Houston MLS and NWSL clubs set for $400m sale
May 21 – The MLS’s Houston Dynamo and NWSL’s Houston Dash are being sold to New York businessman and real estate mogul Ted Segal for about $400 million.
Trivago books space on Chelsea training kit in multi-year deal
May 21 – With lockdown easing and travel possibilities re-opening, accommodation search platform trivago has booked a sponsorship with Premier League Chelsea, becoming the club’s Official Training Wear Partner.
Argentina ready to go it alone with Copa America hosting if Colombian unrest continues
May 20 – Argentina have offered to stage the whole of the Copa America on their own rather than share with joint hosts Colombia, where a wave of civil unrest has rocked the country since late April.
Goldman Sachs ease Barca cash crunch with €500m loan
May 20 – Embattled Spanish giants FC Barcelona have secured a €500 million loan from US bank Goldman Sachs to ensure the club’s operations can run stably in the next two years.
SAFF boss Al Misehal says doubling up World Cups would open more player opportunities
May 20 – Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) president Yasser Al Misehal has explained his organisation’s proposal for a feasibility study into staging the World Cup on a biennial basis as “a chance for players to participate more in their peak years”, echoing the sentiment of FIFA’s head of global development Arsene Wenger.
Euronics Group plugs into growing power of UEFA Women’s Football
May 20 – Electronics and home appliance retailer Euronics Group has signed a sponsorship deal for UEFA Women’s Football in a deal starting with the 2021-22 season and which will run until 2025.
Tottenham’s Levy says club must get back to being…Spurs
May 20 – With his club at a crossroads almost two years after the euphoria of reaching the Champions League final and talismanic striker Harry Kane almost certain to leave, Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has admitted mistakes were made during what has been a hugely disappointing season – and that it was imperative to restore the club’s DNA.
Celtic boss Lawwell’s house firebombed
May 20 – Scottish police are investigating an apparent firebomb attack at the home of Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell.
SPFL embraces QTV’s remote production for live matches
May 20 – Scotland’s SPFL has embraced new broadcast technologies commissioning production company QTVto deliver a remote production solution that will cover 142 Scottish Premiership matches per season.
Germans recall veterans Mueller and Hummels for Euro 2020 campaign
May 20 – Veteran World Cup stars Thomas Mueller and Mats Hummels have been recalled to the German squad for the first time in more than two years after coach Joachim Loew included them in his 26-man squad for Euro 2020.
LaLiga drives tech business with expanded Microsoft deal
May 20 – LaLiga are expanding their Microsoft partnership, announcing the tech giant as LaLiga’s global Tech and Innovation Partner.
England target 700,000+ ticket sales for women’s Euros and a ‘turbo-charged’ legacy
By Paul Nicholson
May 19 – Women’s Euro 2022 organisers England have unveiled ticketing and legacy plans for the tournament that aims to sell more than 700,000 tickets and see more than 120,000 girls playing across the nine host cities.
World Cup every two years? FIFA members to discuss feasibility study proposal
By Samindra Kunti
May 19 – A World Cup every two years? It was once mooted by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, but the idea could gain traction again after the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) asked FIFA to conduct a feasibility study on the impact of playing both the men’s and women’s global finals on a biennial basis.
Bundesliga clubs turn down private equity cash to go it alone, ‘for now’
May 19 – Bundesliga clubs have turned down interest from private equity investors expressing an interest in investing in a minority stake in the newly created entities that will sell the league’s international rights.
Benzema back in favour in France despite pending court case
May 19 – Karim Benzema’s exile from the French national team over a sex-tape scandal is at an end. In a surprise move Didier Deschamps has recalled the Madrid striker for Les Bleus’ Euro 2020 squad.