Paddy Power bets on Arsenal as SBOBet sign Saints for Asia
By Mark Baber
August 23 – Arsenal Football Club has announced betting company Paddy Power as its Official Betting Partner in the UK, Ireland and Italy for the next three years.
FIFA sticking to principles as Russians scramble to placate IOC on gay law
By Andrew Warshaw
August 23 – FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke (pictured) is keeping up the pressure on Russia over the country’s contentious new anti-gay legislation, saying his organisation will not accept any form of discrimination at the 2018 World Cup.
UEFA hands out life bans to Armenian refs for match-fixing attempt
By Mark Baber
August 23 – Armenian referee Andranik Arsenyan and assistant Hovhannes Avagyan have been handed life bans by UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body (CDB) after admitting attempting to manipulate the outcome of a Europa League match.
On-Off Bale saga now looks set to smash world record transfer fee
By Andrew Warshaw
August 23 – The world record fee for a footballer looks set to be smashed in the next few days when Tottenham Hotspur’s exciting Welshman Gareth Bale is finally sold to Real Madrid after a long-drawn-out transfer saga.
English FA rings more change as Pearce exits and Southgate returns
August 23 – The future of English football at under-21 level and below has been placed in the hands of Gareth Southgate who is heading back to the Football Association in succession to Stuart Pearce, who left in June after a disappointing group stage exit at the European under-21 finals in Israel.
El Salvador suspends 22 players and opens match-fixing investigation
By Andrew Warshaw
August 23 – In one of the most alarming match-fixing scandals of recent months, El Salvador has temporarily suspended 22 players, drawing an immediate response from its governing confederation, CONCACAF, which said it was “deeply saddened” by the allegations.
Lee Wellings: Jose The Simple One
The best football managers in history are often celebrated for their personalities. Their charisma. Their humour. Their temper.
But ultimately a club stands or falls on its team sheet. The players that these managers have selected.
The thing about Ferguson or Zagallo, Shankly, Clough, even Michels is that they knew which players they needed and how to use them, it’s as simple as that. No one-liner, no piece of motivation, not even a footballing philosophy like ‘total football’
Merthyr Town stadium to be called Cigg-e Stadium
By Mark Baber
Merthyr Town, a non-league Welsh club that plays in the English Southern League, has sparked controversy by signing a naming rights deal with electronic cigarettes company Cigg-e for their stadium for the next three years.
Globacom playing hard ball over Ghana Premier League sponsorship
By Mark Baber
The president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi, is in Nigeria for talks with Globacom whose sponsorship of the Ghana Premier League came to an end at the end of the 2012-13 season and who have outstanding debts of $2.2m.
United link up with Indian company in eye-catching new partnership
By Andrew Warshaw in manchester
August 22 – An Indian tyre manufacturer has signed a three-year deal with Manchester United in what is believed one of the first football partnerships of its kind in a country far more synonymous with sports like cricket and field hockey.
FA celebrates old rule book, Dyke still wants new thinking on Winter 2022
By Andrew Warshaw
August 22 – English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has again reiterated his preference for a winter World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Dyke, who succeeded David Bernstein earlier this summer, has already clashed with the Premier League which is leading the campaign to keep the tournament in June and July.
Belgian TV pig jibe upsets player and forces presenter to apologise
August 22 – An unusual case of discrimination has emerged in Belgium where a top-division player has demanded a public apology and damages following remarks from a television commentator.
FIFPro warns players to keep clear of Greek, Turkish and Cypriot clubs
By Andrew Warshaw
August 22 – With the transfer window slamming shut on September 2, the international players’ union FIFPro is urging its members to look elsewhere rather than sign for teams in Greece, Turkey and Cyprus because of those countries’ poor record in honouring contracts.
Nigerians land $34m TV deal with Supersport
By Mark Baber
August 21 – Nigeria’s League Management Company (LMC) has secured a $34 million television rights deal for the Nigeria Professional Football League from satellite broadcaster Supersport.
Man City take fans to the heart of the club with GoPro deal
August 21 – Manchester City will boost their media content off-the-pitch with a deal with California-based camera manufacturer GoPro which will see cameras mounted on players and coaches.