August 17 – A US study into how fans rank their experiences at big league sports in the US has found that Major League Soccer teams rank no lower than second in each of America’s four largest markets of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston against the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA teams in those markets.
August 18 – Online sportsbook Tempobet has increased its Premier League sponsorship portfolio with a deal to become a partner of newly-promoted Middlesbrough. The company is already a regional partner of Manchester City.
August 18 – FIFA has rolled out its ‘FIFA 11+ Kids’ programme into Brazil, partnering with the Brazilian Football Association (CBF) and its association of football doctors (CNMF) as part of the World Cup legacy programme, but handily timed with the Olympic football events in the country.
August 17 – While the Brazilian crowd booed French Olympic silver medal winning pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie at the presentation ceremony where Brazilian Thiago Braz da Silva collected gold, across town an almost full capacity crowd Maracana were stunned into silence when Sweden’s Lisa Dahlkvist slotted the final penalty in the semi-final shoot-out that sent the hosts to bronze medal play-off in Sao Paulo.
August 17 – FIFA Ethics investigators have recommended a six-year ban and CHF10,000 fine for Kirsten Nematandani, former president of the South African Football Association (SAFA), for alleged ethics violations related to the fixing of international friendlies in 2010, weeks before South Africa hosted the 2010 World Cup.
By Paul Nicholson
August 17 – What a difference a year makes in the Premier League Twitter world. Both Arsenal and Chelsea had more followers than Manchester United at start of last year but now the Manchester giants have taken a substantial lead.
By Paul Nicholson
August 17 – The UEFA Champions League and its associated Europa League club competition now looks certain to change its qualification format to head off the threat of a Super League breakaway by leading clubs.
August 17 – Konami Digital Entertainment has signed a deal with Liverpool for the video game maker’s Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 that will see the club’s players digitally reproduced in its newest game to be released September 13/14.
July 17 – Aston Villa supporters paid tribute to the club’s former striker Dalian Atkinson who died after being shot by a taser by police. The circumstances of his death are being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), but once again raise questions about the duty of care for professional players once their careers end.
August 16 – Former FIFA president Joao Havelange has passed away, aged 100. In hospital since July with respiratory problems, he died this morning of pneumonia in a Rio de Janeiro hospital.
August 16 – The Premier league season opened with London clubs Arsenal and Chelsea packing their stadiums with barely a seat in the stadium free. But the league as a whole was on average was down on opening day last season.
By Paul Nicholson
August 16 – The Malaysian football federation has pulled out of hosting the 67th Annual FIFA Congress in Kuala Lumpur in May next year, citing security issues and on the advice of their government. The key issue appears to be the refusal of the Malaysian government to provide visas for Israeli delegates.
August 16 – Manchester City is continuing to set the pace in the digital media space, with its latest move being a content deal with India’s VEQTA to broadcast content on its sports platform.
August 16 – MLS team LA Galaxy has signed a multi-year partnership with Virtual Reality firm Laduma to create original 360-degree 3D VR content experiences around the club and its star players.
August 16 – City Football Group (CFG), owner of Manchester City, has committed to funding a Special Olympics project in Beijing, China, for the next three years.