Out on a Lim. Valencia owner sacks sixth manager in six years
June 30 – Valencia have been plunged into chaos after sacking coach Albert Celades and appointing long-standing club servant Voro until the end of the Spanish La Liga season.
Author: Paul Nicholson
ESA survey finds confidence is returning for recovery of sponsorship business
June 30 – The European Sponsorship Association (ESA) has released results from the second edition of its ESA Sponsorship Sentiment Tracker, indicating that there is a growing confidence in the sponsorship business as coronavirus lockdown is eased across Europe.
Infantino says FIFA is still chasing Germany 2006’s elusive €6.7m ‘funny’ money
By Andrew Warshaw
June 29 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino says the organisation has not given up getting its money back following the collapse of the 2006 World Cup fraud trial in Switzerland, insisting the story “is not finished” and hinting FIFA’s ethics apparatus is pursuing its own investigation.
Serie A forfeits millions as beIN forces rebate that will shake up TV rights market
By Paul Nicholson
June 29 – Serie A returned to beIN Sport TV schedules at the weekend following the last-minute conclusion of a deal between the broadcaster and the league over a reduction in the rights fees to be paid.
Swiss investigators to dig deeper into Platini’s ‘disloyal’ CHF2m
June 29 – Swiss federal prosecutors have cited former UEFA president Michel Platini in a widening of their probe into the infamous CHF 2 million “disloyal payment” made to him in 2011 by then FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
First Everton, now Villa. Cazoo park their football marketing bus
By David Owen
June 29 – Aston Villa, the famous old Birmingham-based club currently lying next to last in the Premier League table, have signed online car retailer Cazoo as their new shirt sponsor and “principal partner”.
Rio’s on-off Carioca returns with plan to admit fans from July 10
June 29 – Football with fans in the stadia will be played in Rio de Janeiro from July 10, at one-third capacity, following a decree from local authorities. On Sunday, the Carioca championship resumed again after the mayor had suspended the tournament.
Aussies revert to Pom-bashing after failing to win English vote for WWC 2023
June 29 – A leading Australian commentator has heaped scorn on the English FA for refusing to back his country’s joint bid with New Zealand to stage the 2023 women’s World Cup.
Bayern conclude Bundesliga with title encore and sights set on completing double
June 29 – The German Bundesliga became the first major European league to conclude after the unprecedented coronavirus shutdown in March with serial champions Bayern Munich cruising the victory at Wolfsburg this weekend, Thomas Muller making history and Werder Bremen condemned to the promotion-relegation play-off.
English grassroots re-seeded with £9m of support for 10,000 pitches and 4,000 clubs
June 29 – While English focus has been on the restart of the Premier League and Championship, grassroots football has received a boost with the FA and the Government, through Sport England, making £2.19 million available via the Football Foundation to help clubs return to football.
20 players test positive as MLS teams gather in Florida for restart tournament
June 29 – Major League Soccer (MLS) says 20 players and six club staff have tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the ‘MLS is Back Tournament’ set to begin on July 8.
2023 World Cup vote reveals the unhealing deep divisions between FIFA and Europe
By Andrew Warshaw
June 26 – Australia and New Zealand no doubt celebrated long into the night – or rather the morning given the time difference – after securing victory over Colombia to win the right to stage the 2023 women’s World Cup and make history by taking it to the southern hemisphere for the first time.
Infantino says his Swiss judiciary scandal is ‘absurd’, as buddy Lauber looks a lost cause
By Andrew Warshaw and Paul Nicholson
June 26 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino, unable to shake off continuing suspicion over his motives for undocumented meetings with under-fire Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber, has broken his silence by insisting it was “absurd” to suggest he had done anything wrong.
Brazil’s Serie A schedules August start and unveils plans to play a full season
June 26 – The Brazilian FA (CBF) and local clubs are projecting an early August start and February finish for the national championship. The coronavirus pandemic prevented the top flight league from kicking off in May.
FIFA flags $280m loss for 2019 and will raid reserves to fund $1.5bn Covid relief plan
By David Owen
June 26 – FIFA will raid its well-stocked reserves to finance a COVID-19 relief plan that will make up to $1.5 billion available to the wider “football community”.