Here are some of the top stories from last week from around the global soccer industry…
The FIFA Conundrum: Sponsors Find Themselves in Tough Spot (Business of Soccer)
This week the global sports community witnessed one of the biggest events in modern history, when on May 27th the United States Department of Justice opened an indictment of 14 individuals for various corruption charges in world soccer, 9 of whom were high-ranking FIFA executives.
This scandal is without a doubt the largest in FIFA’s and soccer’s history, and some would say this is the biggest scandal and investigation in all of sports history. In the wake of these unprecedented events the outcries from the public have been directed not only at FIFA and the other confederations and organizations implicated in the investigation, but also at FIFA’s sponsors, calling for them to sever ties with the global soccer governing body and not associate themselves with such actions, similar to what happened with Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong during their respective ordeals recently.
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Building for a Future Full of Uncertainties: Stadiums in MLS (Business of Soccer)
After 20 years, Major League Soccer (MLS) has checked off quite a few boxes. The league emerged from some dark days when it was forced to contract to 10 teams for the 2002 season. Average attendance dipped each year from the inaugural 1996 season until 2001. Soccer specific stadiums were elusive (and still are for some teams) and regular national television programing was a pipe dream.
Part of this unprecedented growth in MLS since 2005 has been a result of the improved play on the field, grass roots supporter culture, and clubs opening up their checkbooks. Club owners have been more willing to invest to bring in top talent from around the world and build a stadium around which the community can rally. Houston Dynamo, San Jose Earthquakes, New York Red Bulls, and Sporting Kansas City are examples of clubs (and fans) who have reaped the benefits of having a soccer-specific stadium built after years of playing in alternate locations.
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Top FIFA Officials Arrested, Indicted on Corruption Charges (Sports Illustrated)
Several top FIFA officials were arrested and will be indicted Wednesday morning on corruption charges, which the United States Justice Department said stem from decades of “rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted” corruption by members of world soccer’s governing body.
Fourteen people will be charged when a 47-count indictment is unsealed in a federal court in Brooklyn, New York on Wednesday.
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Nike Seen Avoiding Charges in Soccer Bribery Probe – Lawyers (Reuters)
Nike Inc may be able to avoid U.S. charges over any involvement in bribery payments to win soccer sponsorships, but could face penalties if U.S. prosecutors decide to clamp down on the global sportswear giant, lawyers with expertise in the subject said.
Although Nike has not been named or charged with any wrongdoing, the company was swept into the corruption scandal that engulfed soccer’s governing body FIFA when a U.S. indictment released on Wednesday described apparent kickback payments linked to a landmark 1996 Nike deal in Brazil.
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Palestinian Soccer Body Drops Proposal to Ban Israel from FIFA (Bloomberg)
Palestinian soccer officials withdrew a proposal to ban Israeli soccer teams from international play, agreeing to form a panel to monitor the relationship between the regional governing bodies.
Proposals for the easier monitoring and movement of Palestitian players passed with 90 percent at the congress of FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, in Zurich.
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Sky Sport Seals Eight-Year FIFA Deal (Soccerex)
Sky Sport has agreed an eight-year deal with Fifa for the TV rights in New Zealand to soccer’s biggest tournaments, including the 2018 and 2022 editions of the Fifa World Cup.
The pay-TV broadcaster will also be entitled to air all editions of the Women’s World Cup, Confederations Cup, men’s and women’s U17 and U20 World Cups, and global tournaments in futsal and beach soccer.
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LAFC Chooses Legends for Multiple Roles (Sports Business Journal)
The Los Angeles Football Club, the MLS expansion team set to begin play in 2018, has hired Legends to provide multiple services for developing the most expensive stadium project in the league’s 20-year history.
The $250 million, privately funded complex covers a 22,000-seat facility and more than 100,000 square feet of restaurants, office space, a conference center and an international soccer museum. Pending city approvals over the next several months, the star-studded ownership team — which includes Magic Johnson, Nomar and Mia Hamm Garciaparra, Golden State Warriors co-owner Peter Guber and motivational speaker Tony Robbins — plans to build the stadium on the site of the Los Angeles Sports Arena. The targeted opening is 2018, the team’s first MLS season.
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Manchester in with Citi (FC Business)
Manchester City and Citi have announced a new partnership that will see the club join forces with the leading global bank.
Through the multi-year agreement, Citi will become an official banking partner of MCFC.
In addition to leveraging opportunities with the club to enhance experiences for Citi clients and City fans, the new relationship also involves a joint collaboration with City Football Schools.
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Orlando City SC to Privately Fund New Stadium Project, Announce Increase in Capacity to 25-28,000 (Major League Soccer)
Orlando City SC solved two problems Friday, announcing they’ll bypass delayed state funding for their new stadium and finance 100 percent of the project in house, while also increasing capacity to sate the overwhelming demand for soccer in Central Florida.
Team owner Flavio Augusto da Silva made the announcement in a press conference, marking a shift in course from what was originally intended to be a city-owned stadium on publicly-owned land. Now, da Silva said, the stadium will be owned and operated by the team, and Orlando City will buy the land from the city.
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Sepp Blatter Must be Challenged by Michel Platini, says Greg Dyke (ESPN)
Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has called on UEFA president Michel Platini to show leadership against Sepp Blatter in the wake of the corruption allegations engulfing the world governing body.
Blatter won a fifth term as president on Friday despite widespread calls for him to step down after seven serving FIFA officials were among 14 people arrested on corruption charges after being indicted by the US justice department.
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This article originally appeared on Business of Soccer. To learn more about BOS you can follow them on Facebook or Twitter.
