MAN UTD COULD SEE ANNUAL ADIDAS FEE CUT BY 30%

Manchester United stand to lose out on significant sponsorship revenue from Adidas should they fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League this season, according to a report in the Manchester Evening News (MEN).

According to the Manchester daily, there is a clause in Adidas’ contract with United that states that if the club fail to secure a place in European club soccer’s elite tournament for two consecutive seasons the sportswear brand reduces its payment by 30 per cent.

United’s deal with Adidas was signed back in 2015 and brings in £75 million ($91.9 million) per season. A 30 per cent reduction on that figure would be £55.2 million ($68.4 million). Whilst still a substantial amount, that would drop the club behind Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea in terms of annual revenue from their kit deal.

PRESS RELEASE

16 coaches from Africa shortlisted as “Future Stars” by Arsenal and WorldRemit

The coaches will be rewarded for their contributions to their communities with Arsenal youth shirts for their team

LONDON, United Kingdom, September 19, 2019/ -- Today, WorldRemit (www.WorldRemit.com) announces that 16 applicants from Africa have been shortlisted for its Future Stars programme. Of these 16 coaches, eight are women. WorldRemit and Arsenal launched the second edition of the Future Stars programme in August to recognise the valuable contributions that grassroots youth football coaches make to their communities by teaching the children they train life skills on and off the pitch. Through the programme, WorldRemit will sponsor two winners – one male and one female – to fly to London for a personalised training session with Arsenal Football Development coaches. Entries for Future Stars closed on 4 September, and the programme received over 1,400 entries from coaches from across Africa and the Americas. A panel of judges from WorldRemit and Arsenal Football Development reviewed the applications and selected 20 semi-finalists, including 16 coaches from Africa, based on the following criteria: The commitment of the coach to improving the lives of their community The impact the coach has had on young people within their community The strength of the coach’s proposal to pass on their training on their return home In recognition of their commitment to using football to bring their communities together, the 20 semi-finalists will receive Arsenal shirts for their youth squad. What’s next for the semi-finalists? From the 20 semi-finalists, the judging panel will select eight coaches – four male and four female - as finalists. Their stories will be shared on www.FutureStars.WorldRemit.com in late October and the two winners will be chosen based on a public vote on the website. Andrew Stewart, Managing Director for Africa and the Middle East, said: “Congratulations to the 16 African semi-finalists!  “Our business is all about connecting communities, no matter where they are in the world. We developed Future Stars to celebrate the amazing work that football coaches do to support young people and have been so impressed by the quality and diversity of the applications this year.” Simon McManus, Head Coach at Arsenal Football Development, added: “Arsenal is thrilled to partner with WorldRemit to recognise coaches who use the power of football to inspire and support young people across the globe. “We have one of the most successful women’s sides in the world and are committed to encouraging greater participation in the sport among women. Through this edition of Future Stars, we hope to further amplify the positive impact that female coaches have on their communities.” Coaches in the Future Stars shortlist from Africa Nigeria Uzoma Kingsley Akanador, Coach at Unity International Charity Organisation in Lagos. Ademilokun Oluwaseun David, Coach at XPR Football in Lagos. Chinasa Ukanda, Coach at Help The Talent Academy in Lagos. Towobola Grace Iyanuoluwa, Head Coach at Hostel Football Team and Assistant Coach at CityBoys Football Club in Ibadan. Modupe Marilyn Jiwalde Pusmut, Coach at Future Stars FC Sabon Barki in Jos. Kenya Feisal Abdi Hassan, Coach in Nairobi Beldine Lilian Achieng Odemba, Coach at Kariobangi Sharks Academy in Nairobi. Susan Wanjiru Njoki, Coach at Kahawa Sportive Soccer Academy in Nairobi. Everline Achieng Onyango, Coach at Mukuru Starlets in Nairobi. Ghana Samuel Taylor, Coach at EM Sporting Club, Accra Alhassan Iddi Manzah, Coach at Northern Women’s Football Clubs Association in Tamale-Dalun Uganda Bakit Isaac Agogo, Coach at Watoto Sports Academy in Gulu. Andrew Amanya, Coach at Kigezi Soccer Academy in Kabale. Nabisenke Joan, Coach in Kampala Zimbabwe Titus Tongesai Sanagurai, Coach at Big Stuff Youth Soccer Academy in Harare. Winnet Muranganwa, Coach at Zengeza Busters Soccer Academy in Chitungwiza. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WorldRemit

PRINCE ABDULLAH BIN MOSAAD WINS CONTROL OFSHEFFIELD UNITED OWNERSHIP

 

Prince Abdullah Bin Mosaad Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has won a High Court battle over control of English top-flight football club Sheffield United.

The Saudi prince had been locked in a legal battle with Kevin McCabe over their 50-50 ownership of the Premier League side. Now the court ruling has ordered McCabe, a lifelong fan of the Blades, to sell his stake to Prince Abdullah for just £5 million (US$6.2 million).

The two first met in 2013 when McCabe was looking for fresh investment in the club, then in the third tier of English soccer. Prince Abdullah subsequently acquired a 50 per cent stake in United for £1 (US€1.2) and went on to invest £10 million (US$12.4 million), but the men fell out in 2017.

Sheffield United Ltd, the company run by McCabe and his family, later made an offer to buy out the Prince for £5 million.

But that offer also gave Prince Abdullah’s company, UTB LLC, the option to buy McCabe's shareholding at the same price and a counter notice was served in January 2018.

The High Court has now ruled that the contract of sale and purchase of Sheffield United Ltd's shares could not be set aside, adding UTB LLC would have to buy the club's property assets from Sheffield United Ltd. This includes the Bramall Lane stadium and the Sheffield United hotel.

Having secured promotion to the Premier League last season, the club is now worth in the region of £100 million (US$124 million).

NFF CONFIRM THE RETURN OF SUPER EAGLES COACH BANNED FOR COLLECTING BRIBE

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have confirmed the return of Super Eagles coach Salisu Yusuf who was banned from football for a year after being found guilty of collecting bribe.

Yusuf was caught on camera collecting N357, 000 ($1,000) from journalists posing as football agents who wanted him to select two players for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

According to a statement from the NFF, Yusuf will now continue in his position as coach of the Super Eagles home-based side, Nigeria’s U23 side and assistant to Gernot Rohr. 

Coach Imama Amapakabo who had been acting in that capacity will not step aside. 

"The Nigeria Football Federation has noted that the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Salisu Yusuf has now fully served the one–year suspension clamped on him last year," NFF's statement reads.

"The Federation thanked Coach Imama Amapakabo for his sterling efforts while in charge of the U23 National Team in the absence of the suspended Yusuf, and for eventually seeing to the team’s qualification for the U23 AFCON.

FA PLANS FIRST WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WEEKEND FIXTURES

English Football Association (FA) has announced the first ever Women’s Football Weekend on the back of the top-flight Women’s Super League’s (WSL) record-breaking return to action.

The event, taking place from 16th to 17th November during the men’s international break, will feature a North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the latter’s new 62,000-seater stadium. The weekend will also see Liverpool face Merseyside rivals Everton and Chelsea play Manchester United.

The FA has called on soccer fans to take advantage of the gap in the men’s domestic calendar to attend a women’s match at any level in the pyramid.

The move comes after the WSL’s opening weekend of the 2019/20 season saw a record-breaking 62,921 fans attend the first round of six games, representing a 12-fold increase on the start of the previous campaign.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REFORMS SHELVED

Plans to restructure the UEFA Champions League, European soccer’s elite club competition, have been shelved due to a lack of support from teams across the continent.

Talks had taken place over several months between UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, and the European Club Association (ECA), which represents clubs in Europe, over changes to the competition from 2024. These include gated promotion and relegation, and playing fixtures on weekends.

The plans had been pushed by Andrea Agnelli, ECA chairman and president of Italian champions Juventus. He was backed by other soccer giants including Barcelona, four-time winners of the tournament.

A meeting was held this week between ECA member clubs, only for talks to break down. According to the Financial Times, a stumbling block was the proposal to have 24 teams retain their places in the Champions League each season, instead of having to qualify through strong performances in domestic competition