Man City join PSG, Barca and Juve for Mexican beerfest with Tecate
October 5 – Mexican beer brand Tecate has added a fourth regional sponsorship with the addition of Manchester City from the English Premier League.
Anderlecht u-turn threatens Brussels 2020 Euro stadium
By Samindra Kunti
October 5 – Belgium’s proposed new Brussels-based stadium for the EURO2020 finals might be in danger after leading club RSC Anderlecht have pulled out of the project.
Blatter rejects US sponsors’ calls to step down immediately
By Andrew Warshaw
October 4 – Sepp Blatter has rejected the demands of a string of FIFA’s front-line US sponsors to step down immediately in the wake of the deepening corruption crisis, saying to do so would not help the beleagured organisation.
Salman says FIFA needs a ‘firm hand’, but his focus is on AFC business
By Paul Nicholson
October 2 – Speculation that Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa could become a candidate in the race for FIFA’s presidency has been met with a statement from his office saying that his priority is to represent the AFC, and his “obligations are primarily to Asia”.
Man Utd storm past beleaguered Chelsea in Twitter rankings, Arsenal next
By Paul Nicholson
October 2 – Manchester United stormed past Chelsea this week to take second spot behind Arsenal in the table of overall Twitter followers. The Red Devils put on a massive 48,707 followers compared to the Gunners’ 26,259 and Chelsea’s meagre, in comparison, 17,769.
2014 legacy: Corinthians battle to finish and fund Arena
By Samindra Kunti
October 2 – Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht is planning to finally deliver the Arena Corinthians on October 16, but the stadium will not be complete. With a number of sectors and areas around the stadium unfinished, Corinthians have expressed concern, but have said they do not intend to open legal proceedings against the builders.
Followers of fashion; but are clubs making the most of their following?
By Paul Nicholson
October 2 – The latest report from Benchmark Sports, the data division of consultants KPMG Sports, compares the popularity of Europe’s biggest football clubs with global fashion brands and finds that while the clubs may be the most popular, the fashion brands have the most money.
Estonia earmarks €5m stadium spend as national team interest grows
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
October 2 – As a result of increased interest in the home matches played by Estonia’s national team, the country’s government is planning to spend about €5 million with the aim of increasing the capacity of A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn to about 15,000 seats.
Singapore FA averts FIFA sanctions with move to end government appointments
By Mark Baber
October 2 – Under pressure from FIFA to end government interference in appointment of its officials, the Singapore FA (FAS) has delayed the appointment of new council members, promising to put a new election process in place by March 2016.
Exclusive: Chung election bid in doubt as ethics investigators close in
By Andrew Warshaw
October 2 – South Korea’s heavyweight candidate Chung Mong-joon faces the prospect of being forced to drop out of next February’s FIFA presidential election.
Platini pressure builds as now Germans question payment
By Andrew Warshaw
October 2 – While the English FA are standing by their man for the time being, the Germans are not so sure whether Michel Platini is still the right man for the job of taking over from Sepp Blatter.
David Owen: So just how hard up was FIFA in 2002? While Platini waited, one consultant banked SFr54m
The football world is agog over a SFr2 million payment made by governing body FIFA to Michel Platini, the man who aspires to be its next President, in 2011 – for work completed in 2002.
Bosnian side sack boss on FB; he ‘likes’ post; Guardiola gets tweeting
By Jamie Styles
October 2 – In what is believed be football’s first social media sacking of a top division manager, Bosnian side Drina Zvornik have fired their manager Vladica Petrovic over Facebook. If that wasn’t bizarre enough, Petrovic was apparently among the first to ‘like’ the post.
Amsterdam ArenA upgrades for 2020 Euros with dramatic new shape
By Paul Nicholson
October 2 – Amsterdam ArenA, the home of Dutch giants Ajax and which will host four matches at the 2020 European Championships, has unveiled a major €50 million renovation project that will radically alter the look of the stadium and upgrade spectator facilities.
English clubs look good to keep their CL fourth spot
By Mark Baber
October 2 – Comparatively poor results by English clubs in the Champions League last season and a disappointing opening to the Champions League groups stage have led to a spate of suggestions England may lose their fourth Champions League place to Italy. However analysis suggests this is unlikely and English club performances in European club football over the past five seasons have been second only to the Spanish.