FIFA has no plans to drop its new Peace Award, handed out for the first time to US President Donald Trump last month.
Some had wondered whether the Americans’ subsequent abduction of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, which came just weeks later, had triggered pause for thought at the headquarters of world football’s governing body.
However, that is not thought to be the case and insiders have instead disclosed that there will be a second recipient later this year.
America continues to pay top dollar
The willingness of the US market to pay top dollar for tickets – evidenced by the pricing structure for the World Cup – has again been illustrated by an event taking place on FIFA’s American doorstep.
Next Monday, Miami Hurricanes will take part in the College Football Playoff national championship game, at the city’s Hard Rock Stadium.
As of Sunday, the cheapest nosebleed tickets for the fixture, which sees the Hurricanes take on number one seed Indiana Hoosiers, come in at a staggering £2,822. A decent view for the clash, between two universities, will cost close to £4,000.
All eyes on AFCON
Channel Four secured exclusive coverage of AFCON – and it would appear to have been a wise move by the broadcaster.
Ahead of the quarter-finals, linear coverage of the tournament, which is free-to-air in the UK for the first time, has reached four million, while there have been 2.7m views online. Insiders say they have also seen an increase in their young audience of 229 per cent.
The semis take place this Wednesday on E4, with Channel 4 streaming Senegal versus Egypt and Nigeria taking on host Morocco.
Marinakis’s Olympics centrepiece refurb
The renovation of Nottingham Forest’s City Ground is not the only stadium project the club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis has on his mind.
The Greek shipping magnate, who faces charges (which he strongly denies) with other officials of instigating violence in his homeland after the death of a police officer in 2023, is to bankroll ‘a comprehensive renovation’ of Athens’ Panathenaic Stadium, which was the centrepiece of the first Olympics of the modern era.
The move has sparked debate in Greece, with the Hellenic Olympic Committee hitting out at criticism, saying it is ‘saddened and dismayed by certain isolated comments concerning the particularly significant and invaluable sponsorship’.
The renovations will see the stadium host international track and field competitions at Diamond League level. The statement added that Marinakis, who also owns Olympiakos, is ‘someone who loves sport and supports it in tangible ways without seeking reciprocal benefits’.
Earlier this month Forest submitted planning applications aimed at increasing the capacity of their home from 30,000 to around 52,500.
Teen hospitalised after rugby brawl
A 17-year-old boy was taken to hospital after crowd trouble broke out at a rugby league pre-season friendly.
The teenager was attacked after Warrington’s clash with Widnes, with police now investigating.
During the game footage showing Widnes supporters vaulting advertising boards to try and get at fans of the home side went viral, and it would appear that the unrest, an unwelcome sight in a sport that prides itself on the relationships between fans of rival teams, continued afterwards.
At one point the match, which Warrington won 50-12, was paused as stewards dealt with the disorder.
Cheshire Police have called for witnesses after being called to a fight, with the boy left with serious injuries.
Exeter punter’s Etihad heartbreak
While it may have given cause for cheer among the 7,800 travelling Exeter City supporters at the Etihad Stadium, George Birch’s 90th minute consolation goal triggered heartache for one fan of the home side.
The punter had waged £10 on Manchester City to win the FA Cup tie 10-0 at odds of 120-1 and thought he was about to be quids in, only for the 19-year-old to deny him at the death.
