Football
Wales targets more major sports events
Football Association of Wales (FAW) chief executive Jonathan Ford has said the country would be keen to stage matches during football’s Uefa Euro 2020 national team tournament if other cities pulled out, while Economy Minister Ken Skates said the nation is also in talks to host future editions of cycling showpieces the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, as well as golf’s Open Championship.
Natal’s World Cup stadium becomes part of corruption probe
Natal’s Arena das Dunas has become the latest 2014 Fifa World Cup stadium to fall under the spotlight of Brazil’s sweeping corruption investigation after police made a series of arrests relating to its development process and alleged fraud at a state-run bank.
EPFL agrees Uefa co-operation pact
The Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) has today (Tuesday) unanimously approved an agreement reached with European governing body Uefa in a move that seemingly ends a period of tension between the two bodies.
Fifa ‘in contact’ with Qatar 2022 amid diplomatic crisis
World football’s governing body Fifa has said it is in “regular contact” with the local organising bodies for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as the diplomatic crisis involving the Gulf state raises questions over the status of the many sporting events it hosts.
Messi targets Chinese market with Nanjing theme park
Argentinian football superstar Lionel Messi has joined forces with Spanish agency Mediapro and Chinese media company the Phoenix Group to launch a theme park in the Chinese city of Nanjing.
Combate Americas, Relevent Sports link up for Miami’s ‘El Clásico’
The Relevent Sports division of sports and entertainment firm RSE Ventures has teamed up with Hispanic mixed martial arts series Combate Americas to launch a new ‘Combate Clásico’ event.
Guatemalan judge becomes latest to plead guilty in Fifa corruption scandal
Former Football Federation of Guatemala (FENAFUTG) general secretary Hector Trujillo has become the latest official to plead guilty to crimes associated with the global football corruption investigation.
Uefa chief vows to fight for 2030 World Cup
Aleksander Ceferin, the president of Uefa, has insisted that football’s European governing body will “fight” to host the 2030 Fifa World Cup in the face of a likely challenge by China.
Real Madrid wins final approval for Bernabeu redevelopment
Spanish LaLiga football club Real Madrid has been given full approval by Madrid City Council to push ahead with its long-held plans to undertake a major redevelopment of its Estadio Santiago Bernabeu home stadium.
Serie A revenues rise as losses fall
Clubs in Serie A, the top division of Italian football, recorded a significant increase in revenue during the 2015-16 season as net losses were cut, according to the latest report on the financial health of the league.
Premier Futsal to stage second season finale in Dubai
India’s Premier Futsal tournament will expand beyond its homeland for its second season, with a deal agreed for the finale to be held in Dubai.
Conmebol seeks to muster interest in new-look club finals
The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) has said it has yet to receive interest from cities seeking to host the revamped finals of its showpiece club competitions, the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.
Ex-aide to former Concacaf president pleads guilty in corruption scandal
Costas Takkas, an ex-aide to former Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) president Jeffrey Webb, has become the latest official to plead guilty in the slew of cases connected to the sport’s global scandal.
China seeks to crack down on CSL transfer spending
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has made its latest move to curb spending in the top-tier Super League by introducing a rule that dictates that some clubs must donate the same amount of money they spend on transfers to a government-run youth fund.
Putin promises ‘highest level’ World Cup
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the country will deliver a Fifa World Cup at the “highest level possible” with a special emphasis on providing a warm welcome to visiting fans.
Presidential aide arrested in World Cup stadium probe
Brazilian police have today (Tuesday) arrested an aide to President Michel Temer, along with two former governors, as part of a probe into the redevelopment of Brasilia’s Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, a key venue for the 2014 Fifa World Cup.
Villar re-elected as RFEF president
Ángel María Villar Llona has been re-elected as president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
Kroenke commits to Arsenal ownership
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke has this (Monday) morning insisted that his stake in the English Premier League football club is not for sale after fellow shareholder Ulisher Usmanov proposed a buy-out.