Here are some of last week’s top stories from around the global soccer industry…
Kevin Payne Talks Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer and the Business of it All (Part II) (Business of Soccer)
In most soccer circles, Kevin Payne needs very little introduction. His reputation in professional soccer precedes him as one of the most experienced in American Soccer History having been involved 25+ years extensively with MLS, USSF, US Soccer Foundation and most recently making the transition into the youth level as CEO of US Club Soccer.
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English Football Association Suspends Backing of Michel Platini as FIFA Head (Bloomberg)
English soccer’s governing body suspended its support for campaign of the sport’s European boss, Michel Platini, because of accusations he received a 2 million Swiss franc ($2.1 million) payment from global soccer head Joseph “Sepp” Blatter.
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World Cup Slush Fund Claims Cast Shadow Over Niersbach (Reuters)
German football association (DFB) President Wolfgang Niersbach was considered a potential dark horse for one of world soccer’s top administrative posts but allegations of a slush fund to help the country win hosting rights for the 2006 World Cup have cast a shadow over his credentials.
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Abridged MLS Week 32 Sees Average Attendance of 17,242 (Business of Soccer)
MLS week 32 average attendance is 17,242. The regular season average has decreased 0.19% to 21,402 from 21,442 last week. Stadiums were 82.76% filled throughout the week, remaining at 93.61% of capacity for the season.
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Football’s Transfer System is Failing, FIFPro Study Finds (FC Business)
The 3 billion Euro a year football player transfer system which is intended to redistribute wealth among clubs is failing all but a few elite teams, according to a study published today.
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Fox Sports in Expanded Bundesliga Rights Deal (Soccerex)
Fox Sports, the sports division of US broadcaster Fox, has added eight additional live weekly games from the Bundesliga to Fox’s 2016 broadcast schedule. Fox signed a five-year deal in 2013 to air the Bundesliga from the start of the 2015/16 season, and the new expanded agreement means the pay-TV network will now air a total of 306 live games from Germany’s elite division on its FS1, FS2, Fox Soccer Plus and Fox channels across the 2015/16 season.
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Court Stops Botswana from Deporting Eritrea Players (ESPNFC)
A group of 10 players from Eritrea’s national team who are claiming asylum in Botswana after a World Cup qualifier have won a temporary reprieve, with a court ruling they shouldn’t be sent back home.
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US Soccer Development Academy Announces Expansion into Under-12 Age Group, Splits U-13 and U-14 (Major League Soccer)
With hopes of eliminating physical variance and a maturity gaps while deepening the available player pool, the US Soccer Development Academy announced Friday that the program will expand to the Under-12 age group starting in Fall 2016.
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Alex Ferguson on Coaching, FIFA, Chelsea and U.S. Soccer (New York Times)
Alex Ferguson spent 38 years managing soccer teams, most notably at England’s Manchester United, where he won 49 trophies, among them 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns. In an interview last week in New York, he discussed his career, a few of his contemporaries and the tyranny of fans’ expectations. His remarks have been condensed and edited.
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Soccer’s Booming U.S. Minor League Plans More Expansion (MarketWatch)
The United Soccer League plans to continue a burst of expansion that has spread its footprint across nearly 30 markets in the United States and Canada, its president said Thursday.
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This article originally appeared on Business of Soccer. To learn more about BOS you can find them on Facebook or Twitter.
