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☆ Meet Thom Browne, the stripe-obsessed designer who took on Adidas and won
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Danni Santana | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Thom Browne defeated Adidas in court this month over its right to use its four stripe design. Adidas sought roughly $7.8 million in damages — equivalent to the amount Adidas believed it would have earned through a licensing agreement with Thom Browne and profits Thom Browne made off the parallel stripe designs. Fashion Designer Thom Browne arrives at Manhattan Federal Court on January 03, 2023. Thom Browne made $285 million in 2021 revenue compared to $23 billion for Adidas, according to the New York Times report. By then, Thom Browne was dressing sports teams like the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and European soccer club FC Barcelona for pregame appearances.

United and Liverpool are the two most successful teams in English football but have won only one league title each in the past decade. "You get a lot of money from the Premier League, from broadcasting and sponsorship, but you also have to put a lot of money in to keep your team." "The failure of the proposal and the failure of Premier League clubs to gain greater power in the running of the league are likely influencing factors," said Spencer Harris, Associate Professor of Sport Management at the University of Colorado. "The current owners (of Liverpool and United) don't have the finances to compete and invest on the level of these other clubs." "(There is a) general realisation that English Premier League teams, the two biggest ones per se, are relatively uncapitalized versus NFL franchises, which have been a barometer for a longer period of time."

☆ Messi and Ronaldo Stage a Zany Finale in Riyadh
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Lionel Messi, left, and Cristiano Ronaldo took the pitch together for what appears to be the last time on Thursday. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—The rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo played out for over a decade in the cathedrals of European soccer. They clashed at the Bernabeu in Madrid, Camp Nou in Barcelona, the Olimpico in Rome, and Old Trafford in Manchester. The stakes were Champions League trophies and Spanish league titles. When Messi and Ronaldo took the pitch together for what appears to be the last time, it was inside King Fahd Stadium, a tired relic on the edge of Riyadh.

☆ Agnelli warns of Premier League dominance as he quits Juventus
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Giulio Piovaccari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SummarySummary Companies Agnelli warns Premier League will marginalise rivalsStepping down from Juventus and two other board rolesNew Juventus board faces legal battle over accountsTURIN, Italy, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Outgoing Juventus <JUVE.MI> Chairman Andrea Agnelli, who could face trial over the club's accounting, signed off on Wednesday with a plea for reform of European soccer to counteract the power of the English Premier League. As well as leaving Juventus, Agnelli also said he would step down from his board roles at carmaker Stellantis (STLA.MI) and Exor (EXOR.AS), the Agnelli family holding company which controls the football club. Prosecutors in Turin have requested that Agnelli, 11 other people and the club stand trial over allegations of false accounting. "I believed and still believe that European soccer needs structural reforms to tackle the future," he said. Andrea Agnelli retains his role as board member at Giovanni Agnelli B.V., Exor's controlling shareholder, which groups all descendants of Fiat founder Giovanni Agnelli.

☆ Soccer star Son Heung-min gives his top 3 tips for making it as a pro athlete
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

As captain of the South Korean soccer team and a forward for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, Son Heung-min knows a thing or two about becoming a pro athlete. In an interview with CNBC, Son shared his top tips on going pro and handling the pressures that come with it. Son left South Korea at age 16 to join the German soccer club Hamburger SV, with whom he made his first appearance in a top European soccer league in 2010. Son also addressed some of the biggest lessons he has learned from his career so far. "I think the lessons are, just don't try to chase your happiness," he told CNBC.

☆ Soccer giants’ new owners may get tiny returns
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Streisand Neto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Financial Times reported that PSG’s Qatari owners wanted to offload 15% of the French champions. Recent deals valued the National Football League’s Denver Broncos and basketball’s Utah Jazz at over 9 times revenue, according to Forbes. Possible Man United, Liverpool and PSG owners might hope that the teams will eventually reach such valuation heights. Fenway Sports Group would consider new shareholders for Liverpool, having frequently received expressions of interest from third parties, the English Premier League club’s owners said on Nov. 7. The Financial Times reported on Nov. 28 that Paris Saint-Germain’s Qatari owners were considering selling 15% of the club.

☆ Why Liverpool and Manchester United, two giants of soccer, are up for sale at the same time
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In November, the owners of first Liverpool and then Manchester United confirmed they were open to new investment offers, with the potential for full sales of the top flight English clubs. Meanwhile New York-listed shares in Manchester United popped 18% on the news on Nov. 23 that its owners were similarly opening themselves up to investment opportunities. Big money competition One recurring complaint Manchester United fans have had of the Glazers is a lack of investment in the club, across both facilities and players. Old Trafford Stadium, the home of Manchester United Football Club. "In the cases of Liverpool and Manchester United, both owners have held the clubs for a long time, and both assets have appreciated a lot as their leagues and brands and global fan bases have developed.

☆ Morocco faces France in politically charged World Cup semifinal
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

For the 26-year-old English teacher in Morocco’s capital, and many of her countrymen both inside the North African nation and throughout the diaspora, it’s about to get more complicated. Next up is France: The defending champion and Morocco’s former colonial ruler for much of the first half of the 20th century. Wednesday’s match has political and emotional resonance for both nations. It dredges up everything that’s complex about the relationship in which France still wields considerable economic, political and cultural influence. “Especially since France is next to beat.”“We can show the rest of the world that Morocco is no longer France’s backyard.”

☆ Switzerland clash with Serbia revives memories of political tensions
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Switzerland and Serbia will battle for Group G's last spot in the knockout stage on Friday in a rematch of the 2018 World Cup clash that could reignite political tensions between the teams. Switzerland, on three points, look well-placed to join Brazil in the last 16. Switzerland and Serbia -- who along with Cameroon need a win for a chance to advance -- have only played each other once, in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup. That match remains etched in the memory of fans as one with heavy political undertones. The Football Federation of Kosovo, which became a member of European soccer's governing body UEFA and FIFA in 2016, decried the "aggressive action" undertaken by Serbia.

☆ European teams considering legal options in 'OneLove' armband dispute
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Rohith Nair | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/StaffDOHA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - The seven countries that were prevented by FIFA from wearing 'OneLove' armbands during the World Cup in Qatar are jointly considering their legal options, the Dutch football association (KNVB) said on Wednesday. Global soccer governing body FIFA threatened to book any player wearing the armband, which was introduced to support diversity and inclusion. "All seven countries whose captains would have played with the 'OneLove' captain's armband have jointly taken the decision not to go to the CAS at this time," the KNVB said. We remain 100% behind 'OneLove' and its message... We are therefore continuing the 'OneLove' campaign, at home and abroad. "Previously, the captains of the Netherlands and nine other countries played with the 'OneLove' armband on during Nations League matches.

Just when you were settling into the European soccer season, with the top leagues on the planet beginning to take shape, the 2022 World Cup has brought it to a screeching halt. For four weeks, the sport is coming to a standstill to focus on Qatar, which is already shaping up as a tournament for usual suspects. Brazil, Argentina, and France—with a combined nine titles between them—enter as heavy favorites, while Germany and Spain, who have won two of the past three World Cups, are still rebuilding. (If you’re looking for Italy, you can stop now: the Azzurri were knocked out of qualifying by North Macedonia.)

☆ European soccer associations press FIFA to act on migrant workers' rights before Qatar World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 6 (Reuters) - The Football Associations of 10 European countries, including England and Germany, are pushing FIFA ahead of the World Cup starting in two weeks to take action to improve the rights of migrant workers in Qatar. Amnesty and other rights groups have led calls for FIFA to compensate migrant workers in Qatar for human rights abuses by setting aside $440 million, matching the World Cup prize money. Denmark's players will travel to the World Cup without their families as a protest against Qatar's human rights record, their FA (DBU) said last month. Sunday's open letter said Qatar had made "significant progress" regarding migrant workers' rights and in providing assurances on the safety of LGBT supporters. Qatar's World Cup organisers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

☆ European game is not sustainable, says Super League backer
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Alexander Hübner | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUNICH, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Bernd Reichart, CEO of the company backing a proposed Super League, said on Wednesday that European football is losing its leading role in world sport and that clubs are not maximising their potential under the current system. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus were amongst 12 clubs to announce a breakaway Super League in April 2021 but after a hostile reaction from across the game and from fans and governments alike the move promptly collapsed. One aspect of the initial Super League proposition which angered fans was that it was a closed competition for Europe's elite clubs, but Reichart said that was no longer the case. U.S. investment bank JP Morgan had been set to finance the Super League in 2021 but Reichart said it will now be "starting from scratch". Reichart has also written to UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin seeking a meeting to discuss issues related to the Super League, according to a letter obtained by Reuters.

☆ Serie A seeking to triple overseas media revenue
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Elvira Pollina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Under a scenario drafted by Serie A Chief Executive Luigi De Siervo, the league sees international broadcasting revenue potentially growing to some 1.1 billion euros in the 2024-2027 cycle, to reach about 1.9 billion euros in the 2027-2030 period. Projections for the league's domestic rights point to a potential target of 3.2 billion euros over the 2024-2027 period from some 2.9 billion euros Serie A pocketed thanks to existing TV deals expiring in 2024. Serie A's domestic TV revenues could increase slightly to hit 3.4 billion euros in the 2027-2030 period. The estimates for Serie A's media business are included in a document presented to the 20 clubs as the league prepares to kick-off its upcoming round of broadcasting tenders next year. Such a move could allow the entrance of private equity firms interested in investing in the development of the league's media business, a route which Spain's La Liga and France's Ligue 1 have already taken.

☆ Magnus Carlsen’s Walk-Off Stunner in Rematch With U.S. Teen Fuels More Chess Chaos
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Andrew Beaton | Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Magnus Carlsen resigned after making just one move against an opponent at the center of an alleged cheating controversy. When American grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann began with two conventional pawn moves against world champion Magnus Carlsen in an online event on Monday, the top-ranked Norwegian responded with a stunning counter, one that isn’t in any chess book. Carlsen’s move was the latest explosion in a scandal that has rocked professional chess this month. Carlsen recently withdrew from an in-person event after losing to Niemann, with his only public comments coming in the form of a cryptic video of a European soccer manager. The chess world was quick to understand the implications of his unprecedented decision: Niemann faced widespread speculation that he is a cheater.

☆ Petrodollar rush may disappoint Western financiers
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Liam Proud | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Yet Western financiers hoping to share in the spoils of a 1970s-style petrodollar boom will be disappointed. In previous petrodollar booms, energy producers have recycled their windfalls into the Western financial system. These financial flows, known as petrodollar recycling, mean that the money Westerners spend on fuel eventually makes its way back into their economies through energy producers’ financial investments. Either way, it would mean that Westerners miss out on some of the spoils of the new petrodollar boom. A more muted petrodollar boom might not be such a bad thing after all.

☆ How 2 colleges are using NFTs to engage sports fans and help athletes make money from NIL
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Colin Salao | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Colleges like BYU and Syracuse are starting to sell NFTs of their sports teams and athletes. National Research Group said NFTs with real-world utility in sports could change the industry. Unlike the conventional NFTs in the market today, these NFTs also come with real-world benefits. BYU fans storm the field after the team's overtime win over Baylor on September 10, 2022. NRG's study said that sports fans are an ideal market for NFTs, particularly because of the industry's long history of fans purchasing memorabilia.

☆ Streetfighters, Hooligans and Nazis: Inside Sweden's Most Notorious Underground Fight Club
▼ + stars: | 2019-11-24 | by ( Karim Zidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

Few outsiders have ever attended a KOTS fight in person. "The most notorious fight club, the one and only place for the unwanted ones, delivering the most stressed out and fucked up environment you can find. Back in 2019, the fight club started live streaming its events and charging around $14 per fight. In the exchange, a fan asked why the fight club allows anti-fascists to compete. "This is the most raw form of fighting," Hooi, who is not affiliated with any far-right groups, wrote during our interview.

☆ Women's Champions League final sold out for first time since 2009-10
▼ + stars: | 2009-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Women's Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - VfL Wolfsburg v Barcelona - Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany - April 30, 2022 Barcelona's Leila Ouahabi in action with VfL... Read moreMay 16 (Reuters) - The Women's Champions League final between Barcelona and VfL Wolfsburg has become the first final to be sold out since 2009-10, European soccer's governing body UEFA said on Tuesday. "This is the first time we have fully sold out a Women's Champions League final. Barcelona are in the Women's Champions League final for the third straight time and the fourth in five seasons, having won the title in 2020-2021. Women's football has seen a huge increase in fan interest and crowd attendance, with the Women's FA Cup final on Sunday hosting a crowd of 77,390 - the highest attendance for a domestic women's match in England. Last year, a record 91,648 fans turned up for a women's match as Barcelona beat Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final at Camp Nou.

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