Full coverage: UEFA

From the Government's bold move in 1999 to halt a Euro qualifier against Yugoslavia to today’s position to go ahead and play Israel, has Ireland traded moral leadership for a fixture behind closed doors?

From the packed Lansdowne Road nights of Shelbourne to Shamrock Rovers’ millions in the Conference League, European football has reshaped the ambitions of the League of Ireland.

By operating fast and with little consultation, Gianni Infantino kept even high-level executives in the dark. Now, following months of missteps, the FIFA president has rallied his supporters against calls for his resignation, writes Josuha Robinson, The Wall Street Journal.

As Gianni Infantino's grip on Fifa weakens, Ireland has an opportunity to push for reforms that could transform the prospects of domestic clubs and finally challenge the structures that have favoured Europe's biggest leagues for decades.

Every four years, the World Cup is expected to perish when exposed to the realities of the host nations. In 2026, the US has done its best to make the tournament unappealing. But it endures, say Dion Fanning, which is why people like Donald Trump are drawn to it.

Whatever about the super elite, new transnational football leagues for disadvantaged European cities could happen very quickly. The top clubs in the League of Ireland need to get their skates on, as the current model is not working here.

There are trans-national leagues in every other popular spectator sport, including rugby union, rugby league and basketball. There is no ‘European sporting model’, it is unique to professional football.

In 2022, the European Court of Justice will rule on UEFA's case against clubs involved in the super league. In the meantime, UEFA are complaining about the Spanish judge who ruled against them.