Inside World Football

Champions League last 16: Liverpool face PSG, Real and Atleti in Madrid derby

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:41:19 +0000

February 21 – In the standout ties of the Champions League’s round of 16, Liverpool have been drawn against perennial contenders Paris Saint-Germain, while reigning champions Real Madrid face crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid in a local derby.

Arne Slot’s team who top the Premier League table, were handed a tough draw as they face the French champions, who waltzed past Brest 10-0 on aggregate in the playoff round. In 2018, the pair met in the group stages with both sides winning at home.

Rubiales found guilty of sexual assault but escapes jail term

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:32:24 +0000

February 21 – After a trial that gripped the nation as well as the outside world and made front as well as back page headlines, Spain’s former FA boss Luis Rubiales avoided a prison sentence Thursday as he was found guilty of sexual assault for kissing World Cup star Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent and ordered by the country’s High Court to pay a fine of €10,800.

The incident, which took place at the awards ceremony shortly after Spain’s 2023 Women’s World Cup triumph,

Man Utd’s malaise makes Europa League win a balance sheet priority

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:10:04 +0000

February 21 – Manchester United’s latest financial results paint a worrying picture, with revenues dropping to £198.7 million for the final three months of 2024 – down 12% from the same period last year.

The club’s operating profit has plummeted by a staggering 88.7%, falling from £27.5 million to just £3.1 million, highlighting the financial strain at what was once a monetary juggernaut in English sport.

Even a commercial revenue boost of 18.5% to £85.1 million hasn’t been enough to paper over the cracks.

Arsenal post record revenues of £616m but still show losses of £17m

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:01:43 +0000

February 21 – Arsenal have posted record revenues of £616.6 million for the year to 31 May 2024 with reduced losses of £17.7 million from £52.1 million in the year to May 2023.

The revenue jump is an £150 million uplift on the £466.7 million posted the previous year.

The numbers show strong increases across all revenue lines but the real driver was the club’s return to the Champions League.

“The return of Champions League football meant there were 25 home fixtures and matchday revenue increased to £131.7 million compared to £102.6 million in the prior year.

Tunisia FA boss and former CAF exco member Wadie Jary handed 4-year jail term for corruption

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:00:02 +0000

February 21 – Tunisia’s former chief football official Wadie Jary has reportedly been sentenced to four years in prison on corruption charges.

Jary came to power in 2012 at the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF), but in recent years he has faced allegations of match-fixing, financial misconduct and money laundering.

He has always maintained his innocence and his lawyer told AFP that Jary will appeal the court’s verdict.

Jary has been in custody since October 2023.

Coca-Cola puts rights lawsuit behind them and buys into FIFA’s Club World Cup

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:36 +0000

February 21 – Coca-Cola has resolved its legal dispute with FIFA to become an official sponsor of this summer’s much-criticised expanded Club World Cup.

The soft drinks giant, a FIFA partner since 1978, had been at odds with football’s governing body over sponsorship rights, filing a case at the Swiss Arbitration Centre alongside Adidas after being told they would have to bid for rights they believed were already included in their existing deals.

Eto’o wins battle with CAF for non-jurisdictional ethics sanction

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:22 +0000

February 21 – Cameroon’s greatest footballing icon Samuel Eto’o has emerged victorious in his long-running legal battle with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), successfully overturning sanctions that had threatened his presidency at the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT).

CAF’s Appeals Board has ruled in his favour, stating that the disciplinary body had no jurisdiction over ethical matters, which should be handled exclusively by an independent panel.

Lawyers for Eto’o say the ruling that led to him being fined $200,000 for an ethics breach has consequently been quashed on appeal.

US buyers touchdown for a potential stake in Rangers

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:36:27 +0000

February 21 – A US-led takeover bid for Scottish giants Rangers is at an advanced stage with the bid being run by an investment arm of San Francisco 49ers, according to multiple reports.

According to the BBC, there is “broad agreement” between all parties, with current shareholders expected to sell all, or part, of their stake in the club in the coming months.

Rangers trail arch-rivals Celtic by 13 points in the Scottish Premiership and are out of the Scottish Cup after a shock defeat by Championship side Queen’s Park earlier this month.

Man City build their digital power play with Publicis Sapient

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 08:09:27 +0000

February 21 – Manchester City have struck a multi-year partnership with digital consultancy Publicis Sapient, naming the firm as its official digital business transformation partner in a move aimed at modernising the club’s digital ecosystem.

The agreement will see Publicis Sapient leverage its expertise in strategy, product development, experience, engineering, data, and AI to enhance City’s operations off the pitch. With the club already known for its slick footballing machine under Pep Guardiola,

West Ham lead ranking with Match Day 25 attendance double

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 07:03:01 +0000

February 21 – West Ham United again led the way in the Premier League attendance table, recording a season-high 99.94% capacity at the London Stadium.

The stats show that Premier League attendances remain steady, with match week 25 delivering a 97.91% capacity rate—just shy of the 98% season average.

Graham Potter’s Hammers also boasted the largest overall attendance of the week, with 62,467 fans filling the stands. Their strong off-pitch showing was a silver lining after a narrow 1-0 home defeat to Brentford.

Report says US is not ready to host the Greatest Show on Earth

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 01:20:09 +0000

February 21 – The United States is about to embark upon hosting the two biggest sporting events on the planet, in the form of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and in 2028 the Olympic Games. However, according to a report released on Wednesday, the country is wholly unprepared for the burdens these events will place on its aging infrastructure.

The US Travel Association commissioned a report utilising the knowledge of former government officials and industry experts.

DAZN says it was duped by France’s Ligue 1 and demands €573m in compensation

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 01:13:02 +0000

February 21 – Sports broadcaster DAZN can’t keep itself out of the news in one way or another. Hot on the heels of agreeing to a billion-dollar investment from the Saudi Public Investment Fund, they are now embroiled in a row with Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP).

DAZN is demanding a whopping €573 million from the league’s governing body claiming they have been duped by LFP in regard to the number of subscribers they hoped to gain when they acquired the rights to the league.

AFC unveils Saudi stadia for Champions League Elite finals as clubs go into Round of 16

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:27:02 +0000

February 28 – With the AFC Champions League Elite entering the first leg of last 16 stage in 10 days time, the Asian confederation has announced the host stadiums of the centralised final in Saudi Arabia.

All games will be played at either the 63,000-capacity King Abdullah Sports City or the 27,000-capacity Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah from April 25 to May 3, 2025.
Matches begin with the quarter finals with each stadium hosting two quarter-finals and a semi-final.

Bulgarian tax collectors lift seizure of Levski Sofia’s trademarks after club settles debt

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:17:32 +0000

February 2 – The Bulgarian National Revenue Agency (NRA) has lifted the seizure of two of Levski Sofia’s club logos after the club paid its state taxes.
The NRA has now designated Levski as a “correct payer”, meaning that the club can now freely use its trademarks without any restrictions.

The seizures of Levski’s brand images were imposed as a measure under the club’s debt repayment agreement of December 28, 2023.

Levski said that the cancellation comes as a result of the full repayment of the principal of BGN 3.7 million (€ 1.85 million).

Brazilian stars complain that artificial turf pitches increase injury threat

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:15:49 +0000

February 21 – With drought and water shortages occurring worldwide, artificial turf is seen as one way to combat the crisis, however, leading figures in the game, including Brazilian superstars Neymar, Thiago Silva, and Memphis Depay, are not so sure.

In an online campaign released on Tuesday, they all had the same message, highlighting their suspicion of increased injury due to artificial surfaces.

With Neymar’s return to Santos the big news in Brazil,

Reitz tops CIES Football Observatory list of U23 defensive midfielders

Andy Elliott — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:01 +0000

February 20 – The latest report from the CIES Football Observatory, using technical data from Wyscout, has identified the top U23 defensive midfielders across 46 leagues worldwide. Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Rocco Reitz leads the rankings, edging out Barcelona’s Marc Casadó and Genk’s Ibrahima Sory Bangoura.

The study evaluates performance using a synthetic index, calculated by assessing defensive duels won below elbow height, pass interceptions and anticipation on loose balls. These metrics are adjusted for success rate and the sporting level of matches played,