Brazil 2014: Safety inspectors approve both temporary stands in Sao Paulo stadium

Safety inspectors approved the use of the temporary stands for the opening of the World Cup (Brazil-Croatia, 12/06/2014), said Fast Engenharia, the subcontractor responsible for their installation, on 06/06/2014. Only the cleaning remains to be done, the company said. Use of the temporary stands…

Serie A: Former striker Filippo Inzaghi succeeds Clarence Seedorf as Milan manager

Italy's Filippo Inzaghi has been appointed manager of AC Milan (Serie A) for two years, the club announced on 09/06/2014. He will succeed Dutch Clarence Seedorf, who had been manager since 16/01/2014, and had himself replaced Massimiliano Allegri, dismissed for lack of results. Seedorf thus far…

The 2014-15 Serie A managers

Serie A: AS Roma choose CAA Sports to sell naming rights for new stadium

AS Roma (Serie A) have chosen CAA Sports, a subsidiary of Creative Artists Agency (USA) to sell the naming rights to their future stadium, the club president's, James Palotta (USA), announced on 09/06/2014. "It's about being one of the first stakeholders in a sports and entertainment complex…

Candidates for main lots of Serie A 2015-2018 TV rights: Sky, Mediaset, Fox and Eurosport

Pay-TV groups Sky Italia, Mediaset, Fox International Channels Italy and Eurosport have each submitted one or several bids for the purchase of lots of media rights for 2015-2018 Serie A, announced the Lega Serie A, the professional league that manages Italy's first division, on 05/06/2014. The…

Pay TV: Telefonica negotiates purchase of Mediaset's 22% share in Canal+ Spain for €350m

The Spanish telecommunications company Telefonica has initiated negotiations with the pay-TV group Mediaset España to purchase its 22% share in pay-TV group DTS (Canal+ Spain), according to U.S. and Italian outlets on 04/06/2014. The amount of the transaction could reach €350m. The Spanish media…

Argentina: Buenos Aires promises subsidies to clubs that recruit Chinese players

Buenos Aires (Argentina) will offer subsidies to clubs that recruit Chinese players, announced Mauricio Macri, Buenos Aires' mayor, on 05/06/2014. "We are launching this initiative with the desire to continue to build relationships and exchange opportunities with China, which is such an important…

Brazil 2014: Nike works with Brazilian designer on Brazil team shirt for women

The U.S. supplier Nike and designer Pedro Lourenço launched a limited edition shirt for women on 05/06/2014 in the colours of Brazil's selection for the 2014 World Cup. The limited run of 160 shirts are made from recycled polyester and organic cotton, on sale for €115 beginning 12/06/2014 in the…

Qatar 2022: Four FIFA partners say they are monitoring ethics committee's investigation

FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) was faced with four of its six major partners -- Adidas, Sony, Visa and Coca Cola -- releasing statements on 08/06/2014 concerning its ethics committee's investigation into the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. The ethics committee's…

Qatar 2022: FIFA executive committee will let ethics committee finish its work before commenting

"Regarding media allegations of unethical behaviour related to the vote for the 2022 World Cup host country, the [FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association)] executive committee reaffirmed its position of letting the ethics committee complete its work before making any comment," FIFA…