Here are some of last week’s top stories from around the global soccer industry…
FIFA Secretary Jerome Valcke Suspended (BBC)
Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke has been put on leave and released from his duties until further notice. A Fifa statement said it had “been made aware of a series of allegations involving the secretary general”. Newspaper allegations on Thursday implicated Valcke, 54, in a scheme to sell World Cup tickets for above face value.
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Kosovo Moves Step Closer to UEFA Membership (Reuters)
Kosovo will become the 55th member of UEFA next March if its application is accepted when European soccer’s governing body holds its annual congress in Budapest.
Kosovo’s aim of full recognition moved closer this week when UEFA’s executive committee agreed that its formal application for membership would be on the agenda.
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MLS Applies for Trademarks for Two Potential USL Team Names (Brotherly Game)
Last night, Massive Scoop found that Major League Soccer has applied for trademarks for the names “Lehigh Valley Steel FC” and “Bethlehem Steel FC.”
Both applications were filed on September 8th, the same day the Philadelphia Union and The Morning Call, a Lehigh Valley-based daily newspaper, launched a fan vote to decide the name of the USL expansion side set to play in Lehigh. The two above names were on the ballot, along with “Lehigh Valley Blast” and “Steel FC,” neither of which have been submitted for trademark by Major League Soccer.
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UEFA Wants President by Euro 2016 If Platini Goes (SportsNet)
UEFA wants a new president elected before the European Championship if Michel Platini replaces Sepp Blatter at FIFA.
The UEFA president is the favourite in the Feb. 26 election to replace Blatter, who is prematurely quitting against a backdrop of escalating corruption scandals.
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Barclays Premier League Week 5: A Week of Sellouts and Stunners (Business of Soccer)
Surely after the conclusion of Gameweek 5, Premier League brass had to have been standing in their offices grinning, arms wide with Russell Crowe-esque “are you not entertained!!??” looks across their faces. Between Chelsea’s slide, Benteke’s bicycle, Leicester’s comeback and City’s last gasp winner at Selhurst Park, there was quality football entertainment in every corner of the Premier League in GW 5.
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How Licensing And Football are Becoming Inextricable (FC Business)
Football licensing is big business says Darren Brechin, Event Director of Europe’s largest licensing event. The licensing industry is booming. Last year it generated approximately $241.5 billion in retail sales, according to industry body LIMA’s Global Licensing Report 2015. Sports licensing alone was responsible for $26 billion in sales, and accounted for 11% of the total market.
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FIFA Probe May Lead to New Charges, Attorney-General Says (Bloomberg)
U.S. Attorney-General Loretta Lynch said more individuals and entities may be charged as the Department of Justice continues its pledge to clean up world soccer’s governing body.
American prosecutors have charged that millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks were doled out for media rights to soccer tournaments. Cooperation from the Swiss authorities has resulted in new evidence emerging about FIFA activities, Lynch said at a press conference with Swiss Attorney-General Michael Lauber in Zurich.
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Where is Preki? Partnering With An Old Friend to Land His Next Coaching Job (Sports Illustrated)
Preki Radosavljevic is alive, well and expects to return to coaching. The former Sacramento Republic manager was presumed to be angling for another MLS job with the ambitious expansion candidate but resigned somewhat abruptly in early July. Rumors of his subsequent hiring by Premier League club Leicester City were short lived, and Preki’s ensuing silence has fueled questions, concern, conspiracy theories and the inevitable #WhereIsPreki hashtag.
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Chicago Fire Soccer Club Names Former MLS Executive Nelson Rodriguez General Manager (Chicago Fire)
Chicago Fire Soccer Club today announced the appointment of former MLS veteran Nelson Rodríguez as General Manager. In addition, the Club has parted ways with Head Coach and Director of Soccer Frank Yallop, as well as assistant coaches Marc Bircham and Clint Mathis, naming Technical Director Brian Bliss as the Interim Head Coach and former Fire Captain Logan Pause as Interim Assistant Coach. Rodríguez will join the Fire on October 19, all other changes are effective immediately.
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Report: Sitting Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter Proposes MLS Stadium Option During Election Forum (MLS)
USL side Charlotte Independence have been forthright about positioning themselves for a future MLS expansion bid, and a local report this week by the Charlotte Agenda indicates they have a strong supporter in sitting Mayor Dan Clodfelter.
With candidates for the upcoming mayoral election participating in a forum hosted in Charlotte, Clodfelter’s presentation included a proposal to repurpose the old Eastland Mall site as an MLS stadium.
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