Inside Insight: Let’s destroy Russia, Qatar – and of course Brazil
It is a bit rough to be writing about such enormously important things like football when the world around us appears to be going completely bonkers. Wars in every corner of the square-headed globe, some idiot developing and launching ever “better” drones (they kill faster and with laser gun precision), robots that will replace humans by 2029, and are smarter – well, hardly a difficult task considering the stupidity that reigns everywhere where humans congregate.
Poland’s Gornik Zabrze signs beer brand Lomza as new main sponsor
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
February 26 – Gornik Zabrze has signed a sponsorship contract with Browar Lomza, owner of the Lomza beer brand. The company is the new main sponsor of the Polish football club, Gornik said in a statement.
Leeds takeover stalled as Cellino waits for Football League approval
February 26 – The takeover of Leeds United by controversial Italian agricultural entrepreneur Massimo Cellino has still not been approved by the relevant authorities, it has emerged. The Football League has said it “remains in discussions” with the club even though the 57-year-old Italian businessman exchanged contracts with current owners GFH to buy a 75% stake in the Championship club earlier this month.
Dortmund bans fan after Nazi outburst during minutes silence
February 26 – Borussia Dortmund, last season’s beaten Champions League finalists, have banned a supporter from their stadium until 2020 for shouting “Sieg Heil” during a minute’s silence before last weekend’s game at Hamburg SV.
Anelka hearing is a ‘test case’ for English fight against racism
By Andrew Warshaw
February 26 – The hearing into former French international striker Nicolas Anelka’s infamous ‘quenelle’ gesture is reported to have begun at an undisclosed location. Anelka has been charged by the English Football Association for use the reverse Nazi salute, brought to prominence by controversial French comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, as a goal celebration. The much-travelled striker, who faces a minimum five-match ban if found guilty, has denied the charge of making a gesture that was “abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper”.
Ukraine to shift US friendly to Cypriot venue
By Andrew Warshaw
February 26 – The political crisis in Ukraine has forced the country’s March 5 friendly against the United States, scheduled to take place in Kharkiv, to be moved to Cyprus due to the unstable and often violent situation.
Adidas pulls ‘sexual’ T-shirt range after Brazil complains
By Paul Nicholson
February 26 – Adidas has fallen foul of the Brazilian government and, following a formal complaint, has pulled a range of World Cup products that were using sex appeal to promote Brazil-themed T-shirts.
Magpies stay in the black as faithful fans and player sales boost financials
By David Owen
February 25 – Newcastle United has announced an after-tax profit of £9.9 million for the year to June 2013, after booking a £10.6 million profit on player trading. If the business continues to progress in the same way this year Newcastle look set for a serious profit in 2013-14. Maybe as much as £30 million.
Athletico join Barca and Real in race for naming rights cash for new stadium
By Matt Scott
February 26 – Spain’s three leading clubs are exploring major naming-rights partnerships to support their new-stadium construction projects, according to the sponsorship agency Euromericas Sport Marketing.
Sluggish PUMA gambles on an injection of pace
By Matt Scott
February 26 – Puma, Europe’s second-largest sportswear manufacturer, has suffered a damaging drop in sales amid what its chief executive, Björn Gulden, has described as “a challenging year”.
Aurubis to sponsor Ludogorets youth academy
By Alexander Krassimirov
February 25 – German company Aurubis (formerly Norddeutsche Affinerie AG) is poised to sign a co-operation agreement with Bulgarian champions of Ludogorets Razgrad to provide a boost to the club’s youth academy. In March the company will sponsor trials with those selected joining the club’s academy.
Matt Scott: Football’s new megastars are worlds away from the players of yore
“I have hit rock bottom and I don’t see any way out of it,” Chelsea’s former European Cup Winners’ Cup winner, Alan Hudson
Alan Hudson is 62 years of age now but when he was the playmaker for a useful Chelsea team during the 1970s he was one of the Kings of the King’s Road. He was a household name, leading a lifestyle as flamboyant as the football he played over the 400-plus top-flight appearances he made as the creative force of clubs that consistently challenged for trophies.
FIFA extends English and Slovakian player bans worldwide
February 25 – FIFA has extended the bans worldwide to one English and two Slovakian players following allegations of match-fixing. The sanctions are an enforcement of penalties that have already been issued by their national federations.
Rangers borrow £1.5m but players refuse to take wage cuts
February 25 – Scottish giant Rangers have announced to the stock exchange £1.5 million loan from shareholders to provide short term working capital to the club. The club is listed on the London AIM market.