Australian Tyson Scott amongst the five candidates selected for the New AFC Scholarship scheme

Staff Writer
The AFC

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CIES have joined forces to create a new scholarship scheme to generously offer five young professionals the chance to study on the International MA in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, better known as the FIFA Master which is spread across three prestigious universities in Europe.
This scholarship scheme was successfully implemented for the first time this year and five lucky beneficiaries will start their FIFA Master 20th edition journey on 17th September at De Montfort University in Leicester, England, for a 3-month module on the Humanities of Sport at the university’s renowned International Centre for Sports History and Culture (Kevin Goco, Philippines; Rishab Kapur, India; Mahmoud Qaraqra, Palestine; Tyson Scott, Australia; Han Bits Yi, South Korea).

Australian Tyson Scott amongst the five candidates selected

In January, the class will then move to Italy to study Sports Management at Milan’s SDA Bocconi School of Management. Following the completion of this module, the class will finally transfer to Switzerland where they will be taught Sports Law at the University of Neuchâtel for the final module of the year.

The scholarships are part of the AFC’s commitment to enhance the capability of staff from the AFC’s Member Associations and were announced by the AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa at the 28th AFC Congress in Kuala Lumpur last October.

Shaikh Salman said: “The AFC is determined to raise standards in the game across Asia and that includes those who work so tirelessly off the field as well as those who compete on the pitch. Not only does Asia require outstanding players in the future but we also have a duty to deliver top class administrators.”

CIES is delighted to have joined forces with the AFC and as explained by CIES Director, Professor Denis Oswald, this new scholarship scheme “will ensure that more candidates will be able to participate in our programme which is excellent news as, sometimes, very good candidates cannot take the course because they are not in a position to fund their participation.”

The fruitful co-operation is set to continue as the AFC recently announced that five new scholarships will again be offered to Asian football staff keen to take part in the 21st edition of the Master.

The application process for the 21st edition (2020-2021) will open on October 1st, 2019 and will close in mid-January 2020.

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Adidas apparel deal under threat for Manchester United

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Image credit: Manchester United

Manchester United’s season goes from bad to outright embarrassing as each week passes, and a new report suggests that their massive apparel deal with Adidas is under threat due to their on-field failures.

According to The Telegraph, Adidas holds the right to terminate the deal with a one-year notice period should the Red Devils face relegation to the Championship.

United’s Form Sparks Concerns Over Lucrative Partnership

Manchester United’s long-standing relationship with German sportswear giant Adidas is under serious threat as their poor form continues to raise relegation fears.

Adidas first supplied Manchester United’s apparel in 1980 to 1992 before reuniting with the clu in 2015 following a 23-year gap.

The two parties recently inked a lucrative 10-year extension in June 2023, worth $1.8 billion AUD (£900 million). However, United’s current Premier League struggles could jeopardise this deal.

Premier League Woes Could Prove Costly

Sitting in 13th place, Manchester United are only seven points above the relegation zone, with Ipswich Town breathing down their neck.

It comes after the club had the least amount of points after the halfway mark to a Premier League season in the club’s history (22 pts), a record they seemingly find themselves breaking every year.

In the unlikely event that relegation does happen, the financial blows would be critical for the club.

Adidas’ Relegation Clause Explained

Adidas reportedly has a clause in the contract that allows them to reduce payments by 50% if Manchester United are not in the Premier League. Moreover, the club stands to lose an additional $20 million AUD (£10 million) annually if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

If United were relegated, their payout could shrink to a mere $70 million (£35 million)  next season—a massive drop from the initial agreement.

Relegation Battle Heats Up

United manager Ruben Amorim has acknowledged the reality of the relegation battle his side faces.

Even if the concept of a Red Devils relegation seems impossible, the mere discussion of it is an indictment on the club.

Conclusion

If Manchester United’s downward spiral continues, the club not only risks relegation but could face severe financial consequences.

Their lack of Champions League football and a potential season without European football as a whole would mark a historic low point for the club and bring significant commercial repercussions.

Football NSW to Build on 2024 Participation Record in 2025

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Image credit: Football NSW

Football NSW are aiming to develop on the extraordinary numbers of the 2024 season that saw more than 260,000 players take to the pitch. The announcement comes as part of the national Play Football campaign.

With NSW being one of Australia’s largest participation states for football, the federation’s push for more numbers is a welcome target for football in the country.

Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas spoke with enthusiasm about the sport’s trajectory, highlighting its inclusive nature.

“Football continues to be the sport of choice for the NSW and Australian community, providing a positive environment for participants of all ages and abilities,” Tsatsimas mentioned via Football NSW official press release.

“We have had unprecedented growth in players, coaches, referees and volunteers, with exponential growth in the female game.”

The statistics paint a promising picture of the sport’s expansion, with 2024 registering a 9% increase in player numbers from the earlier season. This translates to over 20,000 new participants.

Perhaps most significantly with the effect of the Women’s FIFA World Cup of 2023, female participation surged by 17%, with more than 9,000 women and girls joining the sport, accounting for nearly half of the total growth.

Maintaining and increasing Women and girls’ levels in the sport are crucial points for development of the Australian game and will be key for the continued rise in participation numbers.

The organisation is now actively encouraging early registration for the 2025 season to ensure players can secure spots with their preferred local clubs, with help from the updated Play Football website.

Beyond player participation, Football NSW is expanding its focus on supporting roles within the sport. The 2024 season witnessed record numbers in coaching, refereeing, and volunteering positions, all crucial components of the game’s ecosystem.

The need for more people joining non-player roles through all levels of the game in NSW is evident with John Tsatsimas pointing out himself the necessity for the 2025 Season.

“There’s a place for everyone in our sport, and we look forward to welcoming new and returning participants for the 2025 season,” Tsatsimas explained via Football NSW official press release.

For those interested in contributing to the sport beyond playing, Football NSW has established comprehensive pathways.

The Football NSW Coach Hub provides resources and guidance for aspiring coaches looking to shape the next generation of footballers.

Additionally, the Referee Hub offers opportunities for individuals to engage with the sport from a different perspective while maintaining an active lifestyle.

With football’s exciting growth continuing in Australia with the expansion and promising viewership numbers of the 2024-25 professional A-leagues, it is always important for the sport that the participation numbers of state leagues and amateur local clubs follow the trend.

Register now for 2025 by clicking here.

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