Arsenal renew Emirates in club record £200m, 5-year shirt deal
February 20 – Arsenal have extended their shirt sponsorship with Dubai airline Emirates in a five-year deal that is reportedly worth £200 million, a record for the club.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Everton’s Davies is top ranked Premier League player, Fulham’s Sessegnon makes top 10
February 20 – Five players at English clubs, two of them in the Championship, make the top 50 list of European U20 players with the best career prospects, according to a ranking compiled by the CIES Football Observatory.
Wigan get a boost from Jetcoin, a crypto currency living on the edge of TPO
February 20 – Marketing success in sport is often all about being in the right place at the time. That place was on the sleeve of Wigan Athletic on Monday night for cryptocurrency firm Jetcoin as the Latics became only the third team to be Manchester City this year.
Exclusive: FIFA double-standards? Gulati allowed to pitch United 2026 to Cosafa grouping
By Andrew Warshaw
February 19 – The race to land the 2026 World Cup has exploded into fresh controversy with FIFA facing accusations of double standards and underhand tactics despite its efforts, in public at least, to ensure a squeeky clean bidding process ahead of the June vote.
Tackling Matchfixing: Early Bird registration closes today Monday 19 February
February 19 – The Early Bird registration price of £395 for the Tackling Matchfixing conference, March 9/10 at the Chelsea harbour Hotel in Chelsea, London, closes today.
Gazprom fuels UEFA Champions League sponsor roster with new 3-year deal
February 19 – European governing body UEFA have extended another of their Champions League sponsorship deals, this time with Gazprom for the 2018-2021 cycle. The Russian energy firm is the fifth sponsor to renew their deal.
Death threats to UEFA match-fixing investigators prompt Ceferin to issue warning
By Paul Nicholson
February 19 – UEFA Disciplinary Inspectors have received anonymous death threats after re-opening a match-fixing probe into Albanian club KF Skënderbeu.
Red mist. Match abandoned as nine players sent off in Brazilian derby
February 19 – A Brazilian derby between Vitoria and Bahia was abandoned with 11 minutes remaining on Sunday after the hosts had six players sent off in a game marked by a mass brawl.
Bookies back VAR to boost in-play betting with Paddy Power paying out on VAR cancelled goals
February 19 – While Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR) once again slowed games to a suffocating standstill, this time in England’s FA Cup matches, bookmakers have wasted no time taking advantage of the opportunity VAR offers for their promotions.
Monaco hires specialist digital agency to take them into a new league
February 17 – Reigning French Ligue 1 champions AS Monaco, currently in second place in the championship behind Paris St Germain, have appointed digital agency Seven League to drive the club’s global digital strategy.
Everton accounts reveal loan repayment details and rise in directors’ remuneration
By David Owen
February 18 – Everton’s record £30.62 million post-tax profit would have been even higher but for £7 million of exceptional interest related to settlement fees on the early repayment of long-term debt.
Tackling Matchfixing: New speakers, Early Bird registration closes Monday 19 February
February 16 – The Tackling Matchfixing conference, March 9/10 in Chelsea, London, has added three new speakers to its speaker line-up.
David Owen – The 50+1 debate and why it may hold the key to the Bundesliga’s future
The Bundesliga is the top football league in Western Europe’s most populous country. Based purely on these two facts, you might expect it to generate more revenue than any other rival league worldwide.
Infantino questions transfer cash, lack of regulation and the $500m spent on agent fees
February 16 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has had another dig at football’s two easiest targets: spiralling transfers and agents’ fees.
Barcelona renew Beko sponsorship in 3-year €57m deal
February 16 – Beko has extended its sponsorship of FC Barcelona, establishing the Turkish domestic appliance brand as a main partner and FC Barcelona’s official Training Partner whilst remaining FC Barcelona’s first choice for home appliances. Beko will also get a sleeve sponsorship position on the Barca shirt.