Inside World Football - Page 875 of 2022 - For the Business of Football

Khan pulls out of £600m Wembley deal citing lack of support

Wembley calling?

By Andrew Warshaw

October 18 – Would it have been a national disgrace or was it vital for developing the country’s grass-roots game? The jury was out but now it makes no difference after the English Football Association’s proposed £600 million sale of Wembley stadium to Pakistani-American billionaire Shahid Khan unexpectedly fell through on Wednesday when the owner of Premier League Fulham and the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team suddenly withdrew his offer.

Football Asia

Iran’s hardline prosecutor slams doors on Iranian women attending football

October 18 – Any hopes that Iran might permanently relax its ban on women attending football matches have been well and truly dashed, with the country’s prosecutor general saying such a move would “lead to sin”.

Integrity

Former Barca boss Rosell’s trial date set for 2019 in €20m money laundering case

October 18 – Spanish prosecutors are reported to have set a February trial date for former Barcelona strongman Sandro Rosell who is accused of money laundering related to television rights and sponsorship of the Brazilian national football team.

Finance

Same old Arsenal, always unaccountable? Fans express concern over financials

Arsenal 28_Sept

October 18 – Arsenal is transitioning from Arsene Wenger to Unai Emery, and from being a publicly traded company to a privately owned football club. As the changes take place so the financial transparency and supporter interaction with the club is taking a new shape.

Europe

Caught between the Hard Rock and Real Madrid anger. LaLiga’s US game has issues

October 18 – The dispute over plans to play a La Liga fixture in the USA in January has taken yet another twist with Real Madrid officially protesting the move by writing to Spain’s football federation.

Integrity

A question of trust. SIGA’s New York session sends message to sports they must do more

October 18 – A SIGA Special Session in New York highlighted the increasing importance of good governance to world sport’s major sponsors who sent a clear message that if they are to spend big dollars they should be seen by rights holders as stakeholders and not just cash cows.

South America

Uruguayans want former boss Valdez removed from FIFA Council

October 18 – With the threat of further scandal hanging over their confederation, Uruguayan clubs have voted in favour of removing their former FA president Wilmar Valdez (pictured) from his FIFA Council role, a move that will be taken forward to Friday’s Conmebol congress for formal action by member federations.

Premier League focused on TV execs to replace Scudamore

October 18 – It is a sign of how far the football business has progressed to being part of the entertainment business that senior executives from the BBC and ITV have been shortlisted as the frontrunners to replace Richard Scudamore as chief executive of the Premier League, according to Sky.

Football Marketing

Man City go cashless with tappit for fan events in UK and Asia

October 18 – Manchester City have agreed a deal with cashless experts tappit, who becomes the Club’s Official Events Cashless Payments Partner.

FIFA

Platini sues FIFA for ‘criminal conspiracy’ over $2m payment that brought him down

By Andrew Warshaw

October 17 – His critics may describe his actions as verging on paranoia but banned former UEFA chief Michel Platini remains steadfast in his attempt to clear his name and prove he was the victim of a plot engineered by former FIFA officials.

Football Asia

Iran lets women in to Azadi Stadium to watch Bolivia friendly

By Samindra Kunti

October 17 – In a rare move Iran allowed women to attend Team Meli’s friendly with Bolivia on Tuesday in Tehran. Women have been banned from watching football in the country since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Africa

Madagascar win qualifies them for their first AFCON finals

October 17 – Madagascar have qualified for their maiden African Cup of Nations finals after defeating Equatorial Guinea 1-0 in Vontovorona. They will be joined in Group A by Senegal and north African powerhouses Egypt and Tunisia for the 2019 finals.

Europe

Turkish prosecutors call for 12-year jail term for Barca’s on-loan bar brawler Turan

October 17 – Turkish prosecutors have charged Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan over a brawl with a well-known Turkish pop singer and have called for a jail sentence of 12 years.

Football Marketing

Bookies looking for sponsorship edge could see boost for club shirt deals

By Paul Nicholson

October 17 – A self-imposed broadcast advertising ban by bookmakers on pre-9pm ads could drive UK betting sponsors and their marketing money back to clubs and drive up the value of premium shirt sponsorship positions.

Foul-mouthed Mourinho charged by FA for abusive language

October 17 – As if any extra spice were needed when Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho returns to his former club Chelsea for a crunch fixture this coming weekend, Mourinho has been charged over comments he made in Portuguese to a television camera after his side’s recent win over Newcastle.