LaLiga drives tech business with expanded Microsoft deal
May 20 – LaLiga are expanding their Microsoft partnership, announcing the tech giant as LaLiga’s global Tech and Innovation Partner.
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,
England target 700,000+ ticket sales for women’s Euros and a ‘turbo-charged’ legacy
By Paul Nicholson
May 19 – Women’s Euro 2022 organisers England have unveiled ticketing and legacy plans for the tournament that aims to sell more than 700,000 tickets and see more than 120,000 girls playing across the nine host cities.
World Cup every two years? FIFA members to discuss feasibility study proposal
By Samindra Kunti
May 19 – A World Cup every two years? It was once mooted by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, but the idea could gain traction again after the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) asked FIFA to conduct a feasibility study on the impact of playing both the men’s and women’s global finals on a biennial basis.
Bundesliga clubs turn down private equity cash to go it alone, ‘for now’
May 19 – Bundesliga clubs have turned down interest from private equity investors expressing an interest in investing in a minority stake in the newly created entities that will sell the league’s international rights.
Benzema back in favour in France despite pending court case
May 19 – Karim Benzema’s exile from the French national team over a sex-tape scandal is at an end. In a surprise move Didier Deschamps has recalled the Madrid striker for Les Bleus’ Euro 2020 squad.
Hodgson calls time on his five decade football career
May 19 – Former England manager and Crystal Palace legend Roy Hodgson will retire from the game at the end of the season. He was a pioneer for British coaches abroad and coached the Three Lions in the twilight of his five-decade career in the game.
beIN builds in France with new LaLiga deal secured and other major rights in pipeline
May 19 – beIN Sports has extended its broadcast rights deal with Spain’s LaLiga for the French market until 2024.
Saudis deliver on AFC Champions League hosting and welcome teams back for more
May 19 – The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) have enhanced their AFC Cup 2027 bid hosting credentials following the successful completion of three groups of the East Zone 2021 AFC Champions League.
French FA cost cutting will mean staff lay-offs
May 19 – The embattled French Football Federation (FFF) will downsize operations by letting 26 employees go in a bid to tackle a projected deficit for the 2020/21 season.
FIFA Ethics’ integrity under fire as elections could make Rojas the judge of her own cases
By Paul Nicholson
May 18 – FIFA Ethics’ chair of its investigatory chamber, Colombian Claudia Rojas, could switch to the chair of its adjudicatory chamber following voting by member associations that closes today. If elected as head of the judiciary, it would mean she would have the final judgement on ongoing cases she has opened and/or investigated.
Player-led petition for an independent football regulator tops 100,000
May 18 – A UK parliamentary petition has now topped more than 100,000 signatures calling an independent regulator in English football.
Kane wants out of Spurs. £150m windfall for Levy?
May 18 – It’s the news every Tottenham Hotspur fan has been dreading. England captain Harry Kane has reportedly asked to leave at the end of the season, marking the end of an era and sparking a scramble among Europe’s richest clubs for the prolific striker’s prized signature.
UEFA’s Women’s Champions League gets rebrand and boost in prize money
May 18 – On Sunday, FC Barcelona were crowned champions of Europe with a thumping 4-0 win against English champions Chelsea in the Women’s Champions League. It marked a new high point in perception for the women’s game in Europe, with two of the biggest men’s clubs on the continent demonstrating they take the women’s game seriously.
Keller quits to allow for ‘deep-rooted and necessary restart’ at DFB
May 18 – Confirmation has now been made that Fritz Keller (pictured) has officially resigned with immediate effect as president of the German Football Association after sparking a wave of criticism for comparing his colleague to a notorious Nazi judge.
Aussie govt steps in with $9.6m elite funding in run-up to 2023 Women’s World Cup
May 18 – With Australia set to co-host with New Zealand the Women’s 2023 World Cup, the government has announced new funding for the federation’s high-performance women’s programme.