Inside World Football - For the Business of Football

Tennis legend’s husband Alexis Ohanian acquires stake in Chelsea Women

May 20 – Serial entrepreneur and husband to tennis great Serena Williams, Alexis Ohanian, recently acquired an 8-10% stake in Chelsea Women worth an estimated £20 million. The Reddit founder believes the Blues will become a “billion-dollar franchise.”

This marks Ohanian’s second investment in women’s football, following his previous role as the largest shareholder in US National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) franchise Angel City FC.

Europe

Kerkez set to leave Botev Plovdiv as Bulgarian football faces financial Armageddon

May 20 – Dusan Kerkez, the Bosnian coach in charge of financially-stricken Bulgarian outfit Botev Plovdiv, has announced he will leave the club at the end of the current season.

Football News

End of an era: Lineker departs BBC following antisemitic scandal

May 20 – BBC presenter Gary Lineker, who was expected to host the corporation’s World Cup and FA Cup coverage next year, has confirmed he will be leaving this weekend without a payoff, just days after he apologised for amplifying online material with antisemitic connotations.

Women

OL Lyonnes: Eight-time UWCL champions renamed by owner Michele Kang

May 20 – American businesswoman Michele Kang, owner of the perennial French champions Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, has announced the team will be renamed OL Lyonnes.

Football News

Lionel Messi takes aim at MLS refs in response to Inter Miami’s poor form

May 20 – Inter Miami suffered their fifth defeat in seven matches on Sunday, prompting captain Lionel Messi to deliver a rare post-game interview in which he criticised the standard of refereeing in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Competitions

UAE’s Sharjah close out AFC club season with Champions League Two win

May 20 – The UAE’s Sharjah FC scored a dramatic goal in the seventh minute of added time to the AFC Champions League Two 2-1 win. The goal came six minutes after over Singapore’s Lion City Sailors had equalised in the first minute of added time at the Bishan Stadium in Singapore.

Europe

2025 Ballon d’Or to be held in September 22 with three new female awards

May 19 – UEFA and Groupe Amaury, owner of France Football and L’Équipe, have set Monday September 22 as the date for the 69th edition of the Ballon d’Or.

Europe

UEFA warns fans against buying unofficial tickets for club finals

May 20 – UEFA has issued a warning to fans ahead of the club competition finals not to buy tickets on the secondary market, from unauthorised third parties, websites, agencies or from touts.

Club World Cup 2025

LAFC to host Club America May 31 and chance to win shot at CWC £125m pay day

May 19 – In potentially the richest match either team has ever played, Major League Soccer’s (MLS) LAFC and Liga MX’s Club América will face off in a crucial Club World Cup qualifying playoff match on May 31 at BMO Stadium. The victor will be just seven matches away from a potential $125 million payday should they win the entire tournament.

Five Premier League clubs face loss of online bookie sponsorships

May 19 – The Gambling Commission in the UK is increasing oversight of unlicensed gambling operations, issuing warnings to five Premier League clubs for promoting unlicensed gambling websites.

League Cup winners, Newcastle United, Fulham, Bournemouth, Wolves, and newly-promoted Burnley are all sponsored by betting websites operated by TGP Europe, based in the Isle of Man. Clubs who continue advertising these websites could face prosecution.

Europe

UEFA executive committee to meet in Bilbao after FIFA Congress walk-out

May 19 – The UEFA Executive Committee, most of whom spent last week in Paraguay at the FIFA Congress, will convene in Bilbao, Spain, on Wednesday May 21 ahead of the Europa League final between Spurs and Manchester United.

Palace finally break their trophy duck in style

May 19 – After 119 years of trying (and quite a bit of crying), Crystal Palace finally got their hands on some silverware, beating Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley to claim the FA Cup. Yes, you read that right – Manchester City, the mini-state juggernaut, were undone by a team whose trophy cabinet would fit under Pep Guardiola’s left fingernail, the one he scratches himself with.

Everton bring curtain down on 133 years at Goodison Park

May 19 – Everton bid an emotional farewell to Goodison Park, their home for 133 years, with a 2-0 Premier League victory over Southampton on Sunday — a day filled with nostalgia, celebration, and no shortage of tears.

esports

Last eight eChampions League finalists confirmed for Munich

May 19 – The final eight players have punched their tickets to Munich for the 2025 eChampions League Finals, following an intense weekend of competition at Dock10 Studios in Manchester.

South America

Samir Xaud set to takeover as president of CBF

May 19 – Samir Xaud, president-elect of the Roraima Football Federation, will be the only candidate in the election to replace Ednaldo Rodrigues as the president of the Brazilian FA (CBF).