Liverpool add online trader ThinkMarkets to global sponsorship roster
August 18 – Premier League Liverpool have online financial broker, ThinkMarkets, to their sponsorship roster as the club’s new Official Global Trading Partner.
Barca boss Laporta outlines debt of €1.35bn and wage bill at 103% of club’s income
August 17 – FC Barcelona president Juan Laporta (pictured) has revealed that the club’s debt has risen to a staggering €1.35 billion with the Catalan supremo blaming his predecessor for the unprecedented financial crisis that also led to the departure of talisman Lionel Messi.
CAF looks to public service TV in Africa to deliver on AFCON 2021 in challenged rights market
By Paul Nicholson
August 17 – After promises of new television deals across the African continent following the disastrous fallout from the Lagardere representation agreement that saw a $1 billion commercial guarantee replaced by blank TV screens and rapidly retreating sponsors, CAF has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations 2022 will be broadcast by the members of the African Union of Broadcasters (AUB).
Man Utd and UK sports guru Maurice Watkins has died, aged 79
August 17 – Maurice Watkins, the man credited with bringing Sir Alex Ferguson to the club in 1986, and a legend in sports law and British sports administration, has died aged 79.
Mauritian FA toilet-cam scandal under investigation
August 17 – The Mauritius FA has been plunged into an unusual scandal following an investigation involving alleged secret mobile phone video recordings of a women’s toilet at the federation’s headquarters.
China’s Tencent adds Bundesliga streaming rights to EPL and UEFA club comps
August 17 – China’s Tencent has acquired the non-exclusive streaming rights for the Bundesliga in China in a two-season deal.
Vancouver Whitecaps youth trio subject of racial assault, one hospitalised
August 17 – Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps say three of its academy players were assaulted at an outdoor gathering and that the attack is believed to be racially motivated.
Norwegian players caught partying on stadium security cameras
August 17 – Players of SK Brann held a raunchy late-night party at their stadium, but were caught on security cameras, leaving the club red faced.
Facebank takes Crystal Palace sleeve in one-season deal
August 17 – Premier League Crystal Palace have secured Facebank as the club’s new sleeve partner in a one-season deal for 2021/22.
BK8 returns to European club sponsorship with five LaLiga club deals
August 17 – Online betting brand BK8 has secured five LaLiga club sponsorships for Asia for the new season which kicked off last weekend.
WLF will back clubs and players who refuse to participate in Conmebol’s 2022 qualifiers
By Paul Nicholson
August 16 – The World Leagues Forum (WLF) has slammed FIFA’s decision to amend the international match calendar without consultation and which has seen the rescheduling of South America’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers that had originally been due to be played in March 2021 to extended triple match windows in September and March.
ECA re-admits repentant nine of the ESL’s Dirty Dozen back into its membership
By Paul Nicholson
August 16 – The European Club Association (ECA), has agreed that nine of the 12 European Super League (ESL) breakaway clubs can remain as members following their requests to withdraw their resignations from the club body.
Qatar 2022 qualifying: CAF tells 8 nations they can’t use home stadia
August 16 – Eight African countries have been stripped of home advantage in next month’s World Cup qualifiers after their grounds were deemed unfit at international level by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Germany and Bayern legendary striker Gerd Muller dies, aged 75
August 16 – Famed West Germany striker Gerd Mueller, nicknamed ‘Der Bomber’ because of his goalscoring prowess, has died at the age of 75.
Digital media specialist Hopfen to take over from Seifert at Bundesliga
August 16 – Donata Hopfen will become the new CEO of the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) in January, succeeding Christian Seifert who will step aside early, the league body has announced.