UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PRIZE MONEY (2010/11)

Here is a list of the distribution of prize money amongst our favourite European clubs.

Manchester United earned the biggest share of the UEFA Champions League prize money in the season 2010/11 with £45.4m despite losing in the final, according to figures released by the competition organizer UEFA on 16 August 2011.

The UEFA Champions League winners FC Barcelona earned £43.5m because broadcast deals which weigh into calculations were worth less in Spain than the United Kingdom.

The organising body, UEFA said it distributed £641m among 32 clubs involved in the group stage. Chelsea FC received £37.9m - semifinalists Schalke made £33.9m and Real Madrid's share was £33.5m.

MSK Zilina from Slovakia, which lost all six group stage matches, received £6.3m and the Slovakian television share paid only £8.1m for television rights to broadcast their matches. 

A further £100m was shared among national associations and clubs which played in the qualifying rounds.

UEFA distributed £102.8m among 56 teams which played in the group and knockout stages of the Europa League, it's second tier competition.

Spain' FCs Villarreal, who lost to FC Porto in the semifinals, collected just over £7.7m in prize money.

Europa League winner FC Porto got £6.6m but was not the biggest earner because Portuguese television deals were not so lucrative as other European countries. Beaten finalist Braga earned £3.8m after joining in the last-32 round, in addition to £10m from the UEFA Champions League group.

In conclusion, I'll leave to you to digest these financial figures as I'm going out.

FIFA ACCORDING TO INDEPENDENT REPORT REMAINS AN OLD BOYS CLUB

On 16 August 2011 [Tuesday], an anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International (TI) stated that FIFA should limit terms for senior officials, set up an independent group to clear up anti-corruption allegations and "embrace transparency" in its organization.

TI said that, despite recent measures, world football's governing body still gave the impression of being run "like an old boys network".

TI also added that the new group should be composed of representatives from outside FIFA, such as elder statesmen, sponsors, media and civil society, and inside football, such as players, women's football, referees and supporters.

"Fifa says it wants to reform, but successive bribery scandals have left public trust in it at an all time low."

"Working with an oversight group - taking its advice, giving it access, letting it participate in investigations - will show whether there is going to be real change. The process has to start now,"said Sylvia Schenk, TI's senior advisor on sport.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter, re-elected for a fourth term in June 2011, promised to create a new committee to act as a watchdog, mentioning former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Spanish tenor Placido Domingo as possible members.

He has yet to announce further details.

In its report, the Berlin-based watchdog, which issues a global league table of the least corrupt nations, said:

"FIFA is both a non-governmental, non-profit organisation and a global company with huge revenues, unprecedented reach, political clout and enormous worldwide social influence."

But it said Fifa was only accountable to its 208 member associations who elected the FIFA president and in turn, received handouts from football's governing body.

"This lack of mandatory accountability to the outside world makes it unlikely that change will come either from within the organisation or from the grassroots of the football organisations," the report added.

In conclusion, FIFA has been hit by a series of corruption scandals.

Two executive committee members were banned last November 2010 for allegedly offering to sell their votes in the contest to host World Cup 2018 and 2022, subsequently awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively.

Last month, Asian Football Confederation chief Mohammed Bin Hammam was banned for life for allegedly trying to buy votes in the June 2011 presidential election where he was a candidate.

Also fellow executive committee member Jack Warner, a leading FIFA powerbroker, quit after being put under investigation in the same case.

CESC FABRIGAS JOINS FC BARCELONA SEASON (2011/12) (PART 3)

Arsenal FC announced on 14 August 2011 [Sunday] that they had finally agreed a deal for his transfer sum. Arsenal FC manager, Arsene Wenger insisted he had to let Cesc Fabregas go because his captain was no longer completely committed to the club.

Cesc Fabregas had been influenced last year to stay at Aresenal FC , but his often lacklustre performances hinted at his dissatisfaction and the clubs French manager couldn't tolerate a repeat performance this season.

"Yes, we lost a world class player and we are sad about it. We did try to keep him but in the end we have to respect the desire of the player as well."

"It is very difficult to get the best out of a player, he has to be completely committed to where he is. "If you understand one thing, it is that Cesc didn't go for financial reasons. He wanted to go back to his home city." Arsene Wenger told a press conference on the 15 August 2011 [Monday].

"I spoke with him on Friday to say goodbye. It was very emotional because he was like a second father for me. If I am here now it's in large part because of him. I can't thank him enough." Cesc Fabregas told the news conference that relations with Arsene Wenger remained - fantastic.

However, Cesc Fabregas said that the title drought hadn't been the sole reason for his wishing to leave, indeed it was more because he felt that the football players just weren't there for Arsenal FC to challenge in the decisive moments of the season.

"It was more than just the fact we didn't win trophies,"

"It was the repetitive nature of how each season panned out. We would regularly play well, but when it came down to the final weeks we didn't have the energy to win either finals or semifinals. We just fizzled out when it came to the final straight." he said.

In conclusion, FC Barcelona made a good deal, because CescFabregas made 303 appearances for Arsenal FC and scored 57 goals in all competative competitions.

These stats include the begining of his [infant] career, while he was still finding his feet.

Finally by becoming the Arsenal FC captain at the tender age of 21, I think that this football player is more mature and a closer to becoming a more complete football player. 

CESC FABRIGAS JOINS FC BARCELONA SEASON (2011/12) (PART 2)

Cesc Fabregas finally completed his move from Arsenal FC to FC Barcelona, on the 15 August 2011 (Monday).

His only trophy at Arsenal was the 2005 FA Cup, said that he felt he was at the right stage of his career to join FC Barcelona, the 2010/11 European champions.

The FIFAWorld Cup 2010 winner, cost FC Barcalona £25.5m up front and signed a five-year contract.

"Today [Monday], I feel a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders. "But at the same time, it wasn't too painful. I have never really worried about my future, as I had already decided on it," said Cesc Fabrigas.

"Two or three years ago I wasn't ready," he said. "But today I am. I had a lot of offer, and I have without doubt chosen the difficult one, but also the one which gives me most pleasure.

"I know that I am taking on the biggest challenge of my life: I am going to be competing with the best players in the world and some Barcelona supporters will not pardon me maybe for the fact I left here as a young man and will demand of me double the effort. But I am here to give everything, I do not want to disappoint anybody." said Cesc Fabrigas.

FC Barcelona deputy chairman, Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed the fee was £25.5m but that there were add ons should certain targets be completed.

"In addition, if we win the league twice and the Champions league once in the next five seasons Arsenal will receive a bonus of five million euros, two (million) for each league win and one for the Champions League," he said.

"Furthermore, over the next five years ... the club will pay one million euros to Arsenal on behalf of Cesc," who is taking a massive salary cut to come to Spain, he told a news conference alongside Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas earlier appeared before some 35 000 cheering supporters at the Camp Nou Stadium after passing a medical and signing the deal.

"I would like to thank all the fans." I have been waiting many days, months, years for this day. It's very special day, to come home after eight years away. I am here to face the most incredible challenge of my life," said Cesc Fabrigas, the new FC Barcelona player.

[continued]

CESC FABRIGAS JOINS FC BARCELONA SEASON (2011/12) (PART 1)

Cesc Fabrigas Career Statistics:

1) He ws born on the 4 May 1987 in Arenys de Mar, Spain.

2) He developed through FC Barcelona's youth ranks before moving to Arsenal FC as a 16-year-old in 2003.

3) He became the London club's youngest first-team player in October 2003, when he made his debut against Rotherham United in the League Cup aged 16 and 177 days.

4) Also became Arsenal's youngest goalscorer when he scored against Wolverhmpton Wanderers in a 5-1 win in December 2004.

5) In 2008, aged 21, he won the PFA's Young Player of the Year Award.

6) Arsenal FC have won only one league title (2004) and one FA Cup (2005) since he joined the club, while FC Barcalona have claimed a total of 13 trophies including , five Spanish league trophies, three Champions League trophies and a King's Cup.

7) He scored the winning penalty in the European Championship 2008 quarterfinal shootout against Italy, a victory that is seen as a turning point in Spain's international fortunes.

8) He also played the ball through to Andries Iniesta for his dramatic winning goal in FIFA World Cup 2010 final.

9) According to Opta, he created 466 goalscoring chances over the past five English Premier League seasons, more than any other player.


10) He played 212 League games for Arsenal FC scoring 35 goals and in total made 305 appearances, scoring 57 goals.

In conclusion, through the summer months, for the third successive year, he was linked with a move back to FC Barcelona, which was completed on 15 August. 2011 when he signed a five-year deal.

[continued]

JON OBI MIKEL'S DAD ABDUCTED IN NIGERIA

Today, on 15 August 2011 (Monday),
Jon Obi Mikel's management company released a statement stating that his dad had been abducted last week.

Jon Obi Mikel played in the  FA Premier League 
Stoke City 0-0 Chelsea FC match on 14 August 2011 (Sunday).

The defensive-midfield football player decided to play in the match despite finding out that his dad had been abducted on 12 August 2011 (Friday).

"Thus far no ransom demand has been received," The Sport Entertainment & Media Group said in a statement.

"Mikel was informed by his manager prior to the Stoke versus Chelsea match and decided to play so as not to let down his team and family."

In conclusion, it is not the first time a relative of a FA Premier League football player has been abducted in Nigeria after former Everton defender Joseph Yobo's brother was kidnapped in 2008.

BILLIONAIRE BOYS CLUB (BBC)

Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes added to the speculation that he wants to buy into Premier League club Queens Park Rangers by attending their opening match of the season at the weekend.



Tony Fernandes, who owns the Team Lotus Formula One team, has been strongly linked by British media with a move to take control of the London-based football club by buying out majority shareholder Bernie Ecclestone, the F1 boss.
 
QPR got off to a terrible start in their first match in the top flight since 1996 on Saturday, losing QPR 0-4 Bolton Wanders at home.
 
The match featured an own goal, an injury to one of their new signings and a red card.
 
"I think we'll have to wait and see," said the club's manager, Neil Warnock.
 
"I know he is very interested. Stability is what we need really." Neil Warnock told Sky television when asked about  Tony Fernandes.
 
Bernie Ecclestone and former Renault Formula One team boss Flavio Briatore own around 70 percent of the club with Indian steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal the other major shareholder.
 
Television pictures showed Tony Fernandes sitting in the directors box with Flavio Briatore on the 14 August 2011 (Saturday) match.
 
In conclusion, QPR is not the first London football club to be associated with Tony Fernandes, with the owner of Malaysia-based budget airline AirAsia saying in the past he had wanted to buy into West Ham United, who were relegated from the top flight last season.  He also classes himself as a West Ham supporter.