AC Milan gets card sharp with Repx licensing deal
June 16 – Serie A’s AC Milan have signed a new licensing partnership with UK fintech company Repx, which will see the launch of a new debit card on the Repx platform.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Asian Qualifying goes to the wire tonight with Qatar 2022 and Asian Cup slots on the line
By Paul Nicholson
June 15 – The Asian Qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup final groups and automatic entry for 12 teams to the 2023 Asian Cup will be decided tonight across the AFC region as the preliminary rounds go down to the wire with some big names still looking to secure places in the next stage.
Eriksen: UEFA says no pressure on players to return, but only 2 options to complete game
June 15 – Under fire from players, fans, pundits and sections of the media for sanctioning the resumption of the Denmark-Finland Euro 2020 fixture so soon after Christian Eriksen’s shocking cardiac arrest, UEFA has sprung to its own defence by insisting the teams were not placed under any pressure.
Bilbao set for €1.3m compensation for loss of Euro 2020 hosting; but no handout for Dublin
June 15 – UEFA looks poised to agree €1.3 million in compensation to Bilbao for the late removal of Euro 2020 hosting from the Basque city’s San Mamés stadium to Seville. The decision was taken once it became clear Bilbao would not allow spectators at matches.
Euro 2020: North Macedonia files complaint over Arnautović’s ‘insulting’ goal celebration
June 15 – Just a few days into the multi-venue Euros and the spectre of nationalism is hanging over the tournament. Following the Ukraine shirt debacle prior to the competition which so irked Russia and prompted an official protest, North Macedonia is the latest team to be at the centre of historic political divisions.
Euro 2020: Wembley to open up to 45,000 fans for knock-out rounds
June 15 – Wembley will be allowed to host up to 45,000 fans for the semi-finals and final of the European Championship after the stadium was granted an exemption from a delay in the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
AFC gets ‘creative’ with FFA to secure ViacomCBS deal in Aussie
June 15 – Football Australia has picked up the broadcast rights to all the AFC’s rights in partnership with its new broadcast partner, 10 ViacomCBS. It has been a good week for the Aussies who saw their men’s team guarantee a slot in the Asian Cup 2023 and the final group rounds of World Cup qualifying.
Conmebol pays special tribute to life of Maradonna
June 15 – Diego Maradona’s life was honoured by Conmebol in a special tribute ahead of Argentina’s Copa America opener against Chile that finished 1-1.
UEFA takes first steps towards blockchain and crypto with AntChain deal
June 15 – UEFA has agreed a five year global partnership for blockchain technology with AntChain, the blockchain subsidiary of Ant Group which also owns AliPay, who are already three years into an eight year sponsorship with UEFA.
Official: Messi is a rock star, a Hard Rock one
June 15 – Argentina and FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi will be a brand ambassador for Hard Rock in a five-year deal to mark the 50th anniversary of the brand.
Euro 2020: Slovakia stun Poland and a misfiring Lewandowski
By Samindra Kunti in Saint Petersburg
June 14 – Slovakia provided the first significant upset of Euro 2020, beating ten-man Poland 2-1 with a second-half winner from Milan Skriniar to take the lead in Group E and leave their opponents’ chances hanging by a thread.
Man Utd fan forum: Glazers do ‘care’, fan fury at club being made a ‘laughing stock’
June 15 – Manchester United co-chairman Joel Glazer has admitted that the owners’ silence “gave the impression we don’t care”, but was told by fans that the club has become “a laughing stock”.
Support pours in for Eriksen as debate intensifies over whether it was right to restart match
By Andrew Warshaw
June 14 – As Denmark’s Christian Eriksson continues his recovery in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest during Saturday’s Euro 2020 fixture against Finland, support continues to pour in from across the globe – accompanied by a fair amount of criticism that the game was allowed to resume.
Concacaf 2022 qualifying: Canada, Panama and El Salvador have edge
June 14 – The knockout play off series to decide the final three slots in the eight team Concacaf final round of 2022 World Cup qualifying began at the weekend with opening advantages being gained by Canada, Panama and El Salvador.
Son Heung-min penalty secures South Korea spot in final round of Qatar 2022 qualifying
June 14 – South Korea cemented their place in the last 12 of Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying in Asia with a 2-1 win over challengers Lebanon.