Greek squad puts common good before personal gain
July 2 – Greece’s 2014 World Cup team have written to their Prime Minister asking for their tournament bonus money to go towards securing their national team a training facility.
World Football
CIES crunches its data to launch new player value calculator
By Ben Nicholson
July 1 – The CIES Football Observatory has developed what it believes is a “groundbreaking player transfer value calculator” for those based in the big-5 league clubs. They say that their algorithm improves economic transparency – enabling clubs, players and fans alike to compare how much is paid for a player to how much ought to have been.
Barcelona plugs into new global partnership with Koç Holding’s Arcelik
By Mark Baber
July 1 – FC Barcelona has secured a four-year sponsorship with global home appliance group Arcelik, who will become the club’s worldwide sponsorship partner for the next four years. The deal will see the new logo of the group’s Beko brand featured on the sleeve of the new team jersey and training kit.
Evonik feels the chemistry and buys into Dortmund
Mark Baber
July 1 – Evonik and Borussia Dortmund (BVB) have made a joint-announcement that their partnership will be broadened and extended to 2025, with chemicals manufacturer making a cash injection of €26.7 million for a 9.06% stake in the club and extending its sponsorship agreement from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2025.
American businessman Bragiel lines up stake in Poland’s Slask Wroclaw
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
June 27 – American businessman Paul Bragiel is looking at acquiring a stake in Poland’s Slask Wroclaw. The troubled football club is looking for new partners to fill the financial gap left by its previous majority shareholder, the city of Wroclaw.
Botev stadium on hold as state freezes CCB bank accounts
By Alexander Krassimirov
June 27 – The construction of top Bulgarian club Botev Plovdiv’s new stadium has been halted after financial issues surrounding problems with Corporate Commercial Bank AD (CCB Plc). The club announced that the construction has only been stopped temporarily.
Chinese betting war escalates as insurers get in on the World Cup act
June 27 – The Chinese are finding ways to use the 2014 FIFA World cup to circumvent local gambling laws. In general gambling is illegal in China, but in instances where the proceeds are donated to charity, exceptions are allowed. Alibaba and Tencent Holdings, two of China’s dominant Internet companies, have linked up with provincial lottery centres so as to allow betting on world cup matches.
Istanbul court orders retrials in Turkish match-fixing case
June 27 – The complex match-fixing scandal that rocked Turkish football is set to be reopened after an Istanbul court ordered the retrial of several convicted individuals, including Fenerbahce chairman Aziz Yildirim.
Real Madrid leads the way as UEFA pays out €1.1bn to its clubs
By Paul Nicholson
June 26 – UEFA have published figures for revenue distribution to its clubs that competed in the 2013-14 Champions and Europa Leagues. In total more than €1.1 billion in participation and performance related revenue was paid out, with the lion’s share of €904 million going to clubs in the Champions League.
It’s a man’s world in France. Trailblazer Costa quits before a ball is kicked
June 26 – The first woman manage of a senior male professional team, Helena Costa, has resigned before she had the chance to see Clermont Foot kick a ball under her management. Costa’s appointment caused a media frenzy when announced last month and she was set to be a progressive trailblazer – a woman appointed to manage a professional men’s team in the French second division. But the Portuguese found her position untenable due to a poor working environment.
European and Scottish football chief David Taylor dies, aged 60
June 25 – David Taylor, one of Europe’s leading and most respected football administrators has passed away, aged 60. A passionate Scotsman and Scottish football supporter, Taylor joined UEFA in 2007 and variously held the positions of UEFA General Secretary and CEO of UEFA Events SA, and latterly UEFA corporate business advisor.
Bulgarian clubs agree on TV income distribution
By Alexander Krassimirov
June 25 – The Bulgarian league has distributed its TV rights income for the 2013-14 season showing the disparity in domestic TV deals between the big leagues of Western Europe and those in its poorer East.
87 French professional players caught betting on French League matches
By Mark Baber
June 24 – The French League (LFP) issued a statement yesterday announcing that 87 professional players in France will be investigated for having failed to comply with the regulations banning players from betting on LFP competitions.
Brand Spain still strong as Supponor delivers La Liga to wider sponsor group
June 24 – Spain may have tumbled out of their World Cup defence in Brazil but broadcast viewing figures of Spanish clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid globally suggest that the appetite for their brand of football will not be diminished, and the opportunity for advertisers and sponsors similarly.
MLS attendances rise as World Cup TV viewing rockets
By Ben Nicholson
June 24 – The MLS has experienced a 6.1% year-on-year average increase in attendance, as recorded prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup. The league average attendance currently sits at 18,497 spectators per game.