By Paul Nicholson
September 21 – FIFA sponsor Coca-Cola has teamed up with FIFA 18 video gamemaker EA Sports to sign Alex Hunter as a brand ambassador in advance of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Don’t bother trying to work out who Hunter plays for, he only exists as a virtual athlete in the FIFA 18 game.
September 20 – MLS side LA Galaxy have linked with the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) to promote the charity’s ‘H20 Claro’ campaign to Hispanic communities in Los Angeles.
By Paul Nicholson
September 19 – It is one of the most important positions in FIFA if done correctly, and in the past one of the most corrupted. FIFA has appointed CONCACAF president and FIFA vice president, Victor Montagliani as chairman of FIFA Ticketing AG, the FIFA subsidiary that controls and administers the global sale of tickets for the World Cup.
September 19 – Stats from app creator RightNow Digital indicate that the transfer window offers clubs a big opportunity to engage with their fans. In 2017 there was a 300% increase in fan app activity.
September 19 – Everton’s announcement of video game Angry Birds as its first sleeve sponsor turned into a social media gift Monday as the club’s returned child progidy Wayne Rooney was convicted of drunk driving. Twitter was buzzing with comment on the irony.
By Paul Nicholson
September 18 – Qatar-based sports broadcaster beIN Sport which holds the TV rights to multiple sports events across 43 countries where it is distributed has joined with 10 of its rightsholders to protest against Saudi Arabian focused web channel beoutQ, which it says is broadcasting beIN’s propriety content in Saudi Arabia without permission.
September 15 – Atlético Madrid open their new 67,703-capacity Estadio Wanda Metropolitano stadium tomorrow with a 12 hour celebration that will include their first home match of the season against Malaga.
September 14 – New Balance has expanded into Russia with the its first kit deal with a Russian Super League club FC Rubin.
By Paul Nicholson
September 13 – Sky and the English Football League (EFL) have agreed a five-year £600 million broadcasting deal starting with the 2019/20 season.
September 13 – Real Madrid have partnered with Lai Sun Group to create a presence at a Chinese theme park in a cultural development in Hengqin, China.
By Paul Nicholson
September 11 – With the first round of Champions League fixtures kicking off this week, Japan’s motor company Nissan has confirmed a three-year extension to its global sponsorship, taking it through to the end of the 2020/21 season.
September 11 – Chinese sponsorship of its Super League clubs is showing signs of growth beyond its traditional single benefactor status, where the main sponsor is generally the business owning the club and often has the company name branded into the club’s identity.
September 9 – Indian tyre brand MRF has signed a hat-trick of sleeve sponsorships in the Premier League signing Newcastle United, West Ham United, and West Bromwich Albion in one-season deals taking them through to May 2018.
September 8 – Sports fashion retailer JD has become the first shirt sleeve sponsor of Premier League new boys Brighton & Hove Albion in an initial one season deal. No value was given for the sponsorship.
September 7 – Inter Milan have hooked up with Japanese company iCure to share best practices in the field of physiotherapy and rehabilitation as part of the Inter Academy Health project.