FedEx Express renews with Europa League for another 3 years
September 13 – UEFA has renewed FedEx Express as an official sponsor of the UEFA Europa League in a new three-year deal.
Author: Paul Nicholson
FIFA set to clamp down on big club player loan deals
By Andrew Warshaw
September 13 – FIFA are to put a stop to elite clubs sending unlimited numbers of players out on loan, according to reports from Germany.
Ceferin kills off talk of CL final in New York in 2021
September 13 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has been quick to dismiss suggestions that the Champions League final could be held outside Europe in 2021.
Indian tyre maker BKT takes title sponsorship of French League Cup
September 13 – France’s Ligue1 has announced India’s BKT as its title partner for its Coupe de la Ligue (League Cup) in a six-season deal taking the Indian tyre maker through to the end of the 2023/24 season.Announced at the draw for the round of 32 of the League Cup, the sponsorship begins with this season, as is estimated to be worth €3 million per season for the league.
Russia’s Cheryshev under scrutiny for alleged doping breach
September 13 – Denis Cheryshev, who became the darling of Russian football when scoring four goals at the World Cup, is under investigation for an alleged doping violation according to reports.
World Cup hero Lloris hit with 20 month ban and £50k fan for drunk driving
September 13 – French World Cup-winning captain Hugo Lloris has been fined £50,000 and banned from driving for 20 months.
Fulham double up with Tempobet in one-year sponsorship deal
September 13 – Premier League returnees Fulham have signed Tempobet as their UK betting partner. No value has been announced for the deal which is initially for one-season.
Brasil’s Avaí becomes first football club to launch its own cryptocurrency
By Paul Nicholson
September 12 – Brasileiro Série B football club Avaí Futebol Clube has become the first football club to launch its own cryptocurrency with in Initial Coin Offering (ICO) targeting a $20 million capital raise.
Did Chelsea drop a €68m ball with Courtois and Arrizabalaga in the transfer market?
September 12 – Chelsea could have lost as much as €68 million in value on their goalkeeper trading in the summer transfer window, according to new analysis from the CIES Football Observatory.
Jordaan bids to re-enter global football powerbroking as CAF rep on FIFA Council
By Andrew Warshaw
September 12 – Danny Jordaan, the public face of the 2010 South Africa World Cup whose star has waned in recent years after being plunged into the limelight for all the wrong reasons, could soon be back as part of world football’s powerful elite after being endorsed for a place on the FIFA Council.
ECA says clubs to get third UEFA competition, opening Euro play to 96 clubs
September 12 – A week after reports that UEFA were considering re-introducing a third European club competition to run alongside the Champions league and Europa League, the clubs appear to have stolen the organisation’s thunder by confirming it will take place.
Moshiri tightens financial grip on Everton
By Paul Nicholson
September 12 – Everton’s major shareholder Farhad Moshiri (pictured) has increased his stake in the Premier League club to 68.6% with the purchase of a further 18.7% of shares to add to the 49.9% he bought for £87.5 million in March 2016.
Atlantic crossing? Champions League final mooted for New York in 2021
January 12 – A leading marketing executive has raised eyebrows across Europe by suggesting discussions are taking place privately to see whether staging the Champions League final in New York might be feasible.
AFC conference sends reminder that football’s social role is about more than money
September 12 – With Europe’s big leagues and clubs talking about big money games in foreign jurisdictions, club share sales and huge transfer fees, the AFC Social Responsibility Conference 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, provided a timely reminder that football has a far more important role than providing even more money for the super rich.
Scottish FA agrees deal to buy Hampden Park for £5m in 2020
September 12 – The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has agreed a deal to buy Hampden Park for £5 million from League Two side Queen’s Park when the existing lease of Hampden expires in summer 2020.