Chastain to donate brain for concussion research
March 4 – US soccer icon Brandi Chastain, whose penalty won the women’s World Cup against China in 1999, has agreed to donate her brain for research into concussion.
Olympiakos again; Abandoned cup match sees government suspend competition
By Andrew Warshaw
March 4 – Greek football has been plunged into yet more disgrace after the government cancelled the domestic cup competition when the first leg of the semi-final between PAOK Salonika and Olympiakos Piraeus was abandoned due to crowd trouble.
Fox to mic-up coaches during MLS live broadcasts
By Ben Nicholson
March 4 – En route to becoming a leading world soccer league, the MLS is innovating by placing microphones on coaches during nationally televised TV games so that viewers can hear the words coming from the horse’s mouth.
IMG to take Chinese Super League to the world
By Paul Nicholson
March 3 – While international interest in China has generally been inward looking with big name players from Europe making big money transfers to Chinese clubs, the Chinese Super League (CSL) itself is also looking outward and has appointed IMG as the exclusive sales agent for its global TV rights outside of China.
Coke, Sprint and State Farm join Nike for Copa America Centenario in the US
By Samindra Kunti
March 3 – This summer’s centennial Copa America tournament in the US, the first time CONMEBOL has held the tournament outside South America and which will feature six teams from CONCACAF, has signed three high profile sponsor partners in Coca-Cola, Sprint and State Farm.
Jimenez bailed for $4m as plea bargain process begins
March 3 – The former president of the Guatemalan FA, Brayan Jimenez, pleaded not guilty and was released on $1.5 million bail Wednesday 24 hours after being extradited to the United States to faces charges for his alleged role in football’s global corruption scandal.
ITV looks to Euro 2016 to boost flat advertising performance
By Mark Baber
March 3 – UK broadcaster ITV is banking on the Euro 2016 Tournament in France to boost its ad revenues after a flat performance in the first quarter.
Match-fixing suspicions grow in Belgium as second game is identified
By Samindra Kunti
March 3 – A Belgian top-flight match between KV Oostende vs Waasland-Beveren has been identified in a German TV documentary as showing signs of betting related match-fixing. The new revelations cast what is becoming a growing shadow over Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League.
Leaderless UEFA needs Platini to step aside, says Germany’s Rauball
By Andrew Warshaw
March 3 – Michel Platini should throw in the towel and step down as UEFA president as soon as possible in order to avoid a leadership vacuum, according to the boss of the German FA.
Liverpool still feeling the Suarez effect with £60m profit boost
By Paul Nicholson
March 3 – The legacy effect of Luis Suarez at Liverpool lives on with the club reporting a record a profit of £60 million for the year to end May 2015. Suarez, sold for an estimated £75 million to Barcelona in June 2014, gave the numbers a huge boost but the club insists that money has been reinvested in buying new players.
UEFA bans Galatasaray from Europe after failure to meet FFP rules
March 3 – In a firm statement of intent, UEFA have thrown Galatasaray out of European competition for a year for breaching financial fair play rules.
English clubs hold Super League breakaway talks in London with US backer
By Andrew Warshaw
March 3 – The spectre of a breakaway European super league has been rekindled after reports that secret talks had taken place on a new closed-shop competition featuring the Continent’s biggest clubs.
Man Utd turn on the power with new Yanmar deal
March 3 – It appear Manchester United fans like motor vehicles and the club likes motor manufacturers as global sponsors. Chevrolet are the club’s shirt sponsor, and sit alongside Japanese industrial Yanmar who have extended their deal to become the club’s first Agricultural Vehicles Partner.
100-day countdown to EURO2016 begins with French focus on security and legacy
By Samindra Kunti
March 2 – EURO2016 preparations are gaining speed across France as the hosts celebrate a milestone 100 days to go until the kick-off of this summer’s big football tournament, but security remains a top concern for the organisers.
Hayatou gets cash bonus as reforms prove to be good business
March 2 – Issa Hayatou’s enthusiasm in making sure FIFA’s reform package was passed by Congress last Friday before he stepped down as acting president may be partly explained by the fact that he had a six-figure incentive.