Moscow declares itself ready for 2018 World Cup and ready to party
December 21 – Head of the Moscow Department of Sport and Tourism Nikolai Gulyaev said on Tuesday that the whole infrastructure of Moscow is almost ready for World Cup 2018.
Dortmund renew Lagardère agency to take them through the €100m barrier
December 21 – German giants Borussia Dortmund have extended a long-term deal with Lagardère Sports, the sports and entertainment agency subsidiary of media conglomerate Lagardère Group.
Sky and BT’s new channel deal could put damper on Premier League TV rights fever
December 21 – The Premier League’s broadcast rights auction looks like losing some of its heat after BT and Sky struck a deal to carry each other’s channels.
Peru’s Guerrero packs bag for Russia 2018 after drugs ban cut in half
December 21 – Peru captain Paolo Guerrero has had his one-year suspension for failing a drugs test halved to six months, making him eligible to lead out his team at the World Cup next summer – the nation’s first appearance in the finals for 36 years.
Two Kosovans plead guilty to planned terrorist attack on Isreali team in Albania
December 21 – Two Kosovo nationals have pleaded guilty to planning attacks at a World Cup game in Albania against Israel last year that was moved to a different part of the country because of terrorist threats.
FIFA send in troubleshooters to run Malian FA
December 21 – FIFA has appointed a normalisation committee to run the affairs of the troubled Malian Football Association (Femafoot).
FIFA’s vanishing spray inventor just won’t go away
By Andrew Warshaw
December 20 – The self-proclaimed Brazilian inventor of football’s vanishing spray, which has become an integral part of the game, is persuing FIFA for proper compensation after accusing the organisation of stealing his idea.
FIFA scores World Cup final hat-trick in China with Mengniu joining sponsor roster
December 20 – FIFA has added a fifth sponsor for the Russia 2018 World Cup, the third from China. Chinese dairy products manufacturer the Mengniu Group will be designated the Official drinkable yoghurt and pre-packaged ice cream.
Romario sets sights on goal of Brazilian FA presidency
December 20 – Brazilian 1994 World Cup winner Romario is planning to run for president of the scandal-plagued Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) now that Marco Polo del Nero has been suspended by FIFA.
China’s Chien Lee gets go-ahead to complete £20m Barnsley takeover
December 20 – A second-tier unheralded club in the industrial north of England with a relatively small but loyal and passionate fan base surrounded by larger rivals may not seem the most obvious target for a foreign takeover.
AFC confirms it will issue commercial right tender in February
December 20 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has now officially confirmed that its commercial rights sales tender for the two cycles between 2021 and 2028 will be published 1 February 2018.
Slovenian and Croatian police arrest 11 in cross-border raids on match-fixing gang
By Paul Nicholson
December 20 – Slovenian and Croatian polices yesterday swooped on an international match-fixing crime syndicate making 11 arrests after 13 house searches and impounding 15 vehicles in both countries.
Romai in ruins: Umbro join Jamaica for $4m, Puma seal Senegal for $3m
December 20 – UAE-based kit supplier Romai has lost deals with Jamaica and Senegal in the space of a week after what has been described as disastrous relationships with the two national federations.
Burnley cash-in with higher profile and one-year TeleTrade forex deal
December 20 – Premier League Burnley agreed a one-year sponsorship with online broker TeleTrade, who become the ‘Official Forex Trading Sponsor of Burnley FC’. No figure for the deal value was given.
Pillow talk. Spurs put Mammoth deal to bed
December 20 – Tottenham Hotspur have signed a deal North East health and wellbeing company Mammoth Mattresses, who will become the Official Mattress and Pillow Supplier of the Premier League Club.