Nigeria adds Nigerian Breweries to sponsor roster in 5-year deal
February 1 – Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nigerian Breweries “have consummated a remarkable Sponsorship agreement.”
News
Spurs double up on Man Utd with Wembley win and second attendance record
February 1 – Tottenham Hotspur broke the Premier League attendance record for the second time this season with a crowd of 81,978 at Wembley Stadium to see them beat Manchester United.
Pro-eSports gamers earn more than 25% of English pro footballers
February 1 – The fledgling football eSports industry – based predominantly around the EA Sports FIFA game – is growing up fast with professional FIFA gamers often earning more money than professional footballers.
Presidential candidate Hope Solo slams USSF’s ‘profit before progress’ policy
January 31 – Hope Solo, the United States’ World Cup-winning goalkeeper who has thrown her hat into the ring for presidency of the US Soccer Federation, has filed a legal complaint against the USSF for what she claims is a “blatant violation” of a legal code protecting athletes.
Brussels Eurostadium project demolished before a brick is laid
By Samindra Kunti
January 31 – Flemish authorities shattered construction plans for Belgium’s ‘Eurostadium’ on Tuesday. In December Brussels was stripped by UEFA of its Euro 2020 hosting rights and replaced by London’s Wembley Stadium after delays in the stadium project.
Global transfer spend hits $6.37bn in 2017, says TMS report
By Andrew Warshaw
January 31 – As the winter transfer window in Europe draws to a close, the eye-watering scale of global spending on players has been laid bare by FIFA’s latest Transfer Market Report.
Premier League signs first of new TV rights deals with BBC for £211.5m
January 31 – The first of the Premier League’s new domestic TV deals has been announced with the BBC agreeing a £211.5 million deal, securing its iconic Match of the Day highlights show.
Italian football in crisis as FIGC fails to elect president
By Mark Baber
January 30 – The Italian FA (FIGC) were unable to elect a new president on Monday, despite four rounds of voting, underlining the crisis in Italian football which has seen racism tolerated at the highest levels, seen the national team (currently coach-less) eliminated in qualifying for the World Cup and now sees vacancies in the top positions at the FIGC and Serie A.
Adidas see red. UEFA opens up referees kit contract to new suppliers
January 30 – The stranglehold that German leisurewear and kit manufacturer had Adidas over the UEFA’s competitions looks to be gently releaseing.
Dortmund bus bomb victim Bartra testifies to lucky escape
January 30 – Marc Bartra, Borussia Dortmund’s Spanish defender injured when the team bus was bombed last April, says he is lucky to be alive.
No gifts, no bungs, no collusion. Is 2026 World Cup the most boring FIFA vote ever?
By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – As serious lobbying for the 2026 World Cup gets under way, FIFA has reminded its federations not to break strict new guidelines when it comes to their dealings with the two contenders ahead of the vote in June.
Beckham’s Miami MLS franchise launched with south Florida fanfare and 2020 target
By Andrew Warshaw
January 30 – It’s taken over four years but it’s finally happening. Not rumours, not heightened speculation but from the man himself. David Beckham’s long-awaited team in Miami is up and running.
From Sochi to Saint Petersburg – via Grozny. Russia’s 2018 World Cup base camps
By David Owen
January 30 – Twenty years have passed since I was dispatched on one of those hardship assignments: a visit to L’Ecole Nationale Supérieure de la Pâtisserie in a quiet little town noted for its brioches in La France profonde.
Mexico end 8 years of US dominance to take CONCACAF U20 Women’s title
January 30 – Mexico broke the four-championship winning streak of the US to take their first-ever CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s title at the weekend in Trinidad. A 4-2 penalty shoot out win made it third final lucky for the Mexicans who had lost to the US in 2010and 2014.
Obituary: Martin Wagner, a football entrepreneur and a special friend
January 29 – The respected media lawyer, entrepreneur, father to three children, dedicated husband and a man of vision, Dr Martin Wagner, was brutally slain on Sunday, January 28, 2018 in his home outside Basel, Switzerland.