Fantasy sports set for revenue boom; RealFevr expand fantasy client into NFT release
August 18 – A new study is predicting that the fantasy sports market in the United States will grow by 8% year-on-year and hit an $8.3 billion value in 2021.
News
CAF draw AFCON 2021 final groups, Motsepe chips in with promise of more prize money
By Samindra Kunti
August 18 – Hosts Cameroon will kick off the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations against Burkina Faso next year with Egypt – Nigeria and Algeria – Ivory Coast among the pick of the group stage matches following the finals draw in Yaounde.
FIFAgate: El Salvador’s Vasquez to plead guilty to taking bribes
August 18 – Former El Salvador FA president Reynaldo Vasquez is set to change his plea to guilty over his alleged role in the FIFAgate corruption scandal, according to court records.
Irritated Ronaldo says stop the ‘disrespect’, he is staying at Juve
August 18 – Cristiano Ronaldo insists he is going nowhere despite reports linking him with a move away from Juventus.
UEFA reviews plan to award two Champions League slots on historical achievement
August 18 – UEFA are reportedly considering ditching the controversial plan to award two Champions League places based on historical success following criticism from leagues across the continent.
LaLiga on tap. Spanish league targets British pub market with Stonegate TV deal
August 18– LaLiga, which has struggled to establish a broadcast home in the UK following the non-renewal of its deal with pay TV Sky Sports, is now attacking the British market with distribution into bars and pubs.
Carrot and stick: After Rwandan president’s criticism of Arsenal, tourist board renews sleeve deal
August 18 – Rwandan President Paul Kagame may be furious with Arsenal’s opening day loss to newly promoted Brentford, but it hasn’t stopped the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) extending its sleeve sponsorship through to 2025, according to reports.
Liverpool add online trader ThinkMarkets to global sponsorship roster
August 18 – Premier League Liverpool have online financial broker, ThinkMarkets, to their sponsorship roster as the club’s new Official Global Trading Partner.
CAF looks to public service TV in Africa to deliver on AFCON 2021 in challenged rights market
By Paul Nicholson
August 17 – After promises of new television deals across the African continent following the disastrous fallout from the Lagardere representation agreement that saw a $1 billion commercial guarantee replaced by blank TV screens and rapidly retreating sponsors, CAF has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations 2022 will be broadcast by the members of the African Union of Broadcasters (AUB).
Man Utd and UK sports guru Maurice Watkins has died, aged 79
August 17 – Maurice Watkins, the man credited with bringing Sir Alex Ferguson to the club in 1986, and a legend in sports law and British sports administration, has died aged 79.
Mauritian FA toilet-cam scandal under investigation
August 17 – The Mauritius FA has been plunged into an unusual scandal following an investigation involving alleged secret mobile phone video recordings of a women’s toilet at the federation’s headquarters.
China’s Tencent adds Bundesliga streaming rights to EPL and UEFA club comps
August 17 – China’s Tencent has acquired the non-exclusive streaming rights for the Bundesliga in China in a two-season deal.
Vancouver Whitecaps youth trio subject of racial assault, one hospitalised
August 17 – Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps say three of its academy players were assaulted at an outdoor gathering and that the attack is believed to be racially motivated.
Norwegian players caught partying on stadium security cameras
August 17 – Players of SK Brann held a raunchy late-night party at their stadium, but were caught on security cameras, leaving the club red faced.
Facebank takes Crystal Palace sleeve in one-season deal
August 17 – Premier League Crystal Palace have secured Facebank as the club’s new sleeve partner in a one-season deal for 2021/22.