BK8 returns to European club sponsorship with five LaLiga club deals
August 17 – Online betting brand BK8 has secured five LaLiga club sponsorships for Asia for the new season which kicked off last weekend.
News
WLF will back clubs and players who refuse to participate in Conmebol’s 2022 qualifiers
By Paul Nicholson
August 16 – The World Leagues Forum (WLF) has slammed FIFA’s decision to amend the international match calendar without consultation and which has seen the rescheduling of South America’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers that had originally been due to be played in March 2021 to extended triple match windows in September and March.
ECA re-admits repentant nine of the ESL’s Dirty Dozen back into its membership
By Paul Nicholson
August 16 – The European Club Association (ECA), has agreed that nine of the 12 European Super League (ESL) breakaway clubs can remain as members following their requests to withdraw their resignations from the club body.
Qatar 2022 qualifying: CAF tells 8 nations they can’t use home stadia
August 16 – Eight African countries have been stripped of home advantage in next month’s World Cup qualifiers after their grounds were deemed unfit at international level by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Germany and Bayern legendary striker Gerd Muller dies, aged 75
August 16 – Famed West Germany striker Gerd Mueller, nicknamed ‘Der Bomber’ because of his goalscoring prowess, has died at the age of 75.
Digital media specialist Hopfen to take over from Seifert at Bundesliga
August 16 – Donata Hopfen will become the new CEO of the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) in January, succeeding Christian Seifert who will step aside early, the league body has announced.
Rwandan president takes furious aim at Arsenal after Brentford loss
August 16 – Rwandan President Paul Kagame lambasted Arsenal’s dramatic opening-day defeat after the club’s 2-0 loss to newly promoted Brentford. He said Arsenal fans shouldn’t “accept mediocrity”.
Ajax add Blox as official cryptocurrency partner
August 16 – Blox has teamed up with Ajax to become the club’s official cryptocurrency partner in a three-season deal.
Betano bets big on Benfica as club’s first sleeve sponsor
August 16 – While their neighbours in Spain face a crackdown on betting sponsorship, the Portuguese are embracing online bookmaking clients with open arms. The latest is Benfica who have secured their first ever sleeve sponsorship with Betano.
Norwich need a drink after return to Premier League reality, Lucozade Sport may have to do
August 16 – Norwich City, who opened their season with a 3-0 home loss to Liverpool, look like they are going to need all the help they get from their new fuelling and hydration partner Lucozade Sport.
Premier League kick off: Man City favourites for title, and Kane
By Andrew Warshaw
August 13 – The English Premier League season kicks off this weekend with the usual suspects likely to fight it out for the spoils – along with some intriguing sub-plots.
Investors punt on Las Vegas as location for 30th MLS franchise
August 13 – Aston Villa owner Wes Edens has backed the expansion of Major League Soccer (MLS) with a potential 30th franchise in Las Vegas.
TFF tells Fenerbahçe to stop anti-beIN Sports campaign ahead of new tender for rights
August 13 – The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has stepped deeper into the row between Fenerbahçe and league broadcaster beIN Sports, ruling that the club that they must end their protest campaign against the broadcaster.
Lukaku returns to Chelsea in £97.5m deal
August 13 – No sooner had Jack Grealish become the most expensive English Premier League transfer during the summer window after his £100 million move to Manchester city than Romelu Lukuka has followed just behind for very nearly the same amount.
Aussies play down 2030 bid but say they still want a men’s World Cup
August 13 – Football Australia chief executive James Johnson has played down speculation about a possible Australian bid for the 2030 or 2034 World Cup but says it is still the country’s goal to be hosts.