In a landmark agreement, healing Soccerex and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have signed a memorandum of understanding which will see CAF provide Soccerex with their full institutional support for all Soccerex events across Africa for the next two years.

The signing, apoplectic which took place in Johannesburg, was attended by CAF Secretary General Hicham El Armani and Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie during the run-up to Nigeria’s historic third African Cup of Nations trophy. The agreement will allow Soccerex to utilise the Confederation’s influence and that of its members, for all of their events in Africa, including this year’s Soccerex Seminar Lagos on 11-12 July and Soccerex African Forum on 1-2 October, whilst providing a platform for CAF to highlight and contribute to key programmes and subjects that need to be discussed for the good of African football.

CAF General Secretary Hicham El Amrani said:

“We’re happy to have this agreement put in place; it’s an easy synergy to achieve between our respective organisations, based on the expertise of Soccerex, providing important key events for key stakeholders all around the globe, including Africa, and the Confederations of African football being the governing body of African football. This MoU is an exchange of benefits and understanding that allows both organisations to improve their visibility and the development specifically of African football.”

Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie commented:

“We had a fantastic three years in Johannesburg and a fabulous first year in Durban and Lagos. I cannot thank CAF, Hicham and obviously the president enough for getting behind this for the next few years both in Lagos and in Durban. We have an affinity which is from the heart about Africa and African football and I hope that whatever we have to do, or can do, to help, we will.”

Soccerex has a long and successful affiliation with African football. The relationship started in 2007 when Soccerex’s flagship event, the Global Convention, was successfully held in Johannesburg and repeated in the three years  leading up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Looking to build on the business relationships created in Africa, Soccerex hosted two successful new events in 2012, the Soccerex African Forum in Durban and the Soccerex Seminar Lagos which will continue until 2014. 

For further information about this event please call +44 (0)208 987 5522 or visit http://www.soccerex.com

Protests continue to blemish the start of the 2013 Confederations Cup as reports of injuries continue to surface.

Reuters reports that the protests entered into the second day of the Confederations Cup, near Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium where Mexico lost 2-1 to Italy.

A number of arrests were made while there were reports of injuries after police used tear gas and rubber bullets, as protesters demonstrated against the cost of next year’s World Cup.

The protests come as some locals believe the expenditure being spent on stadiums could be put to better use on education and hospitals.

A government statement said: “Authorities will not allow any disturbance of public order or any threats against the match. It’s guaranteed that fans have complete access to the stadium.”

On Friday, around 200 people burned tyres and blocked the main road outside the Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha in the capital Brasilia.

The BBC reports that up to 1,000 Brazilians protested in the vicinity the National Stadium in Brasilia on Saturday, where the host nation opened the tournament with a 3-0 win over Japan.

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The Hulman & Company, which owns and operates Indianapolis Motor Speedway, has announced it has re-elected all 10 members of it’s board at it’s annual Hulman-George family shareholders’ meeting.

The shareholders re-elected all 10 members who served the most recent term on the board with the addition of Anton “Tony” H. George, who previously has served on the board.

In addition to George, Hulman & Company board members re-elected include John F. Ackerman, Jeffrey G. Belskus, Mari Hulman George, Nancy L. George, M. Josephine George, Katherine M. George-Conforti, Andre B. Lacy, Mark D. Miles, James T. Morris and Michael L. Smith.

Tony George resigned from the Hulman & Company board in October 2012 due to an appearance of a conflict of interest. Now that the appearance of conflict no longer exists, the shareholders have re-elected him to the board.

With the exception of Hulman & Company Chief Executive Officer Miles and Indianapolis Motor Speedway President and Chief Executive Officer Belskus, the board members have no day-to-day management duties with Hulman & Company.

Red Bull Global Rallycross have announced NBC Sports Group will broadcast the beginning of the 2014 season.

In 2014, healing nine Red Bull Global Rallycross events will be broadcast on NBC, unhealthy with rebroadcasts taking place on the NBCSN. 

“This is a great step forward for Red Bull Global Rallycross,” says series CEO, Colin Dyne. “Partnering with NBC will allow us to bring our events to millions of our existing fans, and welcome new fans as well. We look forward to delivering unparalleled, high-octane race action.”

The 2014 Red Bull Global Rallycross events covered by NBC include Top Gear Festival Barbados, X Games Austin, Washington, DC, New York, Charlotte, Detroit, Daytona, Los Angeles, Seattle and Las Vegas.

Mercedes F1 have announced that Nick Fry, the team’s Chief Executive Officer, will step down from his current position at the beginning of April.

Fry (pictured right) will continue to assist the team’s commercial operations as a consultant until at least the end of 2014.

Toto Wolff, their recently-appointed Executive Director and 30 percent shareholder, role will expand following today’s announcement.

He will assist in the day-to-day running of the team alongside team principal Ross Brawn, assuming the areas of responsibility previously held by Fry.

“I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to work with our team for the last 11 years and remain extremely proud of the fact that we took the team to its first race win and especially the double world championship [as Brawn] in 2009,” said Fry.

“Equally important is the success of our commercial activities as we have managed to gain the support of some of the most important companies in the world, thereby building a strong foundation for the future success of the team. I believe that Mercedes AMG Petronas offers the best sponsorship proposition in Formula One and I look forward to continuing to assist the team and its partners over the coming years.”

Wolff commented: “I would like to thank Nick for more than ten years of service to the team in Brackley. Mercedes AMG Petronas enjoys a strong network of global, blue-chip partners who want to be associated with Mercedes-Benz in Formula One and we will work hard to retain our loyal partners while also attracting new names to the sport in the future. I am pleased that Nick will remain close to the team to support us in achieving these targets.”

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