Atalanta felt the full brunt of the punishment for match-fixing as they start the new season with a seven point deficit.

Newly promoted Atalanta and Serie A side Chievo Verona were only two of the clubs clited last month for suspected match fixing. They were given these punishments on Wednesday in Rome at a hearing before the Italian Football Federation’s (FIGC)

According to Reuters, last season’s Serie B game between Atalanta and Piacenza came under scrutiny following reports of irregular betting patterns. This has resulted in Atalanta’s veteran captain Cristiano Doni being handed a three-and-a-half-year ban, while team-mate Thomas Manfredini received a three-year ban.

The other team Chievo attempted to enter into a plea bargain and were fined $113.388. Problems occured for them when Stefano Bettarini was charged with influencing the outcome of the matches which led to him being banned for 14 months.

Other lower league teams have been apprehended but yet to be announced by the FIGC. The scandal’s have been investigated from November and has resulted in 18 matches been analyzed and leading to 16 arrests.

iSportconnect.com, the world’s largest private network of sport business executives, today announced a unique partnership with Euroleague Basketball, Europe’s premier basketball competition, for its popular iSportconnect Directors’ Club event – taking place at Tthe O2 Arena in London on 10 May 2013.

The iSportconnect Directors’ Club, in association with Euroleague Basketball, will include an impressive panel of high-profile speakers taking part in a Question-Time format debate followed by live basketball action at Tthe O2 Arena. Confirmed speakers include Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball CEO and President, and David Grevemberg, CEO of Glasgow 2014, with more panellists to be announced soon.

The unique invitation-only Q&A session, in partnership with Generate Sponsorship, returns to London following the success of the last iSportconnect Directors’ Club event where delegates enjoyed panellist debate from the IOC, RFU, Heineken and Reading FC.

Turkish Airlines Euroleague is Europe’s elite basketball competition played across 13 countries with Tv coverage in 199 countries and territories. For the first time, Euroleague will host the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four competition in London at the O2 Arena from 10 – 12 May. In addition, a Fan Zone will be set up in Trafalgar Square which will include a variety of fun and engaging activities for fans from basketball exhibitions to music and entertainment.

The opening matches of the Turkish Airlines Final Four will be the semi-finals on 10 May and directly following the iSportconnect Directors’ Club event, delegates will be invited to enjoy some top quality basketball with other attendees at Tthe O2 Arena.

Attendees have the opportunity to post questions for the panel in advance as well as arrange meetings via the iSportconnect Directors’ Club London networking tool, adding further value to the delegate experience. To register interest, please email: william@isportconnect.com

Sree Varma, Founder and CEO, iSportconnect.com said, ‘We are delighted to announce the partnership between Euroleague Basketball and the iSportconnect Directors’ Club. Euroleague Basketball has big ambitions in the UK, kicking-off this May with the Turkish Airlines Final Four and Trafalgar Square Fan Zone. The high quality of sport business professionals that attend the Directors’ Club will provide a great opportunity for Euroleague to build UK connections while taking part in some lively debate.”

Jordi Bertomeu, CEO and President, Euroleague Basketball said, “Euroleague Basketball is Europe’s premier basketball property and we have a long-term vision in the UK beyond this year’s Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four edition. We see this partnership with the iSportconnect Directors’ Club as a powerful way to network with industry leading sports professionals and share our view for how Euroleague can support the development of basketball in the UK.”

Follow the iSportconnect Directors’ Club event with @iSportconnect and through #iSCDirectorsClub.

Home to the British Grand Prix, price ed Silverstone circuit has submitted comprehensive plans for new business and technology parks, an education campus and three hotels that would create thousands of new jobs.

The circuit put in a detailed outline planning application to Aylesbury Vale District Council and South Northants Council yesterday described as “the next step in securing the future of the circuit”.

The development would create around 8,400 permanent jobs in the firms and activities attracted to the site, plus an average of around 550 construction jobs per year throughout the development phase. At least 4,800 of these jobs are likely to be entirely new to the area.

Richard Phillips, managing director of Silverstone Holdings Ltd, said: “This is the most important initiative that Silverstone has taken in its 60-year history. Approval of this planning application will help maintain Silverstone’s position as a leading global centre for sport, leisure, education and technology.”

A final decision on the plans will be made in the future.

Open Letter from iSportconnect CEO & Founder Sree Varma

History

I launched iSportconnect in 2010 after being frustrated by the lack of a single website that unified all of the functions I required whilst working in the sports business industry. After consulting with my peers it became clear that I was not alone and a comprehensive platform tailored to industry professionals was highly sought after.

Team Expansion
We are further strengthening the team here. Tony Davison has joined as Commercial Director and Jay Stuart will be assisting us as Editor-at-Large. Both of them bring a wealth of experience and knowledge and will be great assets to iSportconnect and its community.

SPORTEL E-mag

Havas Sports & Entertainment Partnership
We are also delighted to announce a new global partnership with Havas Sport & Entertainment, which will see Directors’ Clubs initially take place in Paris, Munich, Moscow and New York all before the end of 2013. Our history of collaboration and exclusive membership, together with HS&E’s global reach and sports industry expertise make this partnership a natural fit for both parties. We are looking forward to working with an organisation as respected as HS&E, and can reveal the first events will be held in Paris and Munich early this autumn, followed by Moscow and New York later this year (details and exact dates to be announced shortly), with the UK and other locations in 2014 to be shared at a later date.

iSportconnect Business Solutions
iSportconnect Solutions will launch in the near future, utilising our expertise in translations, investments and e-magazine publishing to help organisations thrive in the global sports business. More information on this exciting new venture will be available soon.

iSportconnect Executive Clubs
Finally, following the huge success of our Directors’ Clubs, we will be launching iSportconnect Executive Clubs, where high-level professionals in specialist sports sectors (sports law, social & digital media, sponsorship brands, media & broadcasting, and sports finance) can receive expert advice, share and discuss white papers, attend training events and collaborate.

Thank you

All of this is just a taste of what is in store over the next twelve months. We have truly enjoyed bringing the sports business world together since 2010 and hope to do so for many years to come. It requires a lot of hard work, but is thoroughly rewarding.

iSportconnect would like to take this opportunity to wish  all our members a very Happy New Year.

What a year 2012 was for the sports industry and indeed for iSportconnect.!

iSportconnect would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. With the New Year fast approaching there is plenty to look forward to here at iSportconnect

In the meantime, we would love to get your feedback in order to develop the site…

HotelPlanner.com is the leading provider of online services to the global group hotel sales market. This technology ensures the lowest rates by allowing customers to receive quotes online directly from hotel group sales managers. We guarantee the lowest group rates or we’ll pay for your hotel room.

iSportconnect, mind the leading global networking platform for sport business, today announced a new partnership agreement with Thomas Lyte,  a modern English luxury lifestyle brand for the prestigious iSportconnect Directors’ Club event to be staged in London. This is exclusive for the leading figures in the sports industry, where senior decision makers are invited to share high level insight and opinion on business trends, best business practice and relevant industry news.

The event, in partnership with Generate Sponsorship and Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP  takes place on 3rd October, and features a high profile panellists including Roger Draper, Chief Executive of the Lawn Tennis Association, Barry Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sport, the Professional Darts Corporation, World Snooker and Leyton Orient Football Club, Geoff Cousins, Jaguar Global Director, Sponsorships and Brand Partners and Philip Beard, Chief Executive of the Queens Park Rangers Football Club. A specially invited audience of premium iSportconnect members will offer questions to speakers through a ‘Question Time’ style panel, followed by a round table networking opportunity and drinks.

Thomas Lyte CEO Kevin Baker said: “We are delighted with our association with iSport Connect. Thomas Lyte’s silver business is involved globally in the business of sport, and iSport’s unique business network creates a perfect partnership and platform for new opportunities”

iSportconnect CEO Sree Varma said: “We are pleased to have Thomas Lyte as our Luxury lifestyle partner for our iSportconnect Directors’ Club in London. Thomas Lyte is well-known and widely-respected brand in the lifestyle & luxury gift sector and we look forward to working with them.”

Follow the iSportconnect Directors’ Club event with @iSportconnect and through #iSCDirectorsClub.

About Thomas Lyte:
Thomas Lyte is committed to English craftsmanship and manufacturing.  As well as  a design studio in Fulham, they have the largest silversmith in London and are highly respected around the world creating bespoke items for Royal Palaces to owners of super yachts.  The master silversmiths take years to perfect their craft and each craftsman is highly skilled in a particular area of silver making and is responsible for just one stage of the process, resulting in a production chain of the highest quality.  They also look after many of the world’s sporting trophies from rugby to golf as well as crafting silver pieces for the Thomas Lyte collection. With the largest silver workshop in the capital and a leather atelier Thomas Lyte is set to become one of the UK’s leading luxury brands, committed to British makers and craft.

About iSportconnect:
iSportconnect is a community set-up exclusively for sports business professionals with a strict door policy to ensure that the industry’s high profile executives and professionals gain access to the numerous features and services provided. iSportconnect.com <http://iSportconnect.com>  combines business networking, latest sports business news & in-depth editorial (through Featured profiles and Expert’s columns), with Business events and sports professionals job listings among just a number of the services provided.

Soccerex are pleased to confirm iSportconnect, the leading global networking platform for sport business, as the global provider of the Networking Tool for all Soccerex events including this year’s Soccerex European Forum, 28-29 March 2012.

The Networking Tool will give Soccerex delegates exclusive access, connecting them with key industry professionals before, during and after Soccerex events.  Soccerex delegates will also be able to access iSportconnect’s network of business professionals to further expand their business reach.

iSportconnect is a community set up exclusively for sports business professionals with a strict door policy to ensure that the industry’s high-profile executives and professionals gain access to the numerous features and services provided. iSportconnect.com combines business networking, latest sports business news & in-depth editorial (through featured profiles and expert’s columns), with business events and sports professional jobs listings among the many other services provided.

iSportconnect CEO and founder Sree Varma said: ‘The Soccerex European Forum attracts some of the football world’s key business professionals. The networking tool provided for Soccerex has been designed specifically to help them leverage key business opportunities ensuring a maximum return on investment. The iSportconnect Networking Tool is comprehensive and extremely relevant to the Soccerex audience; we hope delegates enjoy using it!’

Over 1500 delegates are expected to attend this year’s Soccerex European Forum where they will benefit from exclusive business opportunities via a packed exhibition and a number of formal and informal networking events.  There will also be a packed conference programme addressing some the key issues affecting the industry including sessions on UEFA’s move to centralise media rights, player and coach development, the art of management – a master-class with Rafael Benitez, betting, the tricky business of managing England with Terry Venables, financial management of clubs in the wake of financial fair play, the relationship between football and the media, and the Soccerex Supplement, a session with some of football’s biggest names. There will also be workshops on emerging markets, the stadia industry, commercial opportunities for clubs and the EPFL.

iSportconnect, the leading global networking platform for sport business, cough has announced iSportconnect Directors’ Club, London – an exclusive event for sports industry leaders to share market insight and best practice.

The event, in partnership with Generate Sponsorship and Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, takes place on 21^st February and invites senior decision makers in the sponsorship industry to share high level insight and opinion on business trends and relevant industry news.

A specially invited audience of premium iSportconnect members will offer questions to speakers through a ‘Question Time’ style panel, followed by a round table networking opportunity in a relaxed environment.

The format of the event will include a panel of high profile speakers including Sir Craig Reedie, Member of the IOC Executive Board, Ed Warner, Chairman UK Athletics, Sally Hancock, Director, Olympic Marketing and Group Sponsorship at Lloyds TSB, Paul Vaughan, CEO of England Rugby 2015, with the session moderated by Richard Gillis, Sport Business writer and blogger for The Wall Street Journal.

The inaugural iSportconnect Directors’ Club successfully launched in Germany last November, with over 50 guests in attendance discussing the subject of Hospitality and the Law.

Founder and CEO of iSportconnect Sree Varma, said, ‘With the introduction of iSportconnect’s Directors’ Club, we are now creating a platform which transfers our online network into live events, enabling industry leaders to continue discussions off-line and connect face-to-face.’

Rupert Pratt, Managing Director of Generate Sponsorship, who are assisting to manage and promote the event, said, ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for Directors, CEOs and senior stakeholders to meet and share high level, market leading best practice and insight in an exclusive environment. This is exactly the type of event the sports marketing and sponsorship industry needs.’

Patrick Cannon, Head of Sport at Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, who are hosting and supporting the event, said, ‘We are delighted that Sir Craig Reedie, Paul Vaughan, Sally Hancock and Ed Warner are able to be members of the panel on what should prove to be a fascinating discussion format.’

There will be three iSportconnect Directors’ Club events in London each year, with further events in New York and Barcelona in the coming months.

The event aims to attract representatives from sponsors, clubs, federations, and rights holders.  Meetings with delegates can be arranged pre-event, as well as questions posted in advance for the debate through iSportconnect Networking tool at dev.isportconnect.com/directorsclublondon.

Live broadcasting will also be available to limited members of iSportconnect.

Inaugural iSportconnect Directors Club Germany a Big Success