Past has a future. FIFA re-jigs Museum project to keep doors open
May 30 – FIFA is keeping faith with its much-troubled world football museum in Zurich despite a swathe of redundancies at the loss-making venue.
News
France show class as England build and Argentina crash in South Korea U20 finals
By Samindra Kunti
May 30 – Six-time champions Argentina suffered a shock group stage exit from the U20 World Cup in South Korea. Favourites France marched undefeated into the round of 16, with both Venezuela and Zambia impressing in the group games.
Feeling their way. Qatar breaks ground with ‘sensory room’ stadium project
May 30 – As the first 2022 World Cup stadium opened its gates for Qatar’s Emir Cup final last week, a pilot sensory room project also kicked off, designed to improve the match-day experience for supporters with cognitive disabilities.
Honduran tragedy as four fans killed at league play off final
May 30 – What should have been a day of celebration ended in tragedy when at least four people died and many others were injured during a stampede prior to the sellout league title game in Honduras between Motagua and Honduras Progres.
New Balance makes FAI eyes smile with new kit deal
May 30 – New Balance has added its first European national team to its roster, picking up the kit sponsorship of the Republic of Ireland (FAI) national team from the start of the 2017/18 season. The US sportswear firm is also sponsor of Costa Rica and Panama.
FIFA knew of North Korean workers human rights abuse in St Petersburg, claims report
May 26 – A report by Britain’s Guardian newspaper claims FIFA knew about North Korean workers being employed in dire conditions in the construction of a 2018 World Cup site in St Petersburg.
Spurs in Hong Kong to launch new expanded sponsor deal with AIA
May 26 – Premier League Tottenham Hotspur have extended their shirt deal with insurance group AIA until the end of the 2021-22 season. The club announced the extension while on their post-season tour to Hong Kong at AIA Group’s headquarters.
Liverpool lead club line-up for Premier League Asia Trophy in Hong Kong
May 26 – The biennial Premier League Asia Trophy will be held this July in Hong Kong with Liverpool leading the line-up and being joined by Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace.
Manchester clubs unite with £1m pledge to bomb victims emergency fund
May 25 – Arch-rivals on the pitch, Manchester City and Manchester United have jointly pledged £1 million to an emergency fund set up to support the victims of Monday’s suicide bomb attack that killed 22 people and left 64 injured.
‘Minor figure’ Takkas changes plea to guilty over transfer of Webb’s bribe money
By Andrew Warshaw
May 25 – Costas Takkas, close associate of disgraced ex-CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb and like Webb one of the original ‘Zurich Seven’ arrested two years ago in that infamous hotel swoop that plunged FIFA into unprecedented crisis, has changed his plea to guilty to money laundering conspiracy as his trial gets closer.
Man Utd secure Champions League berth with Europa League win
By Samindra Kunti
May 25 – Manchester United delivered a José Mourinho masterclass to win a disappointing Europa League final 2-0 against Ajax, save their season and mitigate the ramifications of a difficult week for the club and the city somewhat. With the victory, Manchester United will return to the lucrative Champions League next season.
West Brom organically grow links with Palm into main sponsorship as K8 drops out
May 25 – Premier League West Bromwich Albion have quickly signed Chinese construction for Palm as the club’s main sponsor after Chinese online betting firm K8 pulled out of their two-year deal after just one season.
Manchester bomb blast casts shadow over Europa League showpiece
By Samindra Kunti in Stockholm
May 24 – Amid heightened security in the Swedish capital the Europa League final between Manchester United and Ajax may have lost some of its lustre, but the stakes remain high for Jose Mourinho’s team with a season-defining Champions League ticket on offer.
Middle East: UEFA insist Council decision kept Israeli West Bank ultimatum off FIFA agenda
By Andrew Warshaw
May 24 – In the latest twist to one of the most contentious issues at the FIFA Congress earlier this month, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is reported to have played a crucial role in thwarting a Palestinian vote against Israel. Sources close to Ceferin insisted to Insideworldfootball he did not influence the decision on Palestine and that it was a unanimous agreement among Council members not to allow a vote as there were not adequate enough reports for a decision to be taken at that time.
One league they have won. Man Utd top season Twitter stats beating Arsenal by 500K
May 24 – Manchester United convincingly topped the Twitter growth stats for the 2016-17 season putting on more than 2 million followers over the season. Arsenal also increased their Twitter followers more than 2 million while another two clubs – Chelsea and Manchester City – had increases of more than 1 million over the season.