January 10 – AC Milan who have been under scrutiny by UEFA over financial fair play issues following their acquisition by Chinese-led consortium Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux, which is controlled by Chinese investor Yonghong, has released better news with the announcement of a sponsorship deal with online betting platform VWin.
January 5 – LaLiga has released details of its broadcast income and its club distribution. TV income rose year-on-year to in €1.247 billion from 1.237 billion, with Barcelona being the top club earner with €146.2 million.
January 3 – SportPesa are withdrawing from all Kenyan football sponsorships after failing to win a legal case that would have halted the Kenyan government’s move to increase the tax rate on gross profit on all gambling activities to 35%.
January 3 – Chinese beer brand Yanjing has renewed its title sponsorship of the Chinese Football Association Cup (CFA Cup) for another four years from 2018 to 2021.
January 2 – Barcelona kit manufacturers Nike appear to have jumped the gun somewhat with an advert on their official online store urging fans to purchase Coutinho jerseys for the remainder of this campaign even though the Liverpool playmaker has not yet signed.
January 2 – Local broadcast deals in Russia for the 2018 world cup have been agreed with FIFA after a fraught negotiation process that saw the Russians unwilling to pay the asking price for their home world cup.
December 22 – Manchester City has signed a second professional esports player, Marcus ‘ExpectSporting’ Jorgensen, who will play for City in FIFA esports tournaments ]on the PlayStation 4 (PS4) console.
December 21 – German giants Borussia Dortmund have extended a long-term deal with Lagardère Sports, the sports and entertainment agency subsidiary of media conglomerate Lagardère Group.
December 21 – The Premier League’s broadcast rights auction looks like losing some of its heat after BT and Sky struck a deal to carry each other’s channels.
December 20 – FIFA has added a fifth sponsor for the Russia 2018 World Cup, the third from China. Chinese dairy products manufacturer the Mengniu Group will be designated the Official drinkable yoghurt and pre-packaged ice cream.
December 20 – UAE-based kit supplier Romai has lost deals with Jamaica and Senegal in the space of a week after what has been described as disastrous relationships with the two national federations.
December 20 – Premier League Burnley agreed a one-year sponsorship with online broker TeleTrade, who become the ‘Official Forex Trading Sponsor of Burnley FC’. No figure for the deal value was given.
December 20 – Tottenham Hotspur have signed a deal North East health and wellbeing company Mammoth Mattresses, who will become the Official Mattress and Pillow Supplier of the Premier League Club.
By David Owen
December 15 – The Chinese-owned Infront sports marketing company is splitting its summer sports and football businesses.
December 14 – Manchester City has launched a Manchester City Football Striker instant game on the Facebook Messenger platform, the first Premier League club to embrace the gaming opportunity of the Messenger platform.