UEFA plans €6bn club relief fund and vigorous revamp of FFP
By Samindra Kunti
August 19 – UEFA is planning a €6 billion relief fund to help leading European clubs survive the global health crisis that has ravaged the football industry.
Fluminense set to make it all-Brazil semi-final line-up as country dominates Copa Libertadores
By Samindra Kunti
August 19 – Brazilian clubs have become the playground bullies and are bossing the Copa Libertadores. On Wednesday, both Flamengo and Atletico Mineiro stormed past their opponents to join Palmeiras in the last four. Fluminense will try to complete the Brazilian quartet against Ecuador’s Barcelona after a 2-2 draw in their quarterfinal first leg.
DAZN secures 8-year package of AFC rights in Japan, TV Asahi keeps free-to-air
August 19 – The Asian Football Confederation has expanded its broadcast rights deals in Japan with global streaming channel DAZN taking rights to all national team and club competitions, while free-to-air channel TV Asahi will broadcast national team games.
Final AFC Cup group kicks off with Mohun Bagan taking early lead
August 19 – The AFC Cup club competition resumed yesterday with group D, centralised in the Maldives, and seeing wins for India’s ATK Mohun Bagan and Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings.
Flamengo former president Bandeira to appeal suspension after criticism of fire deaths
August 19 – Flamengo have sidelined Eduardo Bandeira de Mello with a membership suspension of 90 days, preventing the former club chairman from voting or participating in the presidential elections later this year.
Monaco joins with fantasy football platform Sorare for entry into NFT market
August 19 – Ligue 1’s AS Monaco has unveiled a two-season partnership with fantasy football platform Sorare, which will allow the club to enter the world of NFT(Non-FungibleTokens) for the first time.
PSV Eindhoven take payment in cryptocurrency for Anycoin Direct sponsorship
August 19 – PSV Eindhoven have partnered with Anycoin Direct in a two-season deal. The Dutch club will be one of the first major football clubs to have an entire sponsorship paid in Bitcoin.
US streamer Roku supports Brazilian push with São Paulo FC deal
August 19 – US streaming giant Rokuhas taken a one-year sponsorship with Brazil’s São Paulo Futebol Clube, its first step into football club sports marketing in the country.
Old Trafford completes £20m facelift for start of new season, Glazer promises more
August 19 – Manchester United’s Old Trafford has undergone a £20 million facelift with the dressing rooms and broadcast media facilities refurbished.
Fantasy sports set for revenue boom; RealFevr expand fantasy client into NFT release
August 18 – A new study is predicting that the fantasy sports market in the United States will grow by 8% year-on-year and hit an $8.3 billion value in 2021.
CAF draw AFCON 2021 final groups, Motsepe chips in with promise of more prize money
By Samindra Kunti
August 18 – Hosts Cameroon will kick off the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations against Burkina Faso next year with Egypt – Nigeria and Algeria – Ivory Coast among the pick of the group stage matches following the finals draw in Yaounde.
FDSL picks up AFC rights for Indian Subcontinent
August 18 – Indian sports marketing agency Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) has taken on the lead distribution for the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) broadcast rights in the Indian subcontinent.
FIFAgate: El Salvador’s Vasquez to plead guilty to taking bribes
August 18 – Former El Salvador FA president Reynaldo Vasquez is set to change his plea to guilty over his alleged role in the FIFAgate corruption scandal, according to court records.
Irritated Ronaldo says stop the ‘disrespect’, he is staying at Juve
August 18 – Cristiano Ronaldo insists he is going nowhere despite reports linking him with a move away from Juventus.
UEFA reviews plan to award two Champions League slots on historical achievement
August 18 – UEFA are reportedly considering ditching the controversial plan to award two Champions League places based on historical success following criticism from leagues across the continent.