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Weekly Brief - 2007-12-22

The Weely Brief,  highlighting recent soccer industry stories from around the World is provided to San Francisco Seals Fans courtesy of  FMMInternational See below for more information regarding FMMInternational.

Current and past issues of the Weekly Brief can be found in our News/Information section under the "Weekly Brief Archives - 2007".    

 

* Americas *                                                 December 21 2007

MLS Increases Foreign Quota
MLS teams will be granted one additional roster spot for foreign players next season and also will have the option of trading those slots, enabling a club to field an entire roster of non-Americans. The changes, which MLS is implementing because of fears that expansion will dilute the talent pool, insures that foreigners without nonresident alien status will be limited to 112 of the 392 players in the league, “We believe we need to dip into the international market in the short term” said deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis, who added that MLS's recently created youth development program will provide players in the medium-to-long term. “Americans are and will be the backbone of league. But I don't think I'm saying anything controversial when I say we don't believe the domestic talent pool is limitless.”  Source: CBS Sports

Veron Turns Down DC
D.C. United's pursuit of Argentine Juan Veron came to a disappointing end after the former World Cup midfielder announced that he would remain with his boyhood club, Estudiantes. In recent weeks, reports in Argentina indicated that Veron was set to join United and become its first signing under MLS's year-old designated player rule, but he declined what he termed an ‘incredible’ offer in part because he wanted to play in the Copa Libertadores. Source: The Miami Herald

 
Canadian Purchases Maccabi Tel Aviv
Israeli Premier League team Maccabi Tel Aviv, who have won the league championship a record 18 times but struggled in recent years, have been sold to Canadian metal trader Alex Schneider. Ukraine-born Schneider, who owns Midland Resources paid $20m for an 80% stake, while the remaining 20% will remain with the club. Source: Boston Herald

Bolivian President Lambastes FIFA Altitude Ban
Bolivian President Evo Morales criticised FIFA's recent decision to introduce a ban on international playing matches over 2,750 metres above sea level without acclimatisation. “I want to express my surprise at this decision by FIFA. It's discrimination…against people who live at high altitude. It's not right that they don't understand the situation of Potosi, Oruro or La Paz” he said, referring to his nation’s capitol and two other Andean cities. Source: Reuters

* Europe *

Man U Will Report Record Profits and Turnover
According to press reports, next month Manchester United will announce record profits of at least $120m and a record annual turnover in excess of $400m for the year to June 30. The figures, which are largely accounted for by increases in the club’s match-day and commercial revenue, would be far better than last January's totals, when the club announced a turnover of $335m and a profit of $92m, and suggest that the club may realize ambitious target to make $215m in annual profits by 2011. Source: The Times

Liverpool Delay Loan But Continue Work On New Stadium
Despite the fact that Liverpool’s American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have had to postpone borrowing the $600m needed to build a new stadium until 2009 due to the global credit crunch, club sources said plans are proceeding according to schedule in terms of the planning, design and initial construction of the Stanley Park ground. Hicks and Gillett are expected to re-finance the $440m loan used to buy the club in February in favor of a new $700m one with the Royal Bank of Scotland, which would include $120m to begin work on the new stadium and $50m to cover the cost of last summer's signings. Source: The Daily Telegraph

New Investors For QPR and Ipswich
Bottom of the English Championship Queens Park Rangers have been given a cash boost after the family of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, reportedly worth $100b, bought a 20% stake in the club. “This investment is a great stepping stone towards the future development of the club” said a club statement. “It supports the ambition of the current shareholders to reach the Premier League in the near future.” Meanwhile, businessman Marcus Evans has completed his takeover of Ipswich after shareholders approved his purchase of the club. Evans, who now owns 87.5% of its shares, has made changes to the board of directors and will take-on Ipswich's $64m debt while also giving manager Jim Magilton funds to spend on new players. Sources: BBC

Birmingham End Yeung Takeover Talks
Birmingham City have ended discussions with Carson Yeung's investment company, Grandtop International Holdings, which had already bought a 29.9% stake in July, regarding a possible takeover. The club also ruled out the prospect of being bought by anyone else before next summer. Source: BBC

The FA Approve National Training Centre
The English Football Association have given the go-ahead for a national football centre, with its ‘preferred option’ being in Burton, Staffordshire, though it has not ruled out basing it closer to London. The Burton option would be linked to a hotel and conference facility and FA officials will now undertake ‘a detailed exploration of the business and funding plans’ before making a final decision. The centre will serve as a training base for all England national and junior teams, and also house medical, exercise, science, coaching, video analysis and education departments. Source: the Daily Mail

Italian Chief Claims Serie A and B Should Be Reduced
The head Italian soccer Antonio Matarrese argued that the number of teams in Serie A should be cut to 18 from 20, and that Serie B should be reduced to 20 from 22, to make sure the remaining clubs can survive amid battles for television revenues and falling attendances. “It seems to me important that we start reasoning over a real and proper reform of football. We don't have a choice. We can argue for months on the division of resources. The truth is there are too many of us.” Source: Soccernet

* Rest of the World *

Asian Confederation Seeks Growth In India
Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam, who said India was crucial to the development of the game in Asia, held meetings in Kuala Lumpur with Indian officials to explore ways to stimulate interest in the sport. The country, dubbed a ‘sleeping giant’ by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, launched a professional league last month and organisers of the Portuguese league recently signed an agreement with the Indian soccer federation to provide support for a more professional structure. Source: Reuters India

Socceroos Boss Favours Expansion
 New Australia coach Pim Verbeek spoke in favour of Football Federation Australia’s proposal to add 2 new Queensland sides, from the Gold Coast and Townsville, to the A-League next year. He argued that domestically based players need as much football as they can get if they are to lift local standards and improve the national team. “The Korean league is bigger, spread out over 10 or 11 months. I cannot imagine that the league here is only for six months. I saw the schedule for the A-League and I thought ‘What are we going to do between March and June’?” Source: Sydney Morning Herald
* The Weekly Brief is published every Friday and delivered free via e-mail to registered users.
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* The information contained herein is believed to be correct, but should not be relied upon as such. All financial figures should be seen as indicative only as they may have been converted from another currency.