Inside World Football - Page 1280 of 2246 - For the Business of Football

So what do we really know about Qatar that isn’t fake?

Qatar construction 2

July 20 – The G20 demonstrations in Hamburg against Qatar last Saturday were paid for by an Egyptian businessman, according to German reports. The fake event that in turn spawned ‘fake’ news reports is one of an increasingly distorting series of stories and revelations that make the real situation in Qatar hard to understand, especially when trying to put into context any impact the blockade will have on the 2022 World Cup preparations and hosting.

Concacaf

Kraft to chair North American 2026 World Cup bid

July 20 – Robert Kraft (pictured), owner of Super Bowl champions New England Patriots but, more significantly, a key player in the growth of soccer in the United States, has been named honorary chairman of the board for the joint 2026 World Cup bid from Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Africa

Cameroon dismiss talk of moving AFCON 2019 saying they are ready to host

AFCON trophy

July 20 – Cameroon has been quick to re-assure African football leaders that it is fully capable of staging the 2019 African Cup of Nations with the necessary government backing.

Africa

Senegal suspends Union Sportive Ouakam club as country mourns stadium deaths

July 20 – With the country still in mourning, Senegal’s Union Sportive Ouakam club has been suspended by the national federation for its role in last weekend’s stadium disaster.

Africa

FIFpro says Africa has improved its record on player pay and conditions

July 20 – The international players union FIFpro says unions in Africa have started to achieve “clear improvements” in the welfare of thousands of players.

Performance

New season, new sack race. Benitez beware, but even Newcastle is safer than Serie A

July 20 – With pre-season fixtures starting to come thick and fast for Europe’s elite clubs it seems attention in some areas is already turning to which manager will be the first to be sacked.

Concacaf

Honduras to host 8-team CONCACAF Futsal Club Championships

July 20 – Honduras will host the second CONCACAF Futsal Club Championship this August 21-26.

Integrity

Spanish law enforcers target Teixeira and share info with Brazilian prosecutors

Organising Committee_Chairman_Ricardo_Teixeira

By Andrew Warshaw

July 19 – Is the net starting to close in on former FIFA and Brazilian powerbroker Ricardo Teixeira? Brazilian and Spanish federal prosecutors have reportedly begun exchanging information about suspected corruption by Teixeira, for whom an international arrest warrant is apparently on the verge of being issued by Spanish authorities.

Integrity

Villar arrest throws Spanish FA into chaos as fixtures delayed amid emergency meetings

By Andrew Warshaw

July 19 – The dramatic arrest of Spanish football chief and FIFA powerbroker Angel Maria Villar has had an immediate knock-on effect on the operations of Spanish football, with the announcement of next season’s domestic fixtures thrown into confusion.

Finance

Barcelona post €708m record revenues and profit of €18m

By Paul Nicholson

July 19 – FC Barcelona have announced record income of €708 million for the 2016/17 season. This is an increase of €29 million on the €679 million posted the previous year which was also a club record.

Concacaf

ICC opens its US summer season with Roma vs PSG ahead of the Manchester derby

July 19 – Tonight the fifth edition of the International Champions Cup (ICC) kicks off in Detroit, USA, with Roma playing Paris St Germain. Tomorrow Manchester City and United replicate their local derby in Houston. The ICC may lack more than a little sporting integrity but it does deliver the biggest club names.

Football Marketing

Leicester put their arm round Siam Commercial Bank in initial one-year deal

July 19 – Leicester City are the latest Premier League club to announce a shirt sleeve sponsor, taking advantage of the league’s new commercial branding rules. Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) will debut on the club’s shirts in today’s Premier League Asia Trophy match in Hong Kong.

Performance

Players must learn basics of cardiac treatment to save lives, says football agent

July 19 – The agent of a former Cameroon player who died last year after suffering heart problems is calling on FIFA to train all players and coaches in how to treat victims of sudden cardiac arrest.

Finance

PSG may have €222m earmarked to buy Neymar, but Barca say he isn’t moving

By Samindra Kunti

July 19 – Brazilian superstar Neymar has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain in a record-breaking deal of €222 million, but Barcelona have denied he is leaving the club.

Europe

Rangers’ €7,000 paper balls-up; Celtic players get over incited

July 18 – Rangers have been fined €7,000 by UEFA for throwing balls of paper on to the pitch during their Europa League tie against Luxembourg minnows Progres Niederkorn.