Football Partnerships

Football Partnerships podcast

Football Partnerships welcomes BJ Pheasant, Author of the Soccer Capitalization Rate Study

Listen here on Football Partnerships, or subscribe to the show via iTunes by searching the podcast directory for ‘Football Partnerships’. Please note that the recording is best heard via iTunes, as some browsers disrupt audio transmission.

 

 Episode 70 [28:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (157)

By Alex Kotler

Putting the ‘no’ in technology

Football and technology do not mix, at least not while FIFA is stirring.

Following the Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) last Saturday in Zurich, FIFA announced that goal-line technology would not be explored further.

Seen as a gateway to inviting technology into other areas of the sport, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke commented: “If we start with goal-line technology then any part of the game and pitch will be a potential space where you could put in place technology to see if the ball was in or out, whether it was a penalty and then you end up with video replays.”

Supporters of technology need only to point to the weekend’s match between Birmingham City and Portsmouth when Liam Ridgewell’s scoring chance was ruled as save.

What are your thoughts? Sound decision? Bold move? Unfair to the victims of human fallibility?

Read about it from FIFA

ESPN makes an accented choice for World Cup broadcasts

Sports network ESPN has selected a star-studded starting lineup for its US broadcasts of the 2010 World Cup: Ian Darke, Adrian Healey, Derek Rae and Martin Tyler.

The move has drawn ire and support, as some take issue with the lack of American accents in the mix and others argue that the quality of the play-calling will outshine any sentimental or patriotic decisions.

Perhaps it’s all the more reason for the USMNT to show up on 12 June.

Read Jack Bell’s coverage in the Goal blog as well as the comments

Putting the clamp on South Africa

Extensive measures are being taken to ensure security at the 2010 World Cup.

According to SoccerexBusiness Daily, Interpol - the international criminal police organization - will send its largest-ever team to help with security from June 11 to July 11. Further, the South African government will spend approximately $173 million on security, including the training of 44,000 police personnel.

The news comes amidst reports that up to 40,000 sex workers will enter South Africa during the tournament.

Will the World Cup be safe for visitors? Will the world see an aggressive spread of HIV? What are your thoughts?

More on prostitution in South Africa

Putting the clamp on South Africa

The first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, participated in a free youth soccer clinic for kids in Washington, DC last week, promoting soccer as a way of fighting childhood obesity.

The event marked the partnership between the US Soccer Foundation and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health. A 25-city tour will follow, providing free health screenings and contacts for families to connect with local soccer programs.

Read about it in the Wichita Soccer Examiner

Keeping it Real

According to Deloitte, which recently published its annual Football Money League, Real Madrid sit atop the earnings table, having generated annual revenue in excess of $543 million dollars.

To put it into perspective, that would account for over 152 million McDonald’s Big Macs, as priced at $3.57 in February of 2008. Current pricing for Big Macs are unavailable and would further make such tabulations less ridiculous in principle.

Read more in Soccer News

Football Partnerships podcast

Football Partnerships welcomes Meredith McClure, Marketing & Communications Coordinator at the USSF.

Listen here on Football Partnerships, or subscribe to the show via iTunes by searching the podcast directory for ‘Football Partnerships’. Please note that the recording is best heard via iTunes, as some browsers disrupt audio transmission.

 

 Episode 65 [20:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (146)

Football business event Leaders in Football has announced that Sunil Gulati will deliver an exclusive interview to the event on 7-8 October at Chelsea FC.

Gulati is president of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and chairman of the US 2018/2022 World Cup Bid Committee. He will cover the recent economic events and their impact on the football community as well as the current state of the game in the United States.

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The Xtreme Soccer League received provisional membership in the United States Soccer Federation for its inaugural season.

The USSF is the governing body for soccer in the United States. USSF membership benefits include licensing, insuring and assignment of U.S. Soccer registered referees; a conduit for relationships with the IOC, USOC, FIFA and CONCACAF; continuing education for coaches and referees; and much more.

“The USSF is dedicated at all levels to growth and development of soccer in the United States,” said Brian Loftin, commissioner of the Xtreme Soccer League. “The growth and development of opportunities for participants and spectators alike is a key to our current and future success, and there is no greater partner to have in this pursuit than the USSF.”

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