Fulham double up with Tempobet in one-year sponsorship deal
September 13 – Premier League returnees Fulham have signed Tempobet as their UK betting partner. No value has been announced for the deal which is initially for one-season.
News
Jordaan bids to re-enter global football powerbroking as CAF rep on FIFA Council
By Andrew Warshaw
September 12 – Danny Jordaan, the public face of the 2010 South Africa World Cup whose star has waned in recent years after being plunged into the limelight for all the wrong reasons, could soon be back as part of world football’s powerful elite after being endorsed for a place on the FIFA Council.
ECA says clubs to get third UEFA competition, opening Euro play to 96 clubs
September 12 – A week after reports that UEFA were considering re-introducing a third European club competition to run alongside the Champions league and Europa League, the clubs appear to have stolen the organisation’s thunder by confirming it will take place.
Atlantic crossing? Champions League final mooted for New York in 2021
January 12 – A leading marketing executive has raised eyebrows across Europe by suggesting discussions are taking place privately to see whether staging the Champions League final in New York might be feasible.
Scottish FA agrees deal to buy Hampden Park for £5m in 2020
September 12 – The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has agreed a deal to buy Hampden Park for £5 million from League Two side Queen’s Park when the existing lease of Hampden expires in summer 2020.
Weah back in action for Liberia in Nigerian friendly
September 12 – Liberia president George Weah came out of football retirement on Tuesday just short of his 52nd birthday for a one-off friendly against Nigeria.
Adidas renew DFB deal through to 2026 and build case for Euro 2024 hosting
By Paul Nicholson
September 11 – Adidas, who have been the German national team’s official kit sponsor for more than 60 years, has extended the partnership until 2026.
World XI shortlist omits France’s World Cup captain Lloris but includes Buffon
September 11 – Legendary Italian Gianluigi Buffon is shortlisted for the goalkeeping award in the 2018 FIFPro World XI despite being second choice at Paris Saint-Germain with France’s World Cup winning captain Hugo Lloris surprisingly missing out.
Political pressure forces Liverpool to end controversial Tibet Water sponsorship
September 11 – Liverpool have ended their controversial regional sponsorship agreement with Tibet Water Resources who became the club’s Official Regional Water Partner in China in July 2017.
Spanish players to decide on 15-year plan to play LaLiga fixtures in US
September 11 – Landmark proposals to play a top-flight Spanish league game in the USA has taken another twist with reports that the players will have the final say.
FIFA parachute in Nigeria’s underfire Pinnick to fix Ghana crisis
September 11 – In a somewhat unusual turn of events, Amaju Pinnick (pictured), whose own Nigerian federation was embroiled in a bitter leadership struggle and narrowly avoided a FIFA ban, has been selected by FIFA to lead the organisation’s normalisation committee in Ghana.
PSG takes next level blockchain step with Socios.com partnership
September 11 – Blockchain platform Socios.com have become Paris Saint-Germain’s Official Branded Cryptocurrency Partner and will work alongside the club to develop a blockchain strategy that the company says will bring in the next generation of fan engagement programmes.
PR leader and VERO founder Mike Lee dies, aged 61
September 11 – Mike Lee, former UEFA head of communications and widely regarded as one of the gurus of British sports public relations, has died suddenly of a heart attack aged 61.
Olympique Marseilles have threat of European ban lifted on appeal
September 11 – UEFA has lifted its threat to ban Olympique de Marseille from European competition if there is a repeat of the violence which marred their Europa League campaign last season.
Kanu calls for more grass-roots support in Africa to stop the Europeans killing creativity
By Andrew Warshaw
September 10 – Two-time former African player of the year Nwankwo Kanu says the continent must step up grass-roots development of players to start fulfilling their potential on the world stage.