The number of clubs in the J.League’s J1 operating at a loss has decreased from ten to eight since 2010, recently disclosed figures of its 38 participating teams in 2011 revealed.

In J2, clubs operating at a loss rose from eight to ten.

J1 clubs Urawa Reds had the highest revenue for the seventh consecutive year with US$68.3M, although it saw a decrease of more than US$3M since 2010.

J1 team Yokohama F-Marinos ranked sixth in revenue with US$44M, but its overall profit was down US$7.4M because of high operating costs.

Under the Club License System the J.League is introducing in 2013, teams with deficits for three straight seasons will not be allowed to participate in the league.

Five clubs in the league have experienced deficits for three consecutive seasons.{jcomments on}

 

Former Brazilian federation chief and head of 2014 World Cup organising committee, Ricardo Teixeira has resigned from the FIFA executive committee.

Teixeira’s decision was announced by the South American body CONMEBOL, which he represented on the FIFA committee. CONMEBOL published a copy of Teixeira’s brief resignation letter, which was addressed to the regional body’s president Dr Nicolas Leoz.

In the letter, Teixeira thanks Dr Leoz, CONMEBOL executives and the presidents of South American national associations for their support during his term in office.

He cited “personal reasons” for stepping down. Teixeira had been joined on FIFA’s executive committee by fellow South Americans Leoz and Julio Grondona.

Teixeira, 64, resigned last week as head of the Brazilian Football Federation and the 2014 World Cup organising committee on health grounds. He had been in charge of Brazilian football for 23 years but recently came under pressure to resign over allegations of corruption.

In 2001, the Brazilian Congress investigated Teixeira on suspicion of 13 crimes, including tax evasion, money laundering and misleading lawmakers, but no charges were brought. He has also been investigated for allegedly taking kickbacks from a marketing firm that worked closely with FIFA in the 1990s.

He denied all the allegations and has never been convicted of any offence. Teixeira could also point to the highlight of two World Cup victories, in 1994 and 2002.

Teixeira came under fire from within FIFA earlier this month, with secretary general Jerome Valcke expressing concern over the lack of progress on preparations for the 2014 World Cup.

FIFA has acknowledged Teixeira’s resignation and called on CONMEBOL to waste no time in naming his replacement on the Executive Committee.

“FIFA has taken note today of CONMEBOL’s announcement that Ricardo Terra Teixeira has resigned as a member of the FIFA Executive Committee,” a statement read.

“As per the FIFA Statutes (art. 30 par. 7), CONMEBOL will now have to decide immediately on the replacement of Ricardo Teixeira as one of their representatives on the FIFA Executive Committee for the remaining period of office.”

by Ismail Uddin

What’s your take on this? Ronaldo has shown a desire to lead the Brazillian Federation, is he the right choice to take the reins from Teixeira? Click here to comment.

37, health 000 people applied to be volunteers at the next World Cup in Brazil, abortion only one day after FIFA launched the program.

The application period to recruit volunteers had originally been set for a 15-day period, but the Brazil 2014 Local Organising Committee (LOC) is likely to extend that time frame.

Volunteers will work at stadiums and other facilities, working in areas such as communications, catering, transport, protocol, accreditation, IT, press operations, hospitality, medical services and competition services.

Ricardo Trade, Operations Director at the LOC said: “It is the volunteers who help create the sense of joy and celebration that surrounds the FIFA World Cup.”

Former Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who is also on the LOC’s management board, said: “I’ve seen for myself that the success of this event depends on the commitment of the local people, as they’re the ones who provide the face of each World Cup.

“In our case that face is going to be a happy and welcoming one, showing a lot of love for football.”

The training programme will start a year after the Confederations Cup programme, which takes place in April and May 2013.

The Confederation Cup requires 7,000 volunteers whilst the World Cup will need 15,000 to stage the month long event.

The volunteer programme is open to people living outside the 12 host cities and from other countries.

It is thought that nearly 90,000 applicants will take part in the online training.

The former marketing director behind England’s woeful 2018 bid, David Magliano, has been named brand director of the Co-operative Group.

Magliano, who also worked on London’s 2012 Olympic bid will oversee brand development across all of The Co-op’s businesses. He has also worked for the airlines EasyJet and Go.

He will report to group marketing director Gill Barr.

“David is a high-calibre, proven marketeer and his appointment underlines the importance we are attaching to the further development of our brand within the UK,” said Barr.

“These are exciting times for The Co-operative in terms of maintaining the momentum we’ve seen in recent years and delivering plans which are anchored around meeting customers’ needs.”

Magliano added: “I’ve been presented with a fantastic opportunity to shape and communicate The Co-op brand across a range of businesses to a multitude of audiences, each with their own needs and expectations.”

With just under four weeks to go until the single biggest rugby focused conference and exhibition comes to Twickenham, salve the management team of Rugby Expo can confirm that the exhibition floor is now sold out with 38 exhibitors confirmed for the event.

The announcement is testament to the purposeful growth of the event in 2011 with a number of high profile brands and suppliers showcasing their products and services including Tickets.com, anesthetist Paddy Power, Rhino Rugby, O’Neills, the IRB, York Fitness, Gatorade, the European Synthetic Turf Organisation, 80 minutes and FK Pro amongst many others.

Selling out the exhibition floor follows recent announcements confirming the support of the IRB, the RFU, SRU, Premiership Rugby, RaboDirect PRO12, the RFL and Super League and with a large number of club officials as well as senior members from the various unions and leagues also in attendance, the event will be the meeting place for the sport in 2011.

In addition to the sold out exhibition floor and support from the unions, leagues and professional clubs, the speaker line up and conference / workshop programme for day one (professional game focus) was also announced last week with a world class line up of speakers taking part in 4 plenary sessions and 11 workshops.

If you would like to attend Rugby Expo 2011, the only way to do so is to purchase a delegate pass.

Please click here to purchase your ticket online or call +44 (0)845 0740752 to speak to one of the sales team.

Tottenham Hotspur FC have announce that it has signed a partnership agreement with Real Madrid FC following the transfer of Luka Modric to the Spanish club.

The partnership agreement will see the two Clubs working together in respect of players, there coaching, best practices and commercial relationships.

Real Madrid FC President, Florentino Perez Rodriguez, said, “The strong relationship and affinity between our two clubs has resulted in the cementing of a longer-term partnership and the successful transfer of Luka Modric. We are delighted to welcome Luka and look forward to working closely with Tottenham in the coming years.”

Daniel Levy, Chairman, Tottenham Hotspur, commented, “Luka has been a terrific player for us and, whilst we preferred not to part with him, we are pleased that it is to Real Madrid, a club with which we now look forward to sharing a long and productive partnership.”

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke has been re-elected to his post following the completion of the election process conducted by Electoral Reform Services, prostate the ECB have announced.

The 41 members of the ECB, treatment which comprise of the 18 first-class counties, 21 county boards, the MCC and the Minor Counties Cricket Association, returned Clarke as chairman for a third term until the Annual General Meeting in 2015.

Clarke said: “I am honoured to be re-elected as chairman of the ECB until 2015, and would like to thank the members for their continued confidence and support.

“We have a magnificent complement of players, fans, volunteers and staff representing our sport, from the grassroots structures to the top of the professional game. Their continued dedication and commitment to the sport is irreplaceable, and deeply appreciated by all those who love the game.

“I look forward to working with all of my colleagues throughout English cricket to ensure that the great successes of the last few years will continue both on and off the field.”

by Ismail Uddin

The Scottish Premier League (SPL) has paid half of the money owed to member clubs, ed on top of a payment to the Scottish Football League (SFL).

The league has paid 50% of the sponsorship and broadcasting revenues, which was due at the start of August.

£500,000 has also been paid to the SFL, which is the first instalment of £2 million that is due to the league.

The delay in payment has been put down to the uncertainty of Rangers, which dominated Scottish football over the summer.

The Glasgow side was liquidated and reformed as the Rangers FC, but were demoted to the bottom tier of Scottish football.

Due to Rangers beginning life in Division Three, the SPL had to negotiate new deals with broadcasters Sky and ESPN, with no Old Firm derby against Celtic proving costly.

Simon Mason, capsule President of the England Hockey Board (EHB), pills has announced that Philip Kimberley has been reappointed as the Non-Executive Chairman of EHB for a further three years.

The re-appointment was made by the Non-Executive Directors of the EHB, ampoule and the process chaired by the President of EHB, Simon Mason, who said: ”The responsibility of appointing the Chair of EHB is a significant one and the Non-Executive Directors were unanimous that Philip was the right person to lead the EHB during such an exciting and important time for the sport. 

“As Executive Chairman from 2003 to 2008, Philip ran things on a day-to-day basis and was responsible for the rebuilding of the governing body’s affairs after its financial problems in 2002. He then became Non-Executive Chairman in early 2009 when Sally Munday was appointed Chief Executive and the two of them have worked very closely since then to continue the development of the sport.”

The England Hockey Board is the governing body for the sport in England and also has the responsibility of being the Nominated Country for Great Britain Hockey, to qualify and deliver the Great Britain sides for Olympic success.

Philip Kimberley said, “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as both an Executive and now Non-Executive Chairman leading a great team.  I have watched with great pleasure as the plans we laid many years ago are now coming to fruition.”

Philip is also England’s representative on the Great Britain Hockey Board and Richard Leman, Great Britain Hockey’s President said: “The re-appointment of Philip will give everyone inside and out of hockey the confidence that the excellent  progress made by the administration and performance teams will continue well into the Rio cycle under his guidance.  His leadership and direction have been significant in the continued growth of our sport.”

Philip is also a Non-Executive Director of both UK Sport and sportscoachUK, and a shareholder and Chair of each of Nemisys and ipadio, digital media companies.

by Ismail Uddin

Vauxhall Motors will create a piece of footballing history when they bring together the four Home Nations managers to preview the 2014 World Cup in Brazil on Friday morning.

England Manager Roy Hodgson, Michael O’Neill (Northern Ireland), Craig Levein (Scotland) and Chris Coleman (Wales) will join forces for a special ‘Road To Brazil’ event in London hosted by Vauxhall, who is the lead sponsor of all four Home Nations.

The event will take place at the Honourable Artillery Company HQ at Armoury House and the four managers will take part in a panel discussion about the 2014 World Cup and answer questions from the assembled media.

Duncan Aldred, Chairman and Managing Director of Vauxhall Motors, said: “The Road to Brazil event is a historic moment in our sponsorship of Home Nations football.

“We are incredibly proud to be the first organisation to be the lead partner of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales at the same time.

“This is a truly momentous occasion and offers a unique opportunity for the four managers to meet and give an insight and preview ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

“We are extremely grateful to all four of the governing bodies for helping to make such a special event possible.”

The World Cup qualification campaign kicks-off next month with England in Group H alongside Moldova, Ukraine, San Marino, Poland and Montenegro.

Wales and Scotland are paired together in Group A and will face Belgium, Serbia, Macedonia and Croatia whilst Northern Ireland find themselves in Group F against Russia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Azerbaijan and Israel.

The event will be broadcast live on the FA’s official website at 11am, Friday 24 August