Football Partnerships

By Alex Kotler

In for three, not for five. Or not.

Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, having put the club on the sales block, have admitted that their three year investment may, in fact, extend to five.

Despite being quoted in SportsBusiness Journal in March as saying, “We’ve owned it three years. We won’t own it for five,” Hicks - facing reality - has relented.

Meanwhile, the Glazer family has rebuffed a supposed £1.5 billion offer for Manchester United. The Red Knights have vowed not to overpay, calling their efforts into question should the American owners prefer not to hear a bid for sub-£1.5 billion.

Are some ‘Reds’ worth more than others? What say you?

Read more in SportBusiness

Read more about the Red Knights and United the Guardian

Heavy hands, big boots

FIFA, the governing body of world football, takes its intellectual property seriously. To date, the organization has launched over 2,500 legal actions against those it deems to have violated its rights - and those of its sponsors.

Read more in SportBusiness

MLS makes big Impact

MLS has announced a third Canadian-based soccer franchise: the Montreal Impact.

In 2012, Saputo Stadium - named after team president Joey Saputo - will open its doors to other Major League Soccer. Said Saputo: “Montreal will finally have the soccer it deserves; a major-league team for a major-league city,” Saputo said.

Should Canada have a third team before Montana or Georgia or Hawaii get a first?

Read more in the Montreal Gazette

G’day World Cup

Football may be coming home to the fans of the Socceroos, as Australia is set to bid on the World Cup for 2018 or 2022.

FFA chief executive Ben Buckley believes that the tournament is in safe hands in Oz: “We have the experience, stability and certainty to hold such a major event,” Buckley said. “The host cities and stadia we are using in our bid will showcase Australia to the rest of the world and combined with our sports loving culture and the friendliest volunteers in the world it will be a fantastic FIFA World Cup.”

Are they ready or is Australia too un-roo-ly? (Apologies.)

Read more in ESPN

Togo a go-go

Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA and master negotiator, has brokered an arrangement that will see Togo return to the African Cup of Nations in 2012 and 2014.

After being ambushed by gunmen during last year’s tournament, the team - and its emotionally-scarred players - pulled out. Togo was then banned from future participation for its government’s involvement in the affair.

Fair or unfair? Need we even ask?

Read more in the NY Times

By Alex Kotler

Let’s go to the videotape! Really.

FIFA, global football’s governing body, has revealed that it will consider the merits of goal line technology at an upcoming meeting in March. Video replay would not, however, be implemented in time for this summer’s 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Speaking to Swiss newspaper SonntagsBlick, FIFA President Sepp Blatter admitted that he is “not absolutely against it,” and that “if the technology is ready to adopt, then [FIFA would be] in agreement.”

Perhaps the Irish will then have reason to thank the French and adore Thierry Henry.

Let’s get feasible…. Let me hear somebody talk

According to today’s Soccerex Business Daily, the Maryland Stadium Authority will conduct a $100,000 feasibility study to determine whether or not MLS side DC United should consider relocating to Baltimore where a 17,000-20,000 capacity soccer specific stadium would be constructed.

The Maryland Stadium Authority has previously evaluated the economic benefits of locating a Major League Soccer stadium in Prince George’s County.

Will DC United fans approve of having their team relocated?

View the results of the Prince George’s County study

Glazers vs. Sliders

Despite a spirited protest by its supporters outside of Old Trafford, English Premier League side Manchester United have successfully raised £500 million through a bond issue. The move will cost the club £54 million, according to newspaper reports.

To put the expense in perspective, fans could enjoy over 103 million White Castle sliders (with cheese) for the value of the debt issuance.

Eurosport to partner with the WPSL

Eurosport, one of the world’s best known soccer merchandise and apparel companies, has joined Molten as an official partner of the Women’s Premier Soccer League.

The deal will see Eurosport increase its presence on all WPSL digital properties, including team and league pages. The facilitator of the deal, Cheryl Stokes, who is currently President of the Maine Tide, will now serve as Director of Business Development & Sponsorships for the league.

Learn more about the WPSL.

Putting an Arena in the Hall

Former US National Team Coach and current Coach and General Manager of MLS side LA Galaxy Bruce Arena has been elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame as a Builder.

Arena led the University of Virginia to five titles, DC United to two, guided the US men to the best finish in 72 years at the 2002 World Cup and guided the LA Galaxy to last year’s MLS final.

Learn more about Arena’s achievement.

By Alex Kotler

To Stay or Togo

A bus carrying Togo’s national football team was ambushed last Friday by Flec-Position Militaire, a rebel group opposed to Angola’s occupation of Cabinda, on its return from training camp in the Democratic People’s Republic of Congo. Three people were killed, including the Angolan bus driver and two Togolese officials. The attack also left several players wounded, and has marred the start of the African Cup of Nations tournament. The Togolese team has pulled out of the competition, amidst safety concerns.

More, the incident has brought the matter of security in South Africa for the 2010 World Cup back to the forefront. Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA, and Danny Jordaan, CEO of the LOC for the 2010 World Cup, have each responded to refute such claims and to assuage fears about South Africa’s preparedness.

Eloquently put by Togo’s captain and striker for English Premier League club Manchester City, Emmanuel Adebayor, clearly shaken up by the attack: “Africa has to change its image if we want to be respected.” For the moment, the problem sadly requires more than a public relations campaign.

The latest from the BBC

Ready, Setanta, Go!

Reports surfaced that News Corp., parent of Fox Soccer Channel, will take over some or all of the broadcasting rights previously held by Setanta USA, once linked to its now-defunct UK counterpart. After the network’s publicized dispute with Time Warner Cable, the Setanta USA went dark, failing to show the weekend’s Arsenal v. Everton fixture - which featured the much-anticipated debut of American star Landon Donovan.

The collapse, while unfortunate, is not unexpected. However, it leaves subscribers disenchanted and pubs infuriated - many of which paid upwards of $1,000 to DirecTV and DISH to show matches on Setanta. The opportunity meant fans of America’s top player missed seeing him notch his first Premier League points.

First Touch isn’t sorry tosee Setanta go

It pays to be good looking (and decent at football, too)

According to Tariq Panja of Bloomberg, Beckham Brand Ltd., the company created to exploit the image rights of soccer star David Beckham and his wife Victoria, posted a 60 percent increase in profit following his first season in Major League Soccer.

The business is jointly controlled by Beckham, his wife and Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment, and earns income from the footballer’s revenue share agreement with the LA Galaxy and arrangements with Coty Inc., the fragrance company. Following the year ending Decemeber 31, 2008, Beckham Brand’s net income $6.4 million. It rose to $15.4 million in 2009. The tally does not include deals with Adidas AG, Motorola Inc. and Newell Rubbermaid Inc.’s Sharpie pen company.

But keep your boots on Beckham: Elvis Presley Enterprises made $55 million in 2009. We’ll see what you’re really worth when you’re All Shook Up!

Tap into the Tariq technique

A bank earns its stripes

Argentina’s top flight club Racing has unveiled its new kit, produced by Brazilian brand Olympikus and sponsored by Banco Hipotecario. Refreshingly unique to the jersey is that the bank, which reportedly paid $1 million for a one-year deal, will not have its identity printed on the shirt.

The decision is a strategic - and symbolic - marketing gesture, designed to demonstrate to fans that the club, effective, is their own. The inherent risk is that this value is lost if the story is not told. Meanwhile, the choice is a gift for Olympikus which, presumably, will enjoy greater exposure and possibly be considered as both manufacturer and sponsor.

Check out the new kits

NASL reveals visual identity

Following the news that the United States would have a professional second division competing in 2010, comprised of both the United Soccer Leagues (USL) teams and those representing the North American Soccer League (NASL), the NASL released its new logo.

Have a look-see at the new logo

By WILSON LIEVANO

FIFA and the World Anti-Doping Agency are set to team up on an anti-doping project to test Europe’s top soccer players for banned drugs. FIFA medical chief Jiri Dvorak said Saturday that a blood-profiling scheme similar to cycling’s biological passport could start trials next month. FIFA boss Sepp Blatter and WADA president John Fahey will meet this month to discuss the project.

Read the rest of the article

By TALES AZZONI

FIFA officials will discuss possible changes on the age limit for male soccer players at the Olympics.

The governing body’s executive committee meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday also will address preparations for the 2010 World Cup.

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