Egyptian choice of Chechnya for World Cup base angers human rights groups
February 13 – FIFA is facing calls from human rights organisations to scrap Chechnya as a World Cup base for Egypt this summer.
Mastercard calls up Pele to #StartSomethingPriceless with Champions League campaign
February 13 – Champions League sponsor Mastercard, who last week extended its 24-year partnership for another three-year cycle to 2021, has called up Pele to activate the brand sponsorship in advance of the last 16 knockout rounds.
At €878m, Man City are the most expensive ever team in football history
February 13 – No other club in history has spent as much as Manchester City to assemble a playing squad. At €878 million Man City have spent €73 million more than Paris St Germain and €131 million more than neighbours Man Utd, though they are having a Red Devil of a time under big spender Jose Mourinho to close that gap.
Tackling Matchfixing: Should we being doing more? Are you kidding me, says de Medeiros
February 12 – Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros does not mince his worlds when it comes to issues of sports integrity. More needs to be done, it needs to be done now and these are non-negotiable conditions. For de Medeiros, tackling matchfixing is very firmly in the middle of that mix of integrity issues globally that have to be addressed.
Exclusive: Agent sues FIFA after cutting him out of VIVO sponsorship commission
By Andrew Warshaw
February 12 – The way FIFA did business in order to secure a top Chinese sponsor for the World Cup has been seriously called into question by the man who claims he brokered the deal but was cut out from receiving commission in return.
Portugal clinch their first Euro Futsal title, while Iran run away with their 12th in Asia
February 12 – Portugal claimed their maiden UEFA Futsal Championship title by defeating Spain 3-2 in extra time in Slovenia. In Asia, Iran took the highest honours, beating Japan 4-0.
Cordeiro beats off big names and better fancied challengers for US Soccer presidency
By Paul Nicholson
February 12 – It took three rounds of voting before Carlos Cordeiro emerged triumphant in the ballot for the US Soccer Federation presidency. Cordeiro, who has been the US federation’s vice president for the last two years and an independent board member for nine years, fought off eight challengers for the post in what proved to be a canny campaign that appealed to the broader base of US soccer’s community.
CAS cuts South Korean Chung’s ban leaving him clear to return to football’s family
By Andrew Warshaw
February 12 – Former FIFA vice president Chung Mong-joon, for years one of world football’s most powerful administrators, has been cleared to work again after partially winning his appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport against his five-year ban for failing to cooperate with ethics investigators.
Gulati’s gone but will Cordeiro allow US youth clubs to receive training compensation fees
By Paul Nicholson
February 12 – Sunil Gulati may now have left the presidency of the US Soccer Federation but he leaves behind one huge legacy issue in the shape of training compensation for youth players and whether the US is going to abide by FIFA rules and conventions or go it alone and continue to refuse the training payment solidarity principles.
Man Utd get a shot in the arm with Cho-A Pharm sponsor extension
February 12 – South Korean pharmaceuticals company, Cho-A Pharm, has renewed its sponsorship of Manchester United as the club’s Official Pharmaceuticals partner in South Korea and Vietnam.
South Korean Son picks up his AFC Award at Wembley
February 12 – Tottenham Hotspur and South Korea forward Son Heung-min was presented with the Asian Football Confederation’s Asian International Player of the Year award at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
Chinese eBike maker Yadea glides in as Russia 2018 regional sponsor for Asia
By Mark Baber
February 9 – The Chinese company Yadea, a market leader in the production of electric-powered motorcycles, bicycles and scooters, has signed on as a Regional Supporter of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Norway’s Svendsen in ethics hot water over comments on Russian doping claims and FIFA
By Andrew Warshaw
February 9 – The boss of Norwegian football has allegedly been reported to FIFA’s ethics committee for remarks he made about Russia being thrown out because of the ongoing doping scandal.
Sanchez agrees £1.42m deal with Spanish courts but still handed prison sentence
February 9 – New Manchester United recruit Alexis Sanchez has “accepted” a prison sentence for tax fraud in Spain, according to his agent, though he won’t have to serve jail time. The Sanchez camp described the settlement as “entirely unjust”, forcing Sanchez and other players into a deal with the tax authorities in Spain.
Mastercard becomes 4th UEFA Champions League renewal for 2018-21 cycle
February 9 – Mastercard have become the fifth sponsor to sign up for the 2018-21 cycle of UEFA Champions League rights, following on from the announcement earlier this week that PepsiCo were renewing their deal with the top level of club competition in Europe.