Fortuna expands east with Slavia Prague sponsorship
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
July 28 – Czech club Slavia Prague has secured betting operator Fortuna as its new shirt sponsor in a three-year deal.
Gold Cup 2025
USA clinch last four slot with penalty win over Costa Rica
USA 2 Costa Rica 2 (USA win 4-3 on pens)
June 29 – You’d hate to use the word ‘sterile’ to describe a Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final, but following the drama and passion of Guatemala versus Canada, it all felt a little flat as the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Costa Rica kicked off for the right to face Guatemala in St. Louis. After 90 minutes and the drama of penalty kicks,
Brit politico puts boot into Russia 2018, but FIFA maintains line
By Paul Nicholson
July 25 – The first leading British politician to call for Russia to be stripped of the hosting rights to the 2018 World Cup, following the downing of the Malaysian airliner in the Ukraine, was made by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg (pictured) yesterday and, perhaps not surprisingly, it was in an interview with Rupert Murdoch’s Sunday Times newspaper.
Levski sign new lead sponsor in record short-term deal
By Alexander Krassimirov
July 28 – Bulgarian Lev Ins AD Insurance Company is the new lead sponsor of top tier club Levski Sofia. The contract between the two parties was signed on Friday, but the curious thing is that it is for just six months – until the end of the calendar year.
FIFA fines Argentina over team’s Malvinas banner at 2014 warm-up game
July 27 – FIFA have fined the Argentine Football Association SFr30,000 ($33,000) for displaying a banner that was deemed to qualify as “political action” and “team misconduct”.
David Owen: Financial fine print sees Swans and Magpies fly to top of table
With the start of a new Premier League season less than three weeks away, I have repeated last year’s exercise drawing on data from the Deloitte Annual Review of Football Finance to compile 26 top-three ‘mini-tables’. These rank the 20 English top-tier clubs in the 2012-13 season according to different financial parameters.
UEFA asks Russians for licensing and salary details at FC Rostov
July 25 – UEFA has asked the Russian Football Union to provide documents on the licensing procedure of Russian Premier League FC Rostov. The club has qualified for this season’s Europa League.
Nigerian president Maigari voted out as corruption allegations mount
By Mark Baber
July 25 – The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) president, Aminu Maigari (pictured) has been sacked following allegations of “financial misappropriation, misapplication and maladministration” by the NFF Executive Committee.
30% think Nike was an Official World Cup sponsor
July 25 – A newly published survey of UK, US and Brazilian consumers finds that Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Visa and Adidas were the most recognised sponsors of the World Cup in Brazil, achieving recognition among 50%, 39%, 41% and 36% respectively, amongst UK, US and Brazilian consumers.
South African FA expects to be back in the black
July 25 – In a big turnaround, the South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced it is confident that when auditors complete their work, the 2013-14 account figures will show a profit.
Borgonovo and Cruyff foundations link to build new Como community facility
July 25 – An agreement to build the first Cruyff Court, a small football pitch with artificial turf, in Leoni-Via dei Mille has been signed in Como. Called ‘Cruyff Court Stefano Borgonovo’, it is planned to showcase the goals and objectives of the two foundations: the Johan Cruyff Foundation and the Stefano Borgonovo Foundation.
Croatian federation steps into racism row with its own investigation
July 25 – The row over the alleged racist incident that caused Patrick Viera to withdraw his Manchester City under-21 side during a match against HNK Rijeka has now prompted the Croatian Football Federation to start an investigation.
Jamaica to host CONCACAF U20 finals, but CFU Cup comes first
July 25 – Jamaica has stepped up to host the CONCACAF U20 championship next January. Before that the Caribbean island is hosting the finals of the CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup this November 9-18.
FIFA bosses in Qatar to meet Emir and discuss 2022 progress
July 24 – Having just wrapped one World Cup, FIFA’s top brass are already back on the road with FIFA president Sepp Blatter and general secretary Jerome Valcke in Qatar last night meeting His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and HH Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Premier League to make its big screen debut in US movie theatres
By Ben Nicholson
July 24 – NBC Sports, who own the Barclays Premier League broadcasting rights in the US, have teamed up with Fathom Events, a renowned alternative entertainment industry company that offers “one-of-a-kind entertainment events in movie theatres”, to bring the Barclays Premier League to 33 movie theatres across the USA. The pair has struck a deal to show the games on the big screen starting on the opening day of the season,
Dutch dismiss questions over 2018 World Cup participation
By Andrew Warshaw
July 24 – Dutch football authorities (KNVB) say it is far too early to discuss whether the country will take part in the 2018 World Cup in the wake of the Malaysian Airlines flight that was almost certainly shot down by Russian separatists over eastern Ukraine, killing everyone on board including 193 Dutch nationals.