim Qatar’s sustainable 2022 stadium is just ‘PR’

As Football comes under pressure to go carbon neutral, one major source of emissions remains the stadiums that need to be built for every world cup, something Qatar seeks to address. But critics remain unconvinced that supposedly sustainable stadiums are enough to tackle the issue.

Romanian football fans and sustainability

In the framework of the LIFE TACKLE project, we not only look at professionals in the sporting sector but also at the fans, who breathe so much life into football.

Football Super League squabble arrives at the European Parliament

Promoters of the controversial Super League football tournament have sent a letter to EU lawmakers ahead of this week's vote in the European Parliament on a sports-related report, attacking what they said was the monopoly of Europe’s "self-established" football governing body UEFA. 

FIFA pledges climate neutrality by 2040, faces criticism on offset reliance

As national leaders pledged their countries' adherence to climate targets of varying degrees of stringency at COP26 in Glasgow, the international governing football body FIFA made an ambitious pledge to become climate neutral by 2040.

Swedish football fans and sustainability

The Swedish Football Association and LIFE TACKLE partner, interviewed a number of Swedish football fans to bring to light their own understanding of sustainability in sport, and what this means to them.

Swedish football and sustainability

Magdalena Eriksson shares her thoughts about how football can contribute to sustainability initiatives.

Commission’s advertisement team-up with UEFA raises hackles

The launch of the European Commission’s new #EveryTrickCounts campaign seeks to leverage the widespread love of Europe’s favourite sport but has resulted in ridicule and scathing accusations of "greenwashing".

English football league launches environmental sustainability scheme

The English football league (EFL) announced Monday (11 October) that it would join forces with the environmental accreditation scheme GreenCode to make the second-highest league in England more sustainable.

German Bundesliga aims to introduce sustainability criteria for clubs

German football league association DFL aims to anchor sustainability in its licensing criteria by 2024. The 36 first and second class clubs are to take a vote in December whether the recommendations by the task-force “Future of Professional Football” should be included.

French club Monaco to feed footballers with organic, seasonal veg

The AS Monaco football club launched on Tuesday (21 September) its first vegetable garden, which will be used to feed the players with organic, local and seasonal produce. EURACTIV France reports.

German football fans ahead of wider European push for sustainability

European football fans want to get involved in making sure their sport is ecologically sustainable but lack a proper framework, the European football fan association SD Europe said in its sustainability report. Meanwhile, Germany seems to be ahead of the pack when it comes to tackling football's ecological footprint.