Austria’s Admira hooks up with Kickrs to crowd fund academy
By Samindra Kunti
May 31 – Austrian topflight club FC Admira Wacker Mödling and Swiss start-up kickrs.net have teamed up to crowd-fund the development of the club’s youth academy.
Gold Cup 2025
Qatari trio share the legacy and learnings of the 2022 World Cup on duty at the Gold Cup
June 18 – Three Qatari FA execs are currently working the 2025 Gold Cup circuit as part of the collaboration between Concacaf and the hosts of the 2022 World Cup that has provided an on-going legacy and international knowledge exchange programme.
French prosecutor says they may open probe into 2022 vote and Platini’s role
May 31 – French authorities say they are considering launching their own investigation into Qatar being awarded the right to host the 2022 World Cup.
Indian league roadmap hits roadblock with Goan and Kolkata clubs
By Samindra Kunti
May 31 – Indian clubs from both Goa and Kolkata are protesting against the reformed league structures proposed earlier this month by the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) and their marketing partners IMG-Reliance. At the top of the roadmap towards a new league structure was the positioning of the Indian Super League (ISL) as the top league.
Man City uncorks Wolf Blass as regional wine partner
May 31 – Premier League Manchester City have added Australian wine brand Wolf Blass in what is described as a “multi-year marketing partnership”. No figure has been announced for the regional deal.
Empire of the Son? Spurs expand brand deeper into South Korea
May 31 – Tottenham Hotspur have moved quickly to expand their commercial opportunity in South Korea following a rapid 30% growth in the club’s fanbase in the region as the club’s challenge for Premier League honours has raised its profile.
FIFA denies Infantino engineered plot to force out top execs. ‘Unbelievable’ ?
By Andrew Warshaw
May 30 – Damning claims have emerged of how FIFA president Gianni Infantino plotted to overthrow the official who fixed his salary and sought to cut colleagues’ pay to boost his own income.
ECNL and US Club Soccer shake-up US with new national youth competition
By Paul Nicholson
May 30 – The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and US Club Soccer have combined to launch a new national competition platform for boys that will challenge the national US Academy competition that the US Soccer Federation has been promoting to clubs across the country.
Atletico feel the pain of loss as Real celebrate joy of winning
By Andrew Warshaw
May 30 – Nobody remembers the losers. Real Madrid may have collected Europe’s elite club trophy for the 11th time on Saturday but for millions of neutrals watching round the world on television, the sight of Atletico Madrid’s crestfallen supporters in the San Siro told a far more potent story.
Spurs agree Wembley deal to start with Champions League matches
May 30 – Tottenham Hotspur will play their Champions League home games next season at the national stadium at Wembley because of reduced capacity at the north London club’s already limited 36,000-seater ground.
FIFA clamps down on discrimination with seven sanctions
May 30 – FIFA has punished seven nations – including Mexico, Chile and Croatia – for discriminatory behaviour from supporters, including homophobic chants.
Croatia, whose fans have a track record of incurring the wrath of the authorities, have been ordered to play their first two 2018 World Cup qualifiers behind closed doors and have been fined SFr150,000 for incidents which took place in friendly matches against Israel and Hungary last month.
Chile have been barred from playing at their Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos home for two official matches,
Hull win £160m play-off as sale rumours circulate
May 30 – Hull City have secured a quick return to the English Premier League after winning what has traditionally been billed as the most financially lucrative game in world football, the English Championship play-off, joining already promoted Burnley and Middlesbrough in the top flight next season.
England edge France to win the Toulon Tournament
May 30 – England Under 21 beat France 2-1 Under 20s to win the Toulon Tournament their first win since 1994, having qualified for the third place play-off for the past two years.
West Ham stamp their mark on London’s Olympic Stadium
May 30 – West Ham have planning approval to instal Europe’s largest in-stadium digital screen at the Olympic Stadium as part of a wrap around the stadium carrying the club’s colours and logo.
Now 16 FIFA execs named in Julius Baer money laundering probe
By Paul Nicholson
May 27 – Details are slowly emerging that as many as 16 bank accounts were held by FIFA officials at Swiss private bank Julius Baer, with at least four of them held by officials indicted by the US Department of Justice in its investigation into FIFA corruption and money laundering.
Can Real and Atletico change world fashion as they chase club football’s richest prize?
By Samindra Kunti in Milan
May 27 – By the end of Saturday night the Champions League trophy will be returning to the Spanish capital as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid contest club’s football richest game. The winner will bank a cool €15 million; the runner-up €10.5 million. The champions will also earn a ticket to the FIFA World Club Cup in Japan in December, where another €4.5 million is on offer for the winning finalist.