Inside World Football - Page 1321 of 2255 - For the Business of Football

VR, AR, HoloLens and holograms provide a pathway to an immersed football future

By Helen Cracknell

April 28 – It has been a long wait for Virtual Reality to live up to its billing as the next big revolutionary technology for fans to experience football matches. However the technology is there and clubs are waking up to the multiple opportunities of VR across their business, and perhaps more importantly, the opportunities of Augmented Reality and the innovations that Microsoft’s Hololens glasses will bring. The real wait is now for clubs to commit financially.

Concacaf

Guangzhou Evergrande in the doghouse as AFC issues charges

April 28 – As expected, China’s Guangzhou Evergrande have been charged by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after the club’s fans unfurled a provocative banner in an Asian Champions League match describing Hong Kong’s independence movement as ‘poison’ and carrying the words: ‘Annihilate British Dogs’.

Performance

Bundesliga rolls out with Football School model to international markets

April 2 – After a year-long pilot project, the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga has launched its Bundesliga Football School as a “new partnership model” to develop young talent and promote competitive football in the Bundesliga’s target markets worldwide.

Europe

Former FIFA chief Valcke back in events business with Spanish start-up

Jerome Valcke 6

April 28 – FIFA’s former general secretary Jérôme Valcke, number two to Sepp Blatter before spectacularly falling from grace, has suddenly re-surfaced in Spain where he has set up an events business.

Europe

Belgians move to pro ref structure in bid to increase top level representation

April 28 – The Belgian FA (KBVB) has offered eight referees a two-year semi-professional contract in a move to modernise and upgrade refereeing in Belgium.

Football Marketing

Umbro add Bournemouth to Everton, West Ham and Hull kit roster

April 28 – Bournemouth have unveiled Umbro as new technical kit supplier in a club record deal. The new partnership will begin with the 2017/18 season and run for five years. Umbro replaces JD Sports.

Africa

Race for CAF seat on FIFA Council hots up with former development chief entering fray

By Paul Nicholson

April 27 – The African race for a position on the FIFA Council has a new competitor. Former FIFA senior development manager for Africa, Zelkifili Ngoufonja (better known in football circles as Zul), has put himself and is campaigning on a platform of transparency, youth development and a good deal for Africa at FIFA.

Finance

Lander grounded but Saints have new £225m deal on the table

southampton-fc-finances

By Paul Nicholson

April 27 – News that China’s Lander Sports boss Gao Jisheng has failed the Premier League’s fit and proper person test has opened the door to a rival consortium to move in and complete their own £225 million takeover of south coast club Southampton.

Integrity

Marseilles and Chelsea dragged into transfer fraud probe as police hunt tax cheats

April 27 – Secret payments made to players and agents is reported to be at the centre of the football tax fraud investigation launched by British and French authorities.

Finance

Cherries ripe for Premier League profits as turnover rockets from £12.9m to £87.9m

By David Owen

April 27 – AFC Bournemouth, the south-coast club growing accustomed to life in the English top flight, have reported a profit for their first-ever season in the Premier League. For the year to 31 July 2016, the Cherries posted pre-tax profits of £3.4 million. This compared with a restated loss of £39.4 million the previous season.

South America

Copa America 2019 to continue 16-team format with Euro giants to join the party

Cristos and maracana

April 27 – The 2019 Copa America in Brazil will be expanded to 16 teams. South American regional governing body CONMEBOL approved the increased number of countries for their regional championship at their annual congress in Santiago, Chile.

Broadcast

Twitter break new ground with live-streaming of CONCACAF’s Champions League final

By Samindra Kunti

April 27 – Social media platform Twitter has broken into top tier football rights territory with the live-streamed final of the CONCACAF Champions League as part of their partnership with the governing body.

FIFA

Infantino greenlights video refs for World Cup after he rules tests are a success

April 27 – In a move that seems sure to receive widespread support even though it is not technically a unilateral decision, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that video replays will be used at the 2018 World Cup.

Football Marketing

SportPesa bets on La Liga to grow brand and stimulate talent in Africa

April 27 – Kenyan-based online gaming firm SportPesa has expanded its football sponsorships in Europe becoming the official African betting partner of Spain’s La Liga in a three-year deal.

Concacaf

Thinking big. Warner counter sues CONCACAF’s $20m with $40m claim, names Gulati

blazer and warner

By Paul Nicholson

April 26 – Five days after CONCACAF filed a lawsuit in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, claiming $20 million in damages against former executives Jack Warner and Chuck Blazer, Warner has responded by saying he will file a suit against CONCACAF for $40 million claiming “persistent defamation” of character. He also says he is suing US Soccer Federation president and FIFA Council member Sunil Gulati personally.