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Every tournament's the same – not enough tickets. But as Mark Perryman explains, it's far from a uniquely English problem and thanks to FIFA it's getting worse

The last time England qualified for a tournament hosted in Germany, the 1988 European Championship, just 7,500 fans travelled from this country. Two years later not many more were there to support the team when West Germany beat England in the World Cup semi-final in Turin. In 2004 an astonishing 45,000 England fans helped pack out Lisbon’s Estádio da Luz for what was just the opening group game at the European Championship, against France.

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Anti-catholic chants from Rangers fans left UEFA unsure what to do, but their softly-softly approach could force real change in Scotland. Diane Millen reports

The endless, tawdry saga of sectarianism in Scottish football took an interesting twist earlier this month, with UEFA stepping in where the domestic authorities have declined to act and charging Rangers with “discriminatory chanting” following their fans’ behaviour in the Champions League tie against Villarreal. 

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No goals, no away fans, only one proper team – fears of violence made the recent match between PSG and Marseille remarkable, as Neil McCarthy reports 

For their recent away match against Paris Saint-Germain, Olympique de Marseille travelled without supporters and fielded a B-team made up of reserves and youth-team players. The boring 0-0 draw was described as a winning hand for OM in a game of poker between the two clubs that has lasted for the past 15 years – they earned a point from PSG and spoilt a match broadcast on the TV station of PSG’s owners, Canal Plus. However, the media and the French League have played down the fact that the game was probably boycotted by OM simply because their fans are sick of risking their lives to go to the fixture, the league going so far as to dock both teams their point.

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Update on clubs in crisis. Tom Davies reports

The takeover of Rotherham by a group of local businessmen has saved United from the immediate threat of liquidation that has hung over them since the turn of the year, but the club’s financial position remains precarious and fundraising campaigns are continuing.

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Cambridge United’s slide out of the League threatened to bring a renewal of derby hostilities against Cambridge City. But, writes Andrew Bennett, suddenly prospects are bleak for the Conference South side, now fighting for survival as a separate club

There’s no such team as “Cambridge Football Club”. And if the supporters of the seat of learning’s two senior sides, City and United, have their way, there never will be, despite current talk of a possible merger. But, as one club fights for its existence, the question arises: when is a “merger” not a merger?

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