Football Soccer

European Parliament votes against player quotas - 9 May 08

The European Parliament voted yesterday in favour of a report, which opposes the introduction of rules such as Sepp Blatter’s proposed ‘6+5’ limit on the number foreign players at football clubs.

Canadian broadcasters to cover Euro 2008 - 9 May 08

Canadian cable television sports channels The Sports Network (TSN) and Rogers Sportsnet (Sportsnet) have agreed to jointly televise live all 31 matches from Euro 2008.

British company installs Champions League pitch - 9 May 08

The first all-England UEFA Champions League final will be played on a Moscow pitch installed by a British company.

Pro TV secures UEFA Cup rights - 9 May 08

UEFA, European football’s governing body, has awarded the live and highlights rights for the 2009-2012 UEFA Cup in Romania to free-to-air broadcaster Pro TV – one of UEFA’s current media partners for the UEFA Cup.

Minister endorses Iberian World Cup 2018 bid - 8 May 08

Portuguese Secretary of State for Youth and Sport Laurentino Dias has become the latest prominent figure to endorse a joint 2018 World Cup bid by Portugal and Spain.

Manchester sets up fan zones for UEFA Cup final - 8 May 08

The UEFA Cup final will be shown on big screens in the centre of Manchester on the evening of the match to cater for thousands of expected ticketless fans.

Spain’s leading sports associations back Madrid 2016 Olympic Bid - 7 May 08

Associations for six of the most popular sports in Spain joined together to pledge their support for the Madrid 2016 Olympic bid. A manifesto outlining their commitment was signed by representatives from the Spanish football, basketball, handball, futsal, athletics and cycling associations.

Octagon’s Global Head of Football Joins Leading Football Forum - 7 May 08

Phil Carling, Global Head of Football at Octagon will join an elite line-up of speakers on stage at the European Sponsorship Association’s forthcoming Football Fever forum which takes place in London on May 23.

Manchester United tops Forbes rich list - 2 May 08

Manchester United is the most valuable football club in the world, according to Forbes magazine's latest rankings.

Premier League promotion worth £60m - 2 May 08

Promotion to England's football Premier League is worth at least £60 million and is the biggest financial boost a football club can receive, according to analysts at global accountancy firm, Deloitte.

Edelman makes Arsenal exit - 1 May 08

Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman is to leave the club "to seek pastures new and embark upon fresh challenges".

New company to steer England World Cup 2018 bid - 25 Apr 08

The English FA is to set up a new company to manage a £15 million bid to host football’s World Cup 2018 in England.

English FA prepares 2018 World Cup Bid - 24 Apr 08

The FA board is expected to approve the structure of a bid company to try to secure the 2018 World Cup for England.

Bundesliga clubs approve TV deal for Cup games - 24 Apr 08

German public-service broadcasters ARD and ZDF, and pay-broadcaster Premiere, acquired the TV rights for the German domestic football cup in a three-year deal, worth €50 million per year.

PSG share sale approved by EC - 22 Apr 08

The European Commission has approved US-based private equity group Colony Capital’s proposed acquisition of a stake of around 30 per cent in Colfilm, the holding company of French football club Paris Saint-Germain.

GolTV acquires rights to Italian World Cup qualifiers - 22 Apr 08

GolTV, the all soccer network, has acquired the exclusive USand Canada broadcast rights to the 2010 World Cup qualifying matches of the Italian national team.

Juventus announces tour details - 21 Apr 08

Juventus Football Club has announced details of its off-season tour of South East Asia and Australia.

Chelsea to play in Russia this summer - 16 Apr 08

Chelsea Football Club will play in the Russian Railways Cup, a pre-season tournament, in Russia this summer against Lokomotiv Moscow, the hosts, as well as AC Milan and Sevilla.

UEFA Cup deal for Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei - 15 Apr 08

UEFA awarded the media rights for the 2009-2012 UEFA Cup in Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei to Astro – a leading Pay TV operator in the region and UEFA’s current media partner for the UEFA Cup.

UEFA awards Champions League rights in India - 14 Apr 08

UEFA has awarded the exclusive 2009-12 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup media rights in South Asia to its current media partners - Ten Sports and Zee Sports.

Zee and Ten win Champions League rights - 11 Apr 08

Indian pay-television providers Ten Sports and Zee Sports acquired the exclusive media rights for the Champions League, from 2009-12 and the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Uefa Cup.

German and Spanish leagues back 39th match’ plan - 10 Apr 08

The English Premier League’s controversial plan to introduce an ‘international round’ was backed on Wednesday by leading officials from the Spanish and German Leagues.

Spain competition watchdog queries football deals - 10 Apr 08

Spain's Competition Commission opened proceedings against broadcasters and Primera Liga football clubs over the sale of TV rights.

Birmingham City shares suspended - 10 Apr 08

English football club, Birmingham City, has had its shares temporarily suspended after the club’s co-owners were arrested by police.

CJ Media wins Champions League rights for Korea - 10 Apr 08

CJ Media acquired the TV rights for the UEFA Champions League and Super Cups in Korea from 2009-2012.

Carling logo removed from ‘Old Firm’ kit for kids - 9 Apr 08

Beer brand, Carling, has opted to remove its logo from Rangers and Celtic children's replica kit, two years ahead of an agreed drinks industry ban on branding child-size replica football shirts.

Socceroos games to be added to anti-siphoning list - 8 Apr 08

The World Cup qualifying matches of the Australian national team, the Socceroos, will be shown on free-to-air television after the Australian government agreed to add them to the anti-siphoning list.

KSE acquires ITV’s stake in Arsenal Broadband - 8 Apr 08

Kroenke Sports Enterprises acquired a 50 per cent share in Arsenal Broadband Limited, the broadband service of English Premier League club, Arsenal, for around £65 million.

Adidas extends Ajax deal - 4 Apr 08

Adidas and Ajax Amsterdam have extended their kit sponsorship deal for ten years until the end of 2019.

Joost extends deal for English Premier League clips - 2 Apr 08

Online TV platform, Joost extended its distribution deal with Nimbus Sport International for English Premier League internet clips.

Record number of Clubs to attend Soccerex London Forum - 2 Apr 08

This year’s Soccerex London Forum will be attended by a record 200 Club Representatives from over 100 Football Clubs representing 25 Nations.

SABC agrees public-viewing World Cup 2010 deal - 1 Apr 08

South Africans will be able to watch 2010 Fifa World Cup matches free via national broadcaster SABC at public viewing events and in bars after the SABC agreed a deal with FIFA.

Kentaro to market Austrian national football rights - 1 Apr 08

The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) agreed a deal with the Kentaro Group for the international marketing of its TV rights.

UK events threatened by tax law - 31 Mar 08

UEFA ruled out a bid by Wembley to host the 2010 Champions League finals because of a new interpretation of UK tax laws that would see players from non-UK clubs taxed for money earned in the UK.

HBS wins tender for host broadcast of Ligue 1 - 31 Mar 08

Host Broadcast Services will handle the host broadcast operation for French football's Ligue 1 under a four season deal with the Ligue de Football Professionnel, that runs until 2011.

UEFA seeks technology partner - 28 Mar 08

UEFA has launched an ‘Invitation to Submit Offers’ (ISO) process for sponsorship rights packages in the ‘technology’ category for the UEFA Champions League seasons 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12 and UEFA Super Cup 2009, 2010 and 2011.

TV Africa demands Africa Cup of Nations revenue share - 28 Mar 08

Television Africa Ltd has filed a writ against Ghana’s Local Organising Committee for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations and media and advertising agency, Optimum Media Prime Limited, for alleged improper accounting.

Chelsea to tour Asia in July - 27 Mar 08

Premier League club Chelsea will play a Malaysian all-star team in Kuala Lumpur in July as part of a two-match Asian tour.

American Airlines signs MLS sponsorship deal - 26 Mar 08

American Airlines signed an exclusive sponsorship and promotions deal with Soccer United Marketing, Major League Soccer's marketing arm.

Soccerex hosts 'Marketing European Leagues' panel - 26 Mar 08

Soccerex have partnered with the European Professional Football League (EPFL) to put together a panel of senior league representatives addressing all aspects of their Leagues’ commercial activities. The panel consists of four top European Leagues, all at different stages of their domestic and international development.

Juventus and Sportfive agree 15-year marketing partnership - 25 Mar 08

Juventus and Sportfive Italia agreed a new long-term strategic partnership for naming and partial promotional and sponsorship rights for the club’s new stadium.

Singtel grabs Champions League TV rights for Singapore - 25 Mar 08

Singtel acquired the exclusive Champions League TV rights from 2009-2012 in Singapore.

GolTV wins rights to German World Cup qualifiers - 25 Mar 08

US-based soccer network, GolTV, has won the exclusive US and Canada broadcast rights to all of the German national team 2010 World Cup qualifying matches starting in September.

ITV retains UEFA Champions League rights - 25 Mar 08

UK commercial broadcaster ITV has seen off a challenge from the BBC to retain the broadcasting rights to UEFA Champions League matches.

Fifa beach football qualifiers get under way - 20 Mar 08

Marseilles will host the finals of the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup from 17 to 27 July, the first time the tournament has been held outside Brazil.

Etihad to sponsor All-Ireland Hurling Championships - 20 Mar 08

Etihad Airways has added to its sports marketing portfolio by signing a two-year deal as a lead sponsor and official airline of the GAA’s All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships.

UEFA expected to finalise UK Champions League rights - 19 Mar 08

UEFA awarded a major package of UEFA Champions League media rights for 2009-2012 in the UK to pay-broadcaster BSkyB and is expected to award the remaining rights tomorrow after it invited a second round of bidding.

AC Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Lyon to discuss club revenue at Soccerex - 18 Mar 08

Four of the most successful clubs in Europe will convene at the Soccerex London Forum to outline how their revenue strategies differ and what the landscape is for the future.

Confederations Cup prize money tops $17 million - 14 Mar 08

Prize money for the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup will be $17.6 million, with the winning team picking up $3.75 million and the runners-up £3.25 million.

Gretna face final curtain - 14 Mar 08

Scottish Premier League soccer team Gretna may not survive the weekend after the club's administrator admitted that only 10 players had agreed to play in tomorrow's fixture at Aberdeen.

Scramble for UK Champions League rights underway - 13 Mar 08

The first round of bidding for the TV rights for Champions League football got underway yesterday with competition expected to be fierce between the BBC, ITV, Five and pay TV operators Setanta and BSkyB.

Blackburn Rovers nets new club sponsor - 13 Mar 08

Crown Paints agreed a shirt-sponsorship deal with Premier League club Blackburn Rovers in a deal worth up to £5 million depending on the team’s performance.

Du-Bang signs up for Chinese women’s football - 12 Mar 08

The Infront Sports & Media agency signed Du-Bang Insurance as an Official Partner of the Chinese women’s national football Team.

Bundesliga TV deal could be under threat - 11 Mar 08

The €3 billion agreement between the German Football League (DFL) and Leo Kirch's KF 15 group to market the TV rights for Bundesliga matches could come under pressure after a move by cartel authorities.

Eurosport launches in High Definition - 11 Mar 08

Eurosport is set to launch a simulcast channel in HD to cover all major sporting events for which it holds the rights in 2008, starting with the French Open at Roland Garros.

Soccerex announces ‘The Inside Story’ panel - 11 Mar 08

As the commercial side of the game continues to evolve and create increasingly lucrative revenue streams, Soccerex has put together a panel that will offer a distinctive insight into the business of football.

MasterCard and MBNA Bring Tap&Go™ technology to Manchester City - 10 Mar 08

MasterCard, MBNA and Manchester City Football Club launched Europe’s first prepaid Seasoncard with PayPass, enabling fans to enter the City of Manchester Stadium and make purchases inside and outside the ground, without cash.

Record Olympic and Euro Champs TV audiences expected in 2008 - 6 Mar 08

The European Football Championships and the Olympic Games in 2008 will create an interesting battle for TV audience between Asia and Europe, according to Eurodata TV Worldwide.

DIC £400m bid for Liverpool rejected - 5 Mar 08

Dubai International Capital (DIC), the investment arm of the Dubai government, has warned Liverpool FC's co-owner Tom Hicks that it will not improve on its £400 million offer for the club.  

Fox Sports to distribute ‘Free Kick Masters’ - 5 Mar 08

US-based sporting and entertainment events producer, Camelot Island Entertainment, has signed an agreement with Fox Sports International Distribution for the global distribution of the ‘2008 Free Kick Masters’.

FIFA signs new WADA agreement - 4 Mar 08

FIFA president Sepp Blatter and WADA president John Fahey have signed a letter of intent in order to further strengthen cooperation between the two organisations in the fight against doping.

BBC set on Champions League rights - 4 Mar 08

The BBC is reportedly ready to pay around £400 million to secure the broadcast rights for Champions League games from 2009-10.

Qatar soccer cups sign ‘golden sponsor’ - 3 Mar 08

Qatari real estate firm, Al Emadi Enterprises, has signed as the ‘golden sponsor’ of Qatar’s leading club football knock-out competitions, the Emir’s Cup and the Heir Apparent’s Cup, for the fourth season in succession.

Supersport agrees TV rights deal with the Kenya Premier League - 3 Mar 08

Supersport International agreed a four-year $13.5 million deal TV rights deal with the Kenya Premier League.

Hicks to block Liverpool takeover - 29 Feb 08

Liverpool FC co-owner Tom Hicks said he intends to retain control of the club and may block any attempt by George Gillette to sell to Dubai International Capital, the investment arm of the Dubai government.

Perform nets Asian Football digital deal - 29 Feb 08

Perform will launch a digital channel to stream live AFC club and national team football, including FIFA World Cup 2010 Asian qualifiers and AFC Champions League matches.

MP & Silva acquires rights to Juventus Asia-Pacific Tour 2008 - 28 Feb 08

MP & Silva signed an exclusive agreement with Juventus Football Club to organise, market and commercialise the club’s Asia-Pacific summer tour.

Top Spanish clubs most popular in Europe - 27 Feb 08

Barcelona and Real Madrid are Europe’s two most popular football clubs according to a new survey from SPORT+MARKT.

Confusion reigns over possible Liverpool sale - 27 Feb 08

Contradictory media reports have created confusion over Liverpool FC co-owner Tom Hicks' plans for his stake in the club.

German FA and League raided in cartel office probe - 27 Feb 08

The offices of the German Football Association (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL) were raided by cartel investigators as part of a probe into whether they sought to limit competition for football sponsorship.

Premier League delays meeting with FIFA - 27 Feb 08

The Premier League delayed a meeting with football's world governing body, FIFA, over its controversial proposals to play a round of matches abroad.

Expectations for UK Champions League TV bids grow - 26 Feb 08

Public service broadcaster, the BBC, is set to join the bidding for the UK Champions League TV rights.

Nike beats Adidas to French Football deal - 25 Feb 08

Nike agreed a seven-and-a half-season contract, worth €320 million deal to sponsor the French national football team from 2011.

Sela Sport secures sponsorship of Saudi Arabian national football teams - 25 Feb 08

Sela Sport agreed a new $40million deal that will see the company become the exclusive Official Saudi Arabian Teams Sponsor.

Arsenal and Chelsea announce half-year results - 22 Feb 08

English Premier League leaders, Arsenal posted a 54 per cent rise in first half profits on Friday while rival Premier League club Chelsea posted an annual loss of £74.8million.

Ligue 1 invites international TV bids - 22 Feb 08

The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) invited marketing agencies to bid for the international rights for Ligue 1 over the next four seasons, from 2008-09 to 2011-12.

FFA and MP & Silva agree strategic partnership - 21 Feb 08

Football Federation Australia (FFA) appointed the MP & Silva agency, to market and distribute its media rights internationally.

Al Jazeera Sports secures Champions League rights - 20 Feb 08

Al Jazeera Sports Channel secured exclusive TV rights for the UEFA Champions League in a four-year deal from 2009 to 2012.

SUM agrees Pan-Pacific Championship sponsorships - 19 Feb 08

Soccer United Marketing agreed one-year deals with six sponsors for the Pan-Pacific Championship.

Dogan TV buys Champions League rights in Turkey - 15 Feb 08

UEFA has awarded the UEFA Champions League media rights for 2009/12 in Turkey to Dogan TV Holdings.

Blatter slams PL expansion plans - 15 Feb 08

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has slammed the English Premier League's plans to play an extra league match abroad.

Football Money League: Manchester United rise but Real Madrid stay top - 14 Feb 08

Manchester United climbed two places to second in the latest Football Money League from business advisory firm Deloitte, which ranks the 20 biggest football clubs in the world based on revenue, but Real Madrid remains the world’s largest revenue generating club, completing a hat-trick of first place finishes.

Australia rules out Premier League plans - 14 Feb 08

The Football Federation of Australia said it would oppose The Premier League's plan to play club matches overseas in order to protect its own domestic A-League.

Copa Libertadores TV revenues rise - 14 Feb 08

Traffic Sports, holders of the TV rights for the Copa Libertadores outside the Americas, said revenues from the sale of the competition's rights are up 350 per cent in the last four years.

AFC chiefs slams Premier League proposal - 13 Feb 08

Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed Bin Hammam has urged member countries to boycott any proposed English Premier League matches staged in Asia.

US warns against Premier League overseas expansion - 12 Feb 08

US Soccer Federation chief Sunil Gulati warned that the US would only welcome staging overseas Premier League games with Fifa's permission.

MP & Silva launch AC Milan mobile site in Japan - 12 Feb 08

Serie A club AC Milan and the MP & Silva agency launched AC Milan’s official Japanese mobile website.

FIFA to rule on Premier League plans - 11 Feb 08

FIFA's executive committee is to review the Premier League’s plan to host five competitive matches overseas from 2011 at its next meeting in March.

Premier League proposals meet with mixed response - 8 Feb 08

The UK secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport, Andy Burnham, said that the Premier League's plan to take English league games overseas raised serious issues about the “integrity of the game”.

UEFA agrees UEFA EURO 2008™ TV deal Singapore - 8 Feb 08

UEFA agreed a deal with StarHub, the largest Pay-TV operator in Singapore, for exclusive broadcast rights to UEFA EURO 2008™.

Two new Serie A TV deals in Germany - 8 Feb 08

The MP & Silva agency agreed deals for Serie A in the German market with broadcaster ZDF and with online portal www.maxdome.de.

Canal Plus and Orange win French Ligue 1 rights - 7 Feb 08

The Ligue de Football Professionnel agreed deals worth a total €668 million a year over four years with French pay-broadcaster Canal Plus and mobile operator Orange for its audiovisual rights.

Canal 13 and Globosat secure Euro 2008 rights - 7 Feb 08

Uefa awarded Chilean broadcaster Canal 13 and Brazilian broadcaster Globosat the rights for Euro 2008.

MP & Silva wins rights for 2010 Asian World Cup Qualifiers - 6 Feb 08

The MP & Silva agency has acquired the exclusive rights to a package of FIFA 2010 World Cup Asian region qualifying matches, including games involving Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup winners, Iraq, China, Australia, and Qatar.

Bidding extended for French Football rights - 4 Feb 08

France's football league (LFP) extended the bidding process for the TV rights for Ligue 1 matches from 2008 to 2012.

Poland faces criticism over Euro 2012 preparations - 1 Feb 08

Poland's Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, will meet UEFA president Michel Platini after the governing body criticised the country's preparations for Euro 2012. 

Group proposes Liverpool FC fans 'buy-out’ - 31 Jan 08

Liverpool supporters are to launch an ambitious plan to buy the football club from its American owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks. The ‘Share Liverpool FC’ Group will present a plan to organise the buy-out by 100,000 fans later today.

Rugby and handball knock football off Euro Viewing perch - 31 Jan 08

Football was knocked off the top of the sports viewing charts in the majority of television markets across Europe in 2007, according to the annual survey by TV Sports Markets.

SABC loses out in Premier Soccer League TV rights battle - 29 Jan 08

South African public-service broadcaster SABC’s final attempt to hold on to the Premier Soccer League’s television rights failed.

Hicks and Gillett close to financing deal - 25 Jan 08

The American owners of Liverpool FC are reportedly close to securing a £350m financing deal that should end takeover speculation about the club.