Brazil’s Santos sells stadium naming rights to Viva Sorte
August 15 – Brazilian club Santos has sold the naming rights of its stadium to a financial investment company, transforming the Vila Belmiro into the Vila Viva Sorte.
South America
Gremio opens Copa Libertadores with a win as Brazilian clubs stay dominant
August 14 – On Tuesday, Gremio opened the knockout phase of the Copa Libertadores with a 2-1 first-leg round of sixteen victory against defending champions Fluminense in an all-Brazilian affair.
Former director warns organised crime has a grip of Brazil’s Corinthians
August 9 – Former director Rubens Gomes has said that organised crime is infiltrating Corinthians after police interrogated him over the breakdown of the club’s partnership with Vaidebet.
Uruguay to upgrade iconic Centenario Stadium for 2030 World Cup hosting
August 1 – Uruguay has solidified plans to renovate its iconic Centenario Stadium as part of its preparations for the 2030 World Cup, following the official submission of the joint hosting bid book on Monday.
Corinthians emerges from VaideBet fall-out with new bookie sponsor Esportes da Sorte
July 30 – Brazilian Serie A side Corinthians have secured a new front-of-shirt partnership with betting site Esportes da Sorte until 2027, as they join forces with yet another gambling firm in the wake of VaideBet’s early exit last month.
Flamengo in talks with Portugal’s Leixões to increase European footprint
July 23 – Brazil’s Flamengo have revived plans to build their brand in Europe, entering talks with Portuguese club Leixões.
Fans file lawsuits against Conmebol and Hard Rock over Copa America chaos
July 22 – The first lawsuits have been filed by fans against Conmbel and the operators of Hard Rock Stadium in the wake of the chaos surrounding the Copa América final a week ago.
Lloris says Argentine players need to set a global example, not a racist precedent
July 19 – Former French captain Hugo Lloris has waded into the Argentina racism row by declaring that racist chants about French players were an “attack on French people”.
Parimatch agrees regional partnership with Argentine FA
July 19 – International betting brand Parimatch has agreed an exclusive regional partnership with the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
Argentina sacks sports minister for demanding Messi apologises for teams’ racist chanting
July 18 – The racism row concerning members of Argentina’s Copa America-winning squad has taken a dramatic twist with the sacking by the government of undersecretary for Sports, Julio Garro.
Colombian FA chief and FIFA Council member arrested at Copa America final
July 16 – A Conmebol vice-president and leading FIFA official was among 27 people arrested during the crowd control debacle that marred the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia in Miami.
Chaotic pre-match fails to stop Argentina winning Copa America in Miami
July 15 – Before the final of Copa America between holders, Argentina and pretenders, Colombia, Uruguay coach, Marcelo Bielsa ripped Conmebol and hosts, the United States. He said that the pitches were unsuitable, the training grounds a disaster, that the US used FIFA lawsuits for its own interests, and that security was a joke.
Between a rock and a hard place: Copa America ends in chaos as fans storm Miami stadium
July 15 – Argentina retained the Copa America with a 1-0 win over Colombia on Sunday but the showpiece finale was overshadowed by yet more organisational issues that from the start beset the tournament in the United States – joint hosts of the next World Cup.
Conmebol opens probe into Uruguayan players fight with fans and warns against further violence
July 12 – Conmebol have opened a disciplinary investigation into the “acts of violence” at the end of Wednesday’s Copa America semi-final between Uruguay and Colombia.
10-man Colombia beat Uruguay to set up Copa America final against Argentina
July 11 – It has been said that speed and chaos kill! If that’s the case, there was a mass murder at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, because Colombia and Uruguay simply tore into each other at 100mph in a breathtaking display of commitment, desire, and aggression for the right to play Argentina in the Copa America final on Sunday.