Inside World Football - Page 1186 of 2022 - For the Business of Football

Brazil mixes memory with desire as its football teams head for Olympic semis

By Samindra Kunti

August 15 – The delirious scenes over the weekend as the Brazilian national women’s and men’s teams progressed to the semi-final brackets of their Olympic football tournaments revealed a nation desperate for success in their chosen sport, one that they know has been their national showcase to the rest of world. Olympic football in South America is important, in Brazil, at these games, it has almost reached defining importance.

Olympics

Nigeria win Japanese fan; Brazil find the net as Olympic dreams intensify

August 15 – Last to turn up at the men’s Olympic football party in Brazil, could the Nigerians also be the last to leave? From being stranded in the US where plane tickets for the next leg of their journey to the tournament had not been paid, the African nation have fought their way through to the semi-finals and a match-up against Germany.

Finance

Forget the SPL: Rangers vs Ashley could still be the deciding battle to watch

August 15 – The hate-hate relationship between Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley and and Rangers FC’s board is heading back to the Scottish courtrooms with Rangers claiming Sports Direct paid itself illegal dividends from Rangers Retail and suing former directors of the club for £4 million.

Europe

China’s IDG enters France’s Ligue 1 taking a €100m piece of Lyonnias

August 15 – The long march of Chinese money into Europe’s big leagues took a significant step into France’s Ligue 1 this weekend with Olympique Lyonnais owner OL Groupe announcing that Chinese investment fund IDG Capital Partners has agreed to take a 20% stake in the club.

Football Marketing

Roma bring in AEG for new stadium planning as sights set on 2019 opening

August 15 – Roma’s proposed Stadio della Roma may not have started its build yet but it does have management consultants contracted, emphasising AS Roma’s American president Jim Pallota’s ambition for the club to build a new home in what is a challenging local construction environment.

Olympics

Brave or ‘cowards’? Swedes dump US women out of the Olympics on penalties

August 15 – It was the shock result of the tournament, The US women’s team, so dominant in the women’s game as current World and Olympic champions, crashed out on penalties in the quarter finals to Sweden who only scraped into the knockout rounds as third place qualifier in their group.

FIFA

Video ref trialled in first pro league game in the US

August 15 – Trials of the video assistant referee system (VAR)has continued in the US with the third tier USL league, working in collaboration with Major League Soccer (MLS).

Football Marketing

Stoke take on KingFut to build on Sobhi arrival and Arabic interest

August 15 – Premier League Stoke City has stepped up its push into Arabic markets with the appointment of KingFut as the club’s official digital media partner.

FIFA

Exclusive: Banned Mayne-Nicholls furious at FIFA justice’s double-standards

By Andrew Warshaw

August 12 – Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the former Chilean FA boss who led the FIFA evaluation team for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, has broken his long silence over his ban from the game, accusing FIFA of double-standards and of blocking his attempts to gain justice.

Europe

Charlton act to censor fan on social media with season ticket ban threat

August 12 – Charlton Athletic (CAFC), relegated to England’s third tier Division 1 with a cacophony of complaint from its fans last season, has acted to control the social media agenda by threatening a fan to withhold his season ticket unless he stops posting aggressively about the club’s ownership.

Europe

From terrorising defences to terror suspect. Turkey issue arrest warrant for Sukur

August 12 – An arrest warrant has been issued in Turkey for former international striker Hakan Sukur as part of the investigation into the failed July 15 coup. Houses in Istanbul and Sakarya were raided but Sukur is understood to be living in the US.

Russia 2018

Russia hope Cherchesov will inject winning ways in time for 2018 showcase

August 12 – Russia’s search for a winning national coach to prepare the team for the 2018 World Cup has ended with the appointment for former international goalkeeper Stanislav Cherchesov (pictured).

Europe

Chinese hire Fassone to lead AC Milan in new era

August 12 – The Chinese buyers of Italy’s AC Milan have named Marco Fassone, former Juventus and Inter Milan general manager, as chief executive once their takeover has gone through.

Broadcast

Watershed moment. Lineker misses Olympics to present MoD in his pants?

August 12 – Will he stick to his promise? Halfway through last season, as Leicester City, 5000 to 1 outsiders at the start of the campaign, looked like they might win the English Premier League title, former England striker and BBC television presenter Gary Lineker boldly proclaimed that he would appear in his underpants at the start of this season’s campaign if his beloved Foxes somehow went go all the way.