30% think Nike was an Official World Cup sponsor

World Cup sponsors

July 25 – A newly published survey of UK, US and Brazilian consumers finds that Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Visa and Adidas were the most recognised sponsors of the World Cup in Brazil, achieving recognition among 50%, 39%, 41% and 36% respectively, amongst UK, US and Brazilian consumers.

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Premier League to make its big screen debut in US movie theatres

NBC Sports and Premier League

By Ben Nicholson
July 24 – NBC Sports, who own the Barclays Premier League broadcasting rights in the US, have teamed up with Fathom Events, a renowned alternative entertainment industry company that offers “one-of-a-kind entertainment events in movie theatres”, to bring the Barclays Premier League to 33 movie theatres across the USA. The pair has struck a deal to show the games on the big screen starting on the opening day of the season,

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Dutch dismiss questions over 2018 World Cup participation

Dutch mourn deaths

By Andrew Warshaw
July 24 – Dutch football authorities (KNVB) say it is far too early to discuss whether the country will take part in the 2018 World Cup in the wake of the Malaysian Airlines flight that was almost certainly shot down by Russian separatists over eastern Ukraine, killing everyone on board including 193 Dutch nationals.

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Ghana investigation prompts FIFA warning on government meddling

Ghana player

July 24 – Ghana could be the latest African country to face being sanctioned by FIFA after the government announced a three-member commission to look into the activities of the national team. FIFA has written to the Ghana FA over moves to investigate the Black Stars’ poor performance on the pitch – and disputes off it – at the World Cup in Brazil.

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Bien-Aime becomes second woman to head a national federation at TCIFA

Jeffrey Webb CONCACAF President Sonia Bien-Aime TCIFA President and Gordon Derrick CFU President

By Paul Nicholson
July 24 – FIFA executive committee member Sonia Bien-Amie has become one of only two female presidents currently heading their national federations, the other is Sierra Leone’s Isha Johansen. Bien-Aime was elected president at the Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) at the association’s AGM earlier this week. She has been general secretary of the TCIFA for the past eight years.

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