April 5 – The speaker line up for the FT/IFA is taking shape with FIFA president Sepp Blatter to give the keynote and British Airways chairman Sir Martin Broughton headlining.
Taking place at the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro on June 17, the FT/IFA Business of Football Summit is timed for the day after Italy play Mexico in their opening match of the competition in the iconic Maracanã stadium in Rio that is just completing refurbishment. Brazil open the tournament the day before in Brasilia against Japan.
Sir Martin Broughton will feature on a panel titled Freestyle and will share his thoughts on the future of football as well as tackling any ‘hot spot’ issues arising.
Other speakers confirmed include Globo executive director Marcelo de Campos Pinto and Corinthians vice president Luis Paulo Rosenberg.
The conference will be chaired by FT sports correspondent Roger Blitz. Chelsea CEO Ron Gourlay will also be on a panel bringing the Premier League perspective to the debate.
The involvement of the Financial Times at an IFA event is a first for IFA which has its developed its own style with its conferences that invariably create unusual and unexpected networking opportunities around an often eclectic schedule. The FT involvement will bring an analytical and business edge to the discussion and topics like ‘Is the football economy in a bubble?’ and ‘Where is the new growth in the football market?’
For more information go to www.internationalfootball.com or www.ft-live.com/football
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