Stats: Bayern go the distance, Liverpool go long, Man City keep it close
July 1 – Newly re-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich also top a table of European clubs ranked by how far they move the ball while in possession.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Man City link with Capstone Games for football manager mobile game
July 1 – With virtual gaming having become the major growth area for football as the world has been in lockdown, Manchester City, one of the early adopters of efootball, has expanded its immersion in via a new regional partnership with mobile game developer, Capstone Games.
Coronavirus exacts heavy toll as FIFA projects 2020 revenues down by almost 50%
By David Owen
June 30 – FIFA is now budgeting for this year’s revenues to come in at little more than half of its original projections, as a consequence of coronavirus.
FifaGate: Two-time Concacaf boss Hawit spared jail time
By Andrew Warshaw
June 30 – After somewhat of a lull, the FifaGate scandal is back in the headlines with two-time Concacaf stand-in president Alfredo Hawit spared further jail time as a US judge ruled he could return home to Honduras, four years after he pleaded guilty.
Leicester lockdown puts Premier League contingency plan to the test
June 30 – The Premier League has drawn up a contingency plan for Leicester City’s home fixture with Crystal Palace because of the government-enforced local lockdown in the city. A postponement has not been ruled out.
The FA cuts jobs as losses hit £300m, Wembley events cancelled and sponsors rebated
June 30 – Staff at the English FA have been left shocked by the announcement of more than 100 job losses due to the “significant impact” of coronavirus.
New Liverpool kit brand Nike posts $790m loss for three months to end-May
By David Owen
June 30 – Sports footwear and apparel giant Nike swung heavily into loss in its March-to-May 2020 quarter, reflecting the impact of Covid-19.
English stakeholders take ‘small’ step with player-to-coach accelerator for BAME players
June 30 – English football stakeholders have joined forces to help BAME players move into full-time coaching roles in the professional game.
Military forces gone, renovation complete, Stadium Mogadishu returns to football
June 30 – Having waited since 2004, Somalia today sees the return to football in its national stadium – Stadium Mogadishu.
Out on a Lim. Valencia owner sacks sixth manager in six years
June 30 – Valencia have been plunged into chaos after sacking coach Albert Celades and appointing long-standing club servant Voro until the end of the Spanish La Liga season.
ESA survey finds confidence is returning for recovery of sponsorship business
June 30 – The European Sponsorship Association (ESA) has released results from the second edition of its ESA Sponsorship Sentiment Tracker, indicating that there is a growing confidence in the sponsorship business as coronavirus lockdown is eased across Europe.
Infantino says FIFA is still chasing Germany 2006’s elusive €6.7m ‘funny’ money
By Andrew Warshaw
June 29 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino says the organisation has not given up getting its money back following the collapse of the 2006 World Cup fraud trial in Switzerland, insisting the story “is not finished” and hinting FIFA’s ethics apparatus is pursuing its own investigation.
Serie A forfeits millions as beIN forces rebate that will shake up TV rights market
By Paul Nicholson
June 29 – Serie A returned to beIN Sport TV schedules at the weekend following the last-minute conclusion of a deal between the broadcaster and the league over a reduction in the rights fees to be paid.
Swiss investigators to dig deeper into Platini’s ‘disloyal’ CHF2m
June 29 – Swiss federal prosecutors have cited former UEFA president Michel Platini in a widening of their probe into the infamous CHF 2 million “disloyal payment” made to him in 2011 by then FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
First Everton, now Villa. Cazoo park their football marketing bus
By David Owen
June 29 – Aston Villa, the famous old Birmingham-based club currently lying next to last in the Premier League table, have signed online car retailer Cazoo as their new shirt sponsor and “principal partner”.