Inside World Football

Fan demand forces UEFA to switch Youth League finals to Stade de Genève

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 02:22:34 +0000

April 18 – UEFA has shifted the finals of its UEFA Youth League from the 7,200-capacity Colovray Sports Centre, Nyon, to the 30,000-capacity Stade de Genève.

UEFA said the venue change was made “following unprecedented interest from fans” and the subsequent “need for a venue with increased operational capacities”.

Sporting CP (Portugal), AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands) Hajduk Split (Croatia) and AC Milan (Italy) will meet in the finals April 21-24. None of the clubs have won the finals before.

LAFC to expand with acquisition of stake in Austria’s FC Wacker Innsbruck

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 00:56:28 +0000

April 18 – LAFC, the 2022 MLS Cup Champions, have announced they are investing in Austrian club FC Wacker Innsbruck.

No details of the investment or the LAFC stake in the club have been released. The deal is pending the approval of the FC Wacker Innsbruck Board and Association.

FC Wacker Innsbruck currently plays in the Hypo Tirol Liga, the fourth division of Austrian football.

Although only formed in June 2002 as FC Wacker Tirol,

Brazil’s Serie A renews 5-year Assai naming rights for a further season

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 00:23:58 +0000

April 18 – Brazilian wholesaler Assaí Atacadista has extended its title sponsorship of Campeonato Brasileiro Série A for a further season.

Assai began its title sponsorship with the 2018 season before renewing for another season in 2019 and for a further three season in 2020. The current extension will run until the end of the 2023 season.

As well as the naming rights to the league, the company has perimeter branding at club grounds as well as appearing in official league content.

Gold Cup draw sees Mexico head group of death as US paired with Jamaica in group

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 07:02:04 +0000

By Paul Nicholson in Los Angeles

April 15 – Defending champions USA have been handed what looks like a comfortable group draw for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, with the toughest challenge in the first stage likely to come from Jamaica and their contingent of English Premier League players.

Also in Group A are Nicaragua and one of the preliminary round qualifiers.

The draw was conducted live on television from the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles where the Gold Cup final will be played on July 16.

Concacaf launches Bigger Game social responsibility programme at the SoFi Stadium

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 06:44:02 +0000

April 15 – Using the backdrop of the 2023 Gold Cup Draw at the spectacular SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Concacaf officially launched its ‘Bigger Game’ social impact strategy.

The Bigger Game’s mission is to provide football and social development opportunities which benefit communities across Concacaf’s 41 member associations.

At the launch, on the pitch of the SoFi Stadium, which saw local youth training and playing matches, the mayor of Inglewood James T Butts thanked Concacaf for coming to the city saying: “Sports is a microcosm of social development… Focussing on a bigger game is focussing on the development of our game to contribute to a better society.”

The strategy will see Concacaf initiate and support grassroots football initiatives and social programs which aim to tackle some of the most pressing issues faced by communities in the region.

Al Ahly fan ban after Zamalek hatred bubbles over in Pharco with Shikabala insults

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 05:35:12 +0000

April 17 – Three thousand Al Ahly fans have been suspended for two games for shouting “insults” aimed at Zamalek’s Egypt international Shikabala during the club’s last game against Pharco.

Even though league leaders Al Ahly were not playing Zamalek, their fans vented their anger towards midfielder Shikabala in what has been a long-running saga of insult trading. Al Ahly were also fined 20,000 Egyptian pounds ($650) for the incident.

“If the insults are repeated fans will be banned from attending league matches until the end of the season,”

More racism in Spain as Real Madrid’s Rudiger is abused in Cadiz

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 05:34:28 +0000

April 17 – Not for the first time in his career, Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was the subject of racist abuse at the weekend after his team’s game at Cadiz.

Video posted by Spanish media on Sunday showed Cadiz fans yelling insults at Rudiger after he went to the stands to give away his shirt to someone who appeared to be a Madrid supporter. Objects were also thrown at the German defender,

India sets minimum wage structure for top tier women’s league

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 05:33:16 +0000

April 17 – The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is to set a minimum wage for players in the country’s women’s top flight, the Indian Women’s League (IWL).

The top eight participating teams in the IWL will be required to have a minimum of 10 Indian players on an annual contract worth a minimum of ₹3.2 lakhs ($3,908), said AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey following an AIFF executive committee meeting.

“We believe these decisions will attract more girls to play football and will help the growth of the women,” said Chaubey.

One for the road: Brugges boss Mannaert told to stop drinking or lose his job

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 05:30:37 +0000

April 17 – Club Brugge’s CEO Vincent Mannaert (pictured) has admitted that his alcohol addiction could force his exit from the Belgian club.

“I have a problem with alcohol, which is not recent. I am in therapy for that,” admitted Mannaert in an interview with local media.

Mannaert has been convicted five times for drunk driving and his drinking has led to strained relations at Club Brugge, notably with chairman Bart Verhaeghe.

Italian striker Immobile hospitalised after car crash

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 05:10:09 +0000

April 17 – Italy international striker Ciro Immobile is being treated for back and rib injuries in hospital after his car was involved in an accident.

Italian media reported Immobile, who scored in Lazio’s 3-0 win at Spezia last week, was hurt after his car collided with a tram in Rome.

A club statement read: “The player remains under observation at the department of emergency medicine directed by Professor Francesco Franceschi of the Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS in Rome.