Chairman of the European Clubs Association (ECA) Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has accused FIFA of neglecting clubs’ needs while presidential incumbent Sepp Blatter attempts to fight off the challenge of Mohamed Bin Hammam.

The two presidential candidates have been promising to “do everything” for the national federations who have votes in Congress but Rummenigge, also chief executive of Bayern Munich, said: “We have no democracy in FIFA. It is doing nothing in favour of the clubs. It’s clear that they are doing everything in favour of the FAs to convince them to go ahead with Blatter or whatever.”

Rummenigge was dismissive of FIFA attempts to introduce a nine-plus-nine player quota rule restricting foreign players in top-tier matches worldwide. This has replaced the original, doomed six-plus-five idea which contravened European Union labour laws.

Rummenigge added: “The ECA has explicitly rejected it. I am convinced FIFA and UEFA have not thought this through in detail.” The world’s clubs, despite their power and wealth particularly in Europe, have no direct representative presence on FIFA’s governing executive committee.

Silverstone, the long-time host circuit of Formula One’s British Grand Prix, has appointed Manning Gottlieb OMD as its media planning and buying account. 

The Omnicom-owned agency has been appointed ahead of the launch of the new US$44.2m pit and paddock complex at the venue with managing director Robert Fitch, stating: “Silverstone is a British institution. It has fantastic motor sport credentials and has some very ambitious plans to grow and extend its business.

“We are delighted to be working with the team down there. It is a very impressive and exciting business, and we are very proud to have been appointed to work with them.”

Having secured a renewal of its deal to host the British Grand Prix, sponsored by Santander, the Silverstone Wing follows a redevelopment of the area and the investment is reportedly part of a bigger plan to develop Silverstone’s credentials as a leading motor sport destination, products and services brand. 

Justin Elias, Silverstone marketing director, said: “We are delighted to be working with Manning Gottlieb OMD at what is a major strategic crossroads for the Silverstone brand, with a very exciting future ahead.

“Their professionalism and global expertise will add significantly to our marketing capability and we look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership.”

New Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise New York City FC have appointed Doug Fillis, mind Josh Neier and Mike Quarino to newly created roles of Senior Vice President, abortion Partnerships, Vice President, Finance and Vice President, Ticket Sales & Fan Services respectively.

Speaking of the new hires, Tim Pernetti, Chief Business Officer of New York City Football Club said: “Launching a Major League Soccer expansion team, especially in a market like New York City, requires progressive and experienced leadership in the front office. In Doug, Josh and Mike we have a team with proven leadership and real expertise in their fields in roles which we have identified as central to our growth. These additions to our team are an exciting step on the path to building a premier Major League Soccer Club.”

For the past eight years, Fillis has worked in college athletics, most recently at Rutgers University as Senior Associated Athletic Director for Administration. In this role he was responsible for sealing a $65 million partnership with IMG College, overseeing the school’s $100 million fundraising campaign, and securing and leading major sponsor partnerships. Prior to this, Fillis oversaw all revenue businesses, development, and fundraising at the U.S. Military Academy, managing the naming rights agreement with Siemens and, the business plan, including sponsorship and revenue creation, for the Army at Yankee Stadium Series. 

Both Neier and Quarino come to NYCFC from previous jobs within Major League Soccer. Neier previously spent 10 years in the finance department of Major League Soccer and was most recently Senior Director, Finance, for the League. Quarino most recently spent five years with Philadelphia Union as Vice President of Ticket Sales & Fan Services, overseeing all ticket programs and revenue as well as serving as an integral part of the senior management team that launched the Union as an expansion team in 2010. 

Quarino also spent six years as a Senior Manager of Ticket Programs with the New York Red Bulls, responsible for the Group Sales Department where he was named in the MLS Ticket Sales Best XI in both Total Revenue and Group Ticket Sales in 2007 and 2008. 

The three new hires will join Tim Pernetti and Claudio Reyna, Director of Football, in NYCFC’s front office with immediate effect. 

Announced in May 2013, New York City Football Club will be the league’s 20th team, beginning play in the 2015 season. The team was launched in partnership by Manchester City Football Club and the New York Yankees and is led by Chief Executive Officer Ferran Soriano.

Taiwanese computer company Acer has yet to confrm whether or not it will remain in the TOP Olympic sponsorship program once its current contract expires at the conclusion of the London Games.

Acer joined the highest Olympic sponsorship level after the 2008 Beijing and replaced Lenovo as a sponsor of the computer category.

Industry insiders believe Acer is concerned about the structure of the Olympic TOP program because it inludes other major electronics companies like Samsung and Panasonic, shop which sponsor the wireless devices category and audio/visual category.

The fast pace of technology development has meant  protected categories that were established in 2008, are beginning to overlap.

The Olympic movement may consider restructuring the programme.

Acer is likely to indicate its future Olympic sponsorship intentions after the London Games. {jcomments on}

Twitter has agreed to help foil Olympic ambush marketing attempts by brands, viagra as part of ongoing talks with Locog.

The Games organiser has long been concerned that digital platforms could be used by non-sponsors to piggy-back the event, dubbed the “social-media Olympics.”

Industry sources claim it is was “working with Locog to ensure that the same rules that apply everywhere else will apply to Twitter”.

It is understood that non-sponsors will not be allowed to buy promoted Twitter ads based on Games-related tags such as #London2012.

Last year, Marketing revealed that Locog was trying to control the Olympics virtual space by forging an agreement with Four

Yesterday, May 24, FIFA Executive Committee member and CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer reported to FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke, possible violations of the FIFA Code of Ethics allegedly committed by officials.

In particular, the report referred to a special meeting of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), apparently organised jointly by FIFA Vice-President Jack A. Warner and FIFA Executive Committee member Mohamed bin Hammam, which took place on 10 and 11 May. This meeting was linked to the upcoming FIFA presidential election.

In view of the facts alleged in this report, which include bribery allegations, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke requested the FIFA Ethics Committee to open ethics proceedings. Subsequently, the FIFA Ethics Committee today, May 25, opened a procedure against both Warner, two CFU officials and Bin Hammam, whose presidency challenge is now well behind that of Sepp Blatter.

Meanwhile, the president of world soccer’s governing body FIFA has turned down a chance to appear before British MPs to explain his plans for reforming the body.

MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport committee recently made public, fresh corruption allegations involving six of FIFA’s Executive Committee and had invited the Swiss to attend one of its sessions but has been told this is not possible.

FIFA claimed that it is instead focusing on its own investigation into claims, contained in a Sunday Times submission to the committee, that two Executive Committee members were paid $1.5m to vote for Qatar 2022 and that a further four sought sweeteners to back England 2018.

A FIFA spokesman said that there was therefore “no need” for Blatter to attend the Committee.

The decision of Blatter was somewhat expected as it was a tall order to get the Swiss to visit London and appear before a Committee whose inquiry is supposed to be about the governance of the sport in the UK rather than globally.

Blatter recently accused the British media of sour grapes over England’s failure to secure the 2018 World Cup and just last week, the FA announced its abstention from the presidential vote next month.

Blatter, however, insists reforming FIFA is his top priority, a pledge he repeated in a round-table discussion last week and having already gained Executive Committee backing from five of soccer’s six continents, it seems Blatter will be re-elected come June 1.

English Premier League soccer club West Ham United have begun officially inviting bids to carry out design and construction works to transform the Olympic Stadium, cialis post 2012, having been awarded the rights to the stadium by the UK Government and London Mayor.

The news comes despite the current uncertainty over the move caused by Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur asking for a judicial review into the decision, with League One side Leyton Orient also opposed to the decision.

Firms from across Europe are being invited to come up with plans to turn the Stadium into a multi-use venue with a 60,000 capacity for football matches, 74,000 for athletics meets and 90,000 for concerts.

West Ham and the London Borough of Newham have together set up Legacy Stadium Partnership LLP as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the project, expected to cost £100m (US$166m).

Work will include extending or replacing the roof so that it covers most of the seating, installing hospitality facilities and corporate boxes and office/retail accommodation. 

The successful bidder will be expected to be responsible for all aspects of design, take it through planning and supervise delivery of works on site for completion by May 2014 allowing for a series of test events before the start of the 2014/15 season.

West Ham hope to make a further announcement at the end June about the project.

Sir Robert McAlpine is a clear early favourite to take the job after successfully completing the original London 2012 Olympic stadium ahead of budget, though firms have been given until May 12 to pre-qualify.