The CIES Football Observatory has published today a new study of football agent activity in Europe revealing yearly turnover for football intermediaries in UEFA member national associations is around €400 million ($536.5 m). 

The study also highlights the great level of concentration in the player representation market: half of the big-5 league footballers are represented by 83 football agents or agencies.

Other key findings concern the demographic profile of licensed agents domiciled in the five biggest European football markets: England, erectile viagra Italy, discount Spain, order Germany and France. A questionnaire survey carried out by the authors of the study, Raffaele Poliand Giambattista Rossi, shows that agents are on average aged 42. Only 3.4% of them are female.

Almost three quarters of agents hold a university degree, and 71% of them speak a foreign language at intermediary or above. Only 41% of licensed agents carry out the job full-time. The majority operate in other business sectors – primarily law and finance.

The study also shows that a minority of agents (46%) support their clients in personal care activities such as finding a house or flat, organize travel, helping family members, etc. This result shows that the general view of agents “baby-sitting” their protégés does not correspond with reality. The former are above all busy in “spinning webs” and brokering deals.

Only 42% of the players represented by the respondents of the survey are senior professionals. This indicates that most of the agents are mainly active in the search for young talent, in the hope of making money in the future. While promising players can also take advantage of this situation, the pressure that intermediaries may exert on them is a controversial issue.

The research also shows that collaboration between intermediaries is also a key aspect of the profession. Half of the agents directly represent players on behalf of colleagues. The main reason to enter into such partnerships is to introduce a player client into a specific national market. This reveals the crucial role played by agents for the setting up of transnational networks at a global level.

Sporting directors are clearly indicated as the most important business partners when placing players, followed by football managers. Almost 40% of agents have already represented at least one coach since starting their career. The great proportion of agents who manage the careers of both players and managers raises the question of conflicts of interest in the representation and transfer market.

The importance of this problem is even greater considering that more than 70% of respondents also assist clubs in buying, selling or scouting players. Moreover, 15% of licensed agents admitted owning or having owned shares in players’ transfer rights. All these figures reflect the existence of intricate situations and possible conflicts of interest.

by Ismail Uddin

The 2013 Winter Games NZ are set to achieve an unprecedented level of international television and Internet coverage as a result of a marketing partnership signed this week.

For the first time, viagra cialis Winter Games NZ will work with IMG Media, medicine part of IMG Worldwide, to secure coverage across both the traditional broadcast and digital platforms.

Winter Games NZ will feature the world’s elite snow sports athletes as they prepare for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. With five FIS World Cup and three IPC World Cup events, Winter Games NZ will play an important role in the Olympic and Paralympic qualification process. The event will take place in New Zealand’s Southern Alps.

TV coverage of the event will be delivered to a minimum of 25 targeted countries in the form of 14 daily 22-minute highlight shows, one 52-minute official film and daily video news releases, resulting in an audience reach in excess of 1 billion homes.

Snow Sports NZ CEO Marty Toomey said: “New Zealand is an emerging player on the world scene as a winter and spring training and competition destination.

“The partnership between Winter Games NZ and IMG will ensure our emerging talent, our world class athletes, our events-hosting capabilities and New Zealand’s amazing facilities are showcased around the globe. Snow Sports NZ looks forward to capitalising on the increased profile and opportunities that come about as a result of this partnership.”

Chris Guinness, SVP head of IMG Media, Asia Pacific for IMG, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside the Winter Games NZ to assist them with growing exposure and developing the profile of the event through international TV distribution and digital media syndication.

“The Winter Games NZ is the premier event in New Zealand and one of the top five snow multi-sports events in the world. IMG will utilise our worldwide international sales team in 60 offices in 30 countries around the world to ensure that event highlights are seen in as many countries as possible.”

Tourism New Zealand will work alongside the games organisers to maximise the media profile achieved over the course of the games and encourage others to share their Winter Games’ stories through social media – a channel that has become so powerful in promoting a destination to others.”

Winter Games NZ will take place from 11-25 August 2013 featuring the sports of alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowboard, freeskiing and curling over 25 events at Coronet Peak, Snow Farm, Snow Park, Cardrona Alpine Resort and Naseby. The two-week long Games also include a full Downtown Sessions festival programme featuring films, live music and entertainment in Queenstown and Lake Wanaka.

Arsenal FC are revelling in their decision to sell Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri after they have reported a huge pre-tax profit of £49.5 million for the six months to the end of November 2011.

Arsenal, who lost £6.1m over the same period in 2010, might have made only a small profit but for the controversial departures of Fabregas and Nasri last summer for a reported £54m.

Arsenal enjoyed an overall profit on player trading of £46.1m, having made a loss of £5.9m the previous year.

They made £63m overall in player sales, while there was an investment of £74.7m in new arrivals and contract extensions, the cost of both being spread evenly over the length of an individual’s deal.

Arsenal’s cash reserves also swelled to £115.2m, up from £110.4m, with their turnover from football rising to £113.5m from £97.6m.

Chairman Peter Hill-Wood said: “We are proud of Arsenal’s record and consistency over many seasons and have the foundations in place, at every level of the club, to ensure we remain a force in the seasons ahead.”

Chief executive Ivan Gazidis added: “It’s important to acknowledge that the most important thing for this football club, the most important thing for our fans, and the most important thing for the board and the people that work at the club is how we do on the pitch.

“We have a healthy cash balance of £115million for the half year. But it’s important to understand that not all that money’s available to invest in transfers.

“We have running costs of the club, player salaries and so on, so that amount goes down during the year. We also have to keep something in reserve in case things don’t go our way.

“There is money available, we don’t talk about an exact figure – and there’s a very good reason why we don’t put an exact figure on that – because it would impact on our negotiating position.

“We have to invest efficiently, we have to invest sensibly.”

Arsenal are on the brink of ending a seventh successive season without a trophy and are in danger of failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League, a competition they have regualrly attended for the last 15 years.

Gazidis said: “We can’t gear our entire financial model around that – that expectation – because that would place the club in jeopardy if we didn’t qualify.

“So we’ve always got to keep something in reserve in case things don’t go our way.”

by Ismail Uddin

Digital sports media group Perform has today confirmed a three year deal with Lega Serie A to distribute the official Serie A TIM channel across digital platforms.

The deal covers the distribution of official Lega Serie A match content through ePlayer, Perform’s market leading sports VOD broadcast platform that is embedded into the sites of major Italian newspapers and means online fans can continue to follow the best news and action from Serie A TIM.

This deal also includes, for the first time, the launch of an official Lega Serie A YouTube channel, which will host the highlights of all the matches and a series of special clips dedicated to the best goals and action, all via the world’s leading video sharing community.

Maurizio Beretta, Presidente della Lega Serie A, commented: “We are excited to renew this partnership with Perform and welcome YouTube as a distribution partner. Italian football fans are spending more time consuming content online and this partnership ensures that fans can catch up with all the best match action and news on the official Lega Serie A channel.”

Jacopo Tonoli MD Southern Europe, Perform added: “Lega Serie A is one of the best leagues in the world and it is great to continue our partnership with Lega Serie A to ensure their official channel reaches as many connected fans as possible.”

“We’re delighted that Serie A TIM highlights are now also available on YouTube through a partnership with Lega Serie A and Perform. This is a further step, following the partnership we signed over the years with some Italian football clubs to develop their official channels. This agreement will allow fans to access official content on YouTube and at the same time, will provide Lega Serie A with a useful tool to manage the distribution of their content online.” says Stephen Nuttall, Senior Director Sports, YouTube EMEA.

Rangers recent woes have continued after the PLUS Stock Exchange fined them £50,000 for failing to disclose Craig Whyte’s previous disqualification as a director when the businessman completed his takeover of the club in May last year.

Whyte was disqualified in 2000 for seven years but Rangers did not announce this until November 30, six weeks after the Insolvency Service had confirmed the fact in a BBC documentary.

Rangers have been issued with the fine and a public censure following an investigation by the stock exchange, who suspended trading in the club’s shares last month because of their failure to publish audited accounts.

A statement from PLUS read: “The amount of the regulatory fine has been determined taking into account a range of factors including, but not limited to, the seriousness of the rule breach and the circumstances of Rangers FC.”

PLUS revealed Rangers had sought to challenge their disciplinary ruling on February 14, the day they went into administration, but administrators Duff and Phelps withdrew the referral to the disciplinary committee last week.

Failure to pay a fine within 21 business days would usually mean the possibility of PLUS suspending use of their facilities, while failure to pay for a further seven business days could result in permanent exclusion.

Rangers saw their shares suspended from trading on the stock exchange on January 9 after submitting unaudited accounts. They released their annual financial figures on November 30, but did not get them signed off by an independent auditor as required by exchange rules.

The club have also failed to hold an AGM within the usual timescale and confirmed in a statement to PLUS that they were considering withdrawing their listing on the exchange in the long term.

Three days after Rangers went into administration, the SFA confirmed they would conduct a full independent inquiry into the activities of the club and investigate whether there have been any potential breaches of their Articles of Association.

They said attempts to obtain information relating to their “fit and proper person” requirement – regarding owner Whyte – were restricted by the club solicitors’ failure to share information.

by Ismail Uddin

ESPN and BBC Sport are to share coverage of the 2013 British Darts Organisation’s (BDO) Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships.

The BBC will screen exclusively live coverage of the afternoon sessions of the tournament over the opening weekend of January 5th and 6th 2013. There will be extended BBC afternoon highlights from Monday, January 7th to Friday, January 11th, plus late-night highlights on BBC Two and extra action on BBC Sport online. Additionally, the first semi-final will be broadcast live on the BBC on Saturday, January 12th, plus exclusive live coverage of the final on Sunday, January 13th.

BDO chairman Barry Gilbey said: “We are absolutely delighted at the extent and diversity of the combined coverage from ESPN and BBC for the 2013 World Pro. Not only does it provide a fitting celebration of the BDO’s 40th Anniversary Year (1973-2013) but we have an exciting line-up of players, including one of the strongest fields ever assembled for the Women’s World Championship – which is why everyone will be delighted that ESPN is screening the 2013 Women’s Final live on January 12th.”

Philip Bernie, Head TV Sport, BBC said: “We are delighted to be showing the World Professional Darts Championship once again on BBC TV , and look forward greatly to its unique mix of top Darts action, great entertainment and a wonderful atmosphere.”

ESPN will broadcast both evening sessions of the opening weekend of January 5th and 6th, plus every weekday evening session from January 7th to 11th exclusively live. Its coverage will also include the second semi-final exclusively live on Saturday, January 12th and highlights of the final, on Sunday, January 13th.

Simon Potter, senior director, programming, ESPN, Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “Our first year broadcasting the competition this past January was a great success. We’re looking forward to being part of the wonderful atmosphere and excitement at the Lakeside as we continue to broaden our offering of live darts alongside other sports.”

A-League club Gold Coast United will continue to disobey Football Federation Australia (FFA) and send their players out in a strip bearing the slogan “Freedom of Speech” for the remainder of the season.

The FFA considered cancelling Gold Coast’s match against Melbourne Victory at the weekend because of the slogan, which replaced the logo of club sponsors Hyatt on the front of the team’s shirts.

The row is muddied because of the ongoing war of words between outspoken club owner Clive Palmer and the FFA and its chief executive Ben Buckley.

Club chief executive Clive Mensink said on Monday that the FFA had “overreacted” to the use of the slogan, which he said was being used to highlight the plight of refugees.brand on the playing strips,” Mensink said in a statement.

“It is public knowledge that Mr Palmer’s group of companies are in a legal dispute with the Hyatt and, as a result, the club wasn’t comfortable playing with the Hyatt

“It was suggested internally that as a replacement, something non-controversial would serve as a message to the broader community.

“We currently have two African refugees playing for the club who have experienced what it is like to live in a country fighting for freedom of speech.

“We thought it was an innocent term as we all recognise in Australia that freedom of speech is something we all respect.”

The FFA issued a statement on Saturday saying the club, currently bottom of the 10-team league with four rounds remaining, was in “material breach” of its Club Participation Agreement (CPA) over the use of the slogan.

“The club did not have FFA approval for usage of the slogan on the playing strip and on stadium signage as required under the terms of its participation in the A-League,” Buckley said.

“FFA directed the club not to use the slogan on the playing strip or in signage… The club declined to comply with the FFA direction and proceeded regardless.”

Palmer, a billionaire mining magnate, said last week that soccer was a “hopeless” game and that he preferred rugby league, a comment which Buckley condemned as “offensive to the players, coaches, administrators and volunteers who are the life and soul of Australian football”.

Mensink said the slogan had nothing to do with the row.

“It is our constitutional right to embrace this message and we don’t believe FFA should have the power to intervene,” Mensink added.

“Fans and the public deserve to know and have the right to freedom of speech, and it’s a slogan which will keep until the end of the season and possibly next season as well.”

by Ismail Uddin

BBC have increased their coverage of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup taking place in Glasgow from November 16-18 on BBC TV, anabolics including the red button and the website

The event sold out within just one hour and will be the first major international track cycling event in the UK since the Olympics.

Coverage has increased this year to include live action and highlights across three days.

The racing is also live on BBC Five Live Sports Extra on Friday and Sat with Five Live Sport being presented from the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome on Sunday.

The sell-out competition will take place at the state-of-the-art Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and is the second of a three round Track Cycling World Cup series. The world’s leading track cyclists will compete and the event will showcase three days of track cycling including the disciplines of keirin, individual sprint, team sprint, team pursuit and the omnium.

Jonny Clay, Cycle Sport and Membership Director of British Cycling, said: “It’s fantastic that the BBC have increased broadcast coverage for the Track Cycling World Cup.

“Cycling is at an all-time high since London 2012 so people can get to enjoy watching more international cycling action. As the event is now a sell-out, we are now focused on preparing to deliver a great event for those attending or watching it at home.”

Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise the San Jose Earthquakes has received a welcome boost in its attempt to develop a new 18,000-seat stadium. After securing a Planned Development Permit in December, the Earthquakes received the backing of the San Jose Planning Commission, who voted 6-0 to support their plans.

Earthquakes President Dave Kaval said:  “Tonight’s decision to uphold the Planned Development Permit that we received in December is a milestone not just for the San Jose Earthquakes but all Bay Area soccer fans“Our club and its stakeholders have worked hard through this process and we feel that we have a great plan for our new stadium.

“Looking ahead, our club will now begin the work of finalising the stadium design and financing plan. The goal is to put shovels in the ground this year.” 

Despite the benefits of sharing a venue with their NFL brothers, the development of soccer-specific stadiums is perceived as crucial in aiding the growth of soccer in the United States, specifically in the Bay Area. The failure to secure an appropriate venue in California consequently saw the Earthquakes relocate to Houston and renamed the Dynamo. 

Since restarting in 2008, San Jose has taken to the pitch at the Back Shaw stadium, which holds 10,300 spectators. Plans for privately financed $60million new facility had been put in place since September 2009 and 10 of 12 available luxury suites have already been sold, accumulating in excess of US$3.5 million in revenue for the project.

MLS president Mark Abbott said: “I can tell you in 20 years (working for MLS)… this is the first time I’ve ever spoken before a group like this and not been asking for public money“It’s very unique to find, in this day and age – or any day and age, really – an ownership group like we have here in San Jose, willing to 100% privately finance the facility.”

talkSPORT, symptoms the world’s biggest sports radio station, pills has signed an agreement to broadcast exclusive UK radio commentary of the 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia.

The station will broadcast all 10 British & Irish Lions matches, including the three Tests against Australia and the warm up match in Hong Kong against the Barbarians, on a multiplatform basis across 1089 / 1053AM, digital radio and online at talkSPORT.co.uk. This will be the first time ever that a Lions tour has been exclusively broadcast on commercial radio in the UK.

talkSPORT’s sister station Swansea Sound in South Wales will also be broadcasting  coverage of the Tour and live Test commentary.

The first 2013 British & Irish Lions match is against the Barbarians on Saturday 1 June and the Tour to Australia begins with the cream of British and Irish rugby taking on Western Force on Wednesday 5 June. The 2013 Tour continues until Saturday 6 July with the third and final Test against Australia in Sydney.

talkSPORT was the exclusive UK radio broadcaster of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and is an official broadcaster of Aviva Premiership Rugby. The station has a dedicated weekly rugby programme ‘Full Contact’ and previously broadcast commentary of the three Test matches during the 2005 Lions Tour to New Zealand on a non-exclusive basis in the UK. talkSPORT is also an official broadcaster of the FA Cup, England football internationals, the Capital One Cup and is global audio partner of the Barclays Premier League.

Moz Dee, talkSPORT Programme Director, said: “The Lions Tour is one of the biggest events in sport, and we’re proud to be bringing this exclusively to our audience. We had a great Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and we can’t wait to follow the Lions in Australia. talkSPORT will be announcing a great team to cover the Tour and we’re delighted that our sister station Swansea Sound will also be broadcasting the Tests and giving our coverage a regional flavour.”

Scott Taunton, talkSPORT Chief Executive, commented: “UTV Media (GB) continues to invest in talkSPORT, and we’re delighted that the station will broadcast this event exclusively as it offers advertisers and sponsors a unique opportunity both nationally and regionally. Our commitment to rugby has been consistent after the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and our partnership with the Aviva Premiership.”

John Feehan, Lions Chief Executive, added: “talkSPORT has become a major force in UK sports radio with proven experience in live rugby broadcasting. It’s proper that the Lions Tour in its 125th year looks for dynamic new partners that benefit both our sponsors and fans and we’re extremely pleased to be working with talkSPORT.”