Inside World Football - Page 1278 of 2207 - For the Business of Football

Money points to a Barca, Bayern or Real CL win, but can Juve upset the cash balance

Champions League graphic

By Paul Nicholson

April 13 – The last eight teams in the Champions League quarter finals show a disparity of income that would indicate the 2017 winners will almost inevitable be one of Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich. But with Juventus taking a three goal lead into their second leg at Barcelona and Real Madrid or Bayern destined to knock one or the other out, the comparative have-nots might still have their day.

Europe

Dortmund complain UEFA gave players no choice over rescheduled Monaco game

By Andrew Warshaw

April 13 – Handed a rare home defeat in their re-arranged Champions League quarterfinal first leg, Borussia Dortmund have thrown the book at UEFA claiming European football’s governing body “totally ignored” the players’ state of mind following the previous day’s explosions near the team bus that led to the fixture being postponed for a mere 24 hours.

Europe

EFL clubs confirm introduction of goalline technology for next season

goalline incident

April 13 – Goalline technology will be used in this season’s English Championship play-offs before being introduced in all second-tier matches in 2017-18.

Champions League

Leicester fans clash with Madrid police before Athletico match

April 13 – Leicester City fans were involved in ugly clashes with Spanish police ahead of their Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid in the latest outbreak of violence involving English supporters.

Finance

At over £110K a week Man Utd player earns 281 times more than a fan

ball and money

By Paul Nicholson

April 13 – Manchester United pay their players on average 281 times more than their fans earn, the third highest differential in Europe, only beaten by Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid who pay their players 350 times what the average fan earns.

Concacaf

Drogba joins Bravo at USL’s Phoenix Rising with sights set on MLS

April 13 – Former Ivory Coast, Chelsea and most recently Montreal Impact forward Didier Drogba has become the biggest name to join US challenger league the USL, the second tier of professional football in the US.

Spurs combine with William Hill to boost local job opportunities

April 13 – Tottenham Hotspur who are redeveloping their White Hart Lane stadium as the centrepiece of a regeneration of their local area, have launched a new programme with bookmakers William Hill aimed at helping young people in Haringey into employment.

Europe

Relaxed but eerie atmosphere in Dortmund as fans and clubs return to CL business

By Samindra Kunti in Dortmund

April 12 – It should have been a 90-minute football fest of supremely gifted talents, coached by Thomas Tuchel and Leonardo Jardim, two of the best in the business.

FIFA

US, Canada and Mexico push agenda for early 2026 award at FIFA Congress in May

By Paul Nicholson and Andrew Warshaw

April 12 – The United States, Mexico and Canada have somewhat cheekily asked FIFA to fast-track their bid to stage the 2026 World Cup without a proper competitive process.

Europe

Fans, players and officials show solidarity in aftermath of Dortmund bus bomb

By Andrew Warshaw

April 12 – The football world has reacted with shock and dismay after Tuesday’s Champions League tie between Borussia Dortmund and Monaco had to be postponed because of three explosions close to the Dortmund team bus.

FIFA

FIFA Congress agenda to tackle issues of Ethics, Israeli clubs and … their pay

FIFA Congress opening

By Andrew Warshaw

April 12 – Whilst the process for hosting the 2026 World Cup is perhaps the standout item on the agenda for next month’s FIFA Congress (see separate article), the future of FIFA’s ethics committee and the crisis involving Palestine and Israel are also up for potentially contentious discussion in Bahrain.

Africa

African music for European club ears. Ahmad considers shifting AFCON’s Jan dates

April 12 – The new president of African football, Ahmad Ahmad, has hinted that he is open to the idea of changing the dates of the African Cup of Nations, the confederation’s flagship event.

Football Marketing

Qatar Airways poised to fly FIFA financial rescue mission

April 12 – After struggling to find fresh commercial sponsors in the wake of the corruption probe that brought the organisation to its knees, Fifa is set to seal a major partnership with Qatar Airways within weeks, agency reports have quoted unnamed sources as saying.

Concacaf

US, Canada and Mexico outline 2026 bid plans with Trump on board and 60 games in US

By Andrew Warshaw

April 11 – An expanded tournament to 48 teams, Gianni Infantino’s encouragement for a return to co-hosting and the re-establishment of rotation. It has all played very nicely into the hands of CONCACAF whose three biggest members have, as expected, now officially announced their intention to bid for the 2026 World Cup.

Football Marketing

Twitter: Man Utd break weekly record as Chelsea continue to outgun Arsenal

Twiter spat

April 11 – Manchester United broke their own impressive Twitter record this week putting on a massive 95,700 new followers, a weekly record for this season. It was also another good week for Chelsea who continued their weekly twitter dominance of Arsenal with their own season record 67.200 new followers.