Man City revs up regional sponsor roster with Astra Otoparts
April 7 – Manchester City has signed automotive component group Astra Otoparts as an Official Regional Partner of the Club.
Swiss police raid UEFA offices as Cross Trading probe deepens
By Andrew Warshaw
April 7 – Despite vehemently insisting it acted in good faith over the sale of Champions League rights to an offshore company after being caught up in the Panama Papers tax haven affair, UEFA had its offices raided on Wednesday by Swiss police searching for evidence of any possible wrongdoing.
California dreaming: Liverpool push tickets for US matches as ICC pre-sales launch
April 7 – 2016 International Champions Cup organisers have launched pre-sale ticket sales for matches taking place in the US summer with Liverpool being the first to announce ticketing plans for their two games in California in July.
More matches make better young players, says CIES report
By Mark Baber
April 7 – The latest CIES Football Observatory Monthly Report includes statistics showing that young forwards progress a bit faster in terms numbers of appearances than young midfielders, faster than defenders and a lot faster than young goalkeepers on average.
Bizarre FIFA fine for Kuwait for not playing matches it was banned from playing
April 7 – FIFA’s ongoing spat with Kuwait, and by association the Asian football heirarchy, has deepened with the Kuwaitis being fined a symbolic SFr30,000 for failing to play two World Cup qualifying matches last month.
Betway to sponsor legends match as Hammers bid farewell to Boleyn Ground
April 7 – West Ham sponsor Betway has picked up title sponsorship for an England v Germany Legends match to be held in honour of the Boleyn Ground’s final season and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1966 World Cup final.
Anatomy of a cosy Ecuadorian TV deal that reverberated to the top of FIFA
By Paul Nicholson
April 6 – UEFA and its marketing agency TEAM have laid bare the anatomy of the Ecuadorian TV deal that has dragged FIFA president Gianni Infantino into the Panama Papers scandal as the signatory on the contract for Champions League TV rights in 2006.
Inside Editorial: Has the solution become the problem at FIFA?
The Panama Papers will very likely change the world of offshore finance forever. That football, its rights holders and its marketing agents have been using the same corporate and financial tools to avoid tax (sometimes legally) is no surprise. But what should be a surprise is that FIFA’s shiny new president has been so quickly dragged into the scandal.
UEFA and Infantino angrily deny any wrongdoing in the Panama Papers scandal
By Andrew Warshaw
April 6 – Both using the word “dismayed”, suggesting they had liaised before responding, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his former employers at UEFA have both reacted furiously to any claim of wrongdoing after being drawn into the Panama Papers offshore tax haven affair.
South American TV deal drags Infantino into the FIFA corruption scandal
By Andrew Warshaw
April 6 – New FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who came into office just six weeks ago vowing to clean up the discredited organisation, has himself been drawn into the corruption scandal that has brought down a raft of high-profile powerbrokers.
Zimbabwe row over coach’s salary sours sponsor relationship
By Mark Baber
April 6 – With the Zimbabwean national teams performing well and the Warriors three points clear at the top of their 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifying group, a row which threatens future sponsorship of the national team has broken out after an article in local media revealed the national coach’s ‘Salary Hell’.
FIFA give Greece 10-day deadline to shape up or ship out
By Andrew Warshaw
April 6 – Greece has been given a 10-day ultimatum by FIFA to stop government interference in its footballing affairs but the threat of a worldwide ban from international competition still hangs over the country.
Rangers secure return to SPL to everyone’s financial relief
April 6 – After sinking to the depths of despair as a result of years of financial mismanagement, Glasgow Rangers, one of the iconic names in British football, have regained their top-flight Scottish league status amid scenes of unbridled celebration.
China’s Suning Commerce eyes a European berth with Inter Milan stake
April 6 – Inter Milan could soon have a new Chinese member of their ownership group according to reports in Italy. Suning Commerce Group, which recently bought Chinese Super League side Jiangsu, is looking at European expansion with a 20% stake in the Serie A club.
Bidders line up to host 2020 Futsal World Cup
By Paul Nicholson
April 5 – FIFA have said that 13 member associations from five confederations have expressed an interest in hosting the 2020 Futsal World Cup. The eighth edition of the championship takes place in Colombia, September 10 to October 1 this year.