Spotify are set to complete a huge deal with Barcelona for the naming rights on the Nou Camp.
It could be a game-changer for the Spanish giants who have been struggling financially and the deal could be worth up to £236m which could clear debt, ease their cash crisis and raise funds for a summer spending spree.
Spotify’s co-founder Daniel Ek was interested in trying to buy Arsenal from US tycoon Stan Kroenke in a very public push which has been dismissed as a non-starter by the current ownership.
However, Spotify originally came to the table at Arsenal looking to do a stadium naming rights deal which helped spark the takeover push, though neither came to fruition.
Stadium naming rights are hugely attractive to clubs as they are difficult to quantify, very lucrative and it is effectively free money. Arsenal this week confirmed they are looking at doing major improvements to the Emirates Stadium.
LMA ask managers four key questions in questionnaire about rise in abuse
Football managers are being sounded out after a worrying increase in abuse.
The League Managers Association sent out an email to bosses this week asking for their views on whether the problem is getting worse and what can be done to solve it.
It follows a string of high profile flare-ups including a Leicester fan getting a lifetime ban from attending games at the King Power Stadium after he ran onto the pitch to confront Nottingham Forest players during their FA Cup tie.
Leeds have been proactive and threatened to issue one-year suspensions to parents who allow their children to run onto the pitch even for autographs or to ask for shirts.
The Premier League, EFL and Football Association have pledged to look at what can be done and now the managers’ union is also taking steps.
The LMA is highly respected by bosses throughout the divisions and they are asking managers four key questions:
- Have you or any members of your staff felt at risk of physical abuse in the technical area this season?
- Do you feel direct verbal abuse has increased this season?
- Is discriminatory behaviour from supporters getting worse?
- Can clubs do more to protect participants from missiles / physical confrontation with fans?
It is understood that several managers have raised the worrying trend of missiles being thrown at players during celebrations which is becoming a new and worrying trend.
Plus also managers bearing the brunt for poor refereeing decisions costing their teams results.
It remains to be seen what can be done but it is refreshing that even the elite managers like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have huge respect for the LMA which is effectively a union for football bosses.
Taking the knee at FIFA events
It was noticeable there was no taking of the knee before games at the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
This was because FIFA did not factor the gesture into their pre-match programme before games and it will be interesting to see what happens in the build-up to the World Cup.
League Two ref's fitness called into question
Jose Mourinho famously got himself into trouble by questioning referee Jon Moss’s fitness levels.
Now, referee Brett Huxtable - who could be described as being “portly” in appearance - has come under fire amid accusations that he “struggles to get around the pitch.”
Crawley boss John Yems has been charged by the FA after an outspoken attack on Huxtable, questioning the ref’s fitness and failure to give a red card for Hartlepool striker Omar Bogle’s X-rated challenge on Jack Payne.
With no VAR at League Two level, there was nothing to help out the ref and sod’s law dictates that Bogle ended up scoring the winner. The challenge was an absolute shocker and a definite sending off.
Huxtable has handed out 51 yellow cards in 17 games this season and his appearance has made him a regular target for fans.
Norwich's free coach gesture
What a fantastic gesture by Norwich to provide free coach travel for the FA Cup trip to Liverpool on March 2. Considering the riches in the Premier League, more clubs should be following Norwich’s brilliant example.
