Here are some of last week’s top stories from around the global soccer industry…
Kevin Payne Talks Youth Development, US Club Soccer and the Business of it All (Part I) (Business of Soccer)
If you were watching DC United’s thrilling match against NYCFC last week then you may have seen, at halftime, the induction of one of North American soccer’s most influential people, Kevin Payne, get his own banner in the DC United Hall of Tradition. If you’ve never heard of Kevin Payne, or are unfamiliar with the extent of his involvement and impact on soccer in North America then you are missing a decent sized gap in your understanding of the beautiful game in the US, because he has been at the center of it all.
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How to Survive the Ban on Third Party Ownership (FC Business)
The recent comprehensive worldwide ban of TPO by FIFA poses a threat to football players, clubs and leagues across South America and Europe where the practice has hitherto been a way of life and sure means of survival.They must now learn to survive within the new regulation.
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FIFA Suspends Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini for 90 Days; Chung for Six Years (ESPNFC)
FIFA’s ethics committee has provisionally banned Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini and Jerome Valcke for 90 days in the wake of a Swiss criminal investigation. FIFA presidential candidate Chung Mong-joon has also been handed a six-year ban. It had been widely reported on Wednesday that FIFA president Blatter was set to face the sanction, while news of UEFA president Platini’s impending suspension was also leaked to the media.
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MLS Week 31 Average Attendance Third Highest in 2015 with 24,171 (Business of Soccer)
MLS week 31 average attendance is 24,171. The regular season average has increased 0.42% to 21,442 from 21,352 last week. Stadiums were 100.65% filled throughout the week, remaining at 93.71% of capacity for the season.
Five matches were sold out this week – D.C. United versus New York City FC at RFK Stadium, Orlando City SC versus Montreal Impact at the Citrus Bowl, Portland Timbers versus Sporting Kansas City at Providence Park, San Jose Earthquakes versus Vancouver Whitecaps at Avaya Stadium, and Seattle Sounders versus LA Galaxy at CenturyLink Field.
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Swiss Approve Extradition of Soccer Official Takkas (Reuters)
Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) has approved a U.S. extradition request for soccer official Costas Takkas, one of seven individuals arrested in Zurich in May as part of a U.S. clampdown on alleged corruption in soccer.
The seven are half of the 14 soccer officials and sports marketing executives indicted by the United States on bribery, money laundering and wire fraud charges involving more than $150 million in payments.
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BOE’s Carney Says FIFA ‘Lost Sight’ of Duty of Accountability (Bloomberg)
Bank of England Governor Mark Carney says that FIFA, soccer’s besieged governing body, “lost sight” of the fact that it should be accountable globally. FIFA “is a four-letter word,” Carney jokingly told a panel in Lima with IMF head Christine Lagarde and Brazilian Finance Minister Joaquim Levy. “Ultimately it is about accountability to global citizens,” he said. “It’s a pretty mild criticism to say FIFA lost sight of that.”
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Toronto FC Soccer Star to Wear German Brand’s Boots (Soccerex)
US captain Michael Bradley has signed a personal endorsement deal with Puma. The Toronto FC midfielder will wear Puma boots in training and matches. He will also become the face of Puma’s American soccer activities in media and marketing campaigns. The deal brings an end to Bradley’s association with Nike.
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European Soccer Clubs Picked Some Questionable Sponsors (Wall Street Journal)
A spate of troubled sponsorship deals in Europe is causing headaches for some of the world’s top soccer clubs.
Spanish La Liga team RCD Espanyol cut a deal worth around $45 million with Power8 last year that put the unknown technology company’s name on its stadium in Barcelona and logo on team shirts.
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Professional Soccer in St. Paul Takes Another Step Forward (TwinCities.com)
St. Paul’s efforts to draw Major League Soccer may be ramping up next week.
The city council is expected to enter into a joint powers agreement with the Metropolitan Council and the St. Paul Port Authority on Wednesday, spelling out their intention of working together to develop a professional soccer stadium.
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U.S. Sees FIFA as Victim and its Leaders as Wrongdoers (New York Times)
When the United States announced criminal charges against longtime leaders of world soccer in May, its message was clear: FIFA, the international organization governing the sport, was riddled with corruption. FIFA bolstered that notion Thursday, suspending its most powerful executives who were not charged by the United States amid internal ethics investigations.
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This article originally appeared on Business of Soccer. To learn more about BOS you can find them on Facebook or Twitter.
