City Football Group add İstanbul Başakşehir to club portfolio

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Image credit: City Football Group official website

City Football Group (CFG) announced a “football collaboration agreement” with Turkish Süper Lig side İstanbul Başakşehir to expand on their current portfolio of worldwide football clubs.

CFG is the owner of Premier League giants Manchester City and the group also own majority shareholder status in a further seven clubs around the world including A-League side Melbourne City.

Under this agreement, CFG will provide Başakşehir with guidance on transfers, academy development and data-driven insights. The group will also offer support with player screening and football strategy.

This strategy used by CFG has been rather successful for all the clubs under the consortium and Melbourne City in particular have used this connection to make some big transfers in and outgoings. David Villa was the first significant loan move from CFG club New York City FC which started a practice of players and coaches rotating between the group’s clubs.

It has seen players like Daniel Arzani and Aaron Mooy move to Manchester City temporarily to be loaned out to other European clubs. Recently, Patrick Kisnorbo earned a move to fellow CFG club ESTAC Troyes to become the first ever Australian manager in a top five European league.

Göksel Gümüşdağ, Majority Owner and Club President of Başakşehir, explained that this move is immense for the club.

“İstanbul Başakşehir FK has achieved many firsts in Turkish football despite its young age and today, with this collaboration with the leading football group in the world, it marks another milestone for İstanbul Başakşehir and Turkish football,” he said in a club statement.

“From the very beginning, we have reiterated at every opportunity that our vision and goals are different and today underlines this expression again. We are very happy, proud and excited. I would like to thank all the people in City Football Group for their approach and support in the process. I hope it will be beneficial for Başakşehir FK and Turkish football.”

City Football Group released their own statement regarding the new addition to their family and the future plans for the club.

“This collaboration will help CFG grow knowledge and develop relationships in Turkey, an ambitious football nation and developer of talent. This will also provide CFG with an opportunity to collaborate across emerging football areas with a club that has a shared vision.” a CFG statement read.

City Football Group, INEOS and Red Bull in particular have figured out a way to potentially ‘game the system’ to their advantage before FIFA or UEFA had ever thought of cracking down on this potentially threatening move for football.

İstanbul Başakşehir is just another club adding to the growing list of clubs involved in a multi-club structure which is said to be over 180 clubs across the world in total. Modern football is transforming like never before.

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UEFA’s Role in Operation Kratos: stopping global piracy

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UEFA against anti-piracy, supports Operation Kratos
Image Credit: UEFA Website

UEFA has publicly issued support for Operation Kratos, a multinational effort to prevent international piracy.

Headed by the Republic of Bulgaria’s Ministry of the Interior and supported by police agencies from the Italian and Croation Republics alongside Europol and Eurojust, as well as Spanish football league LaLiga, Operation Kratos has actively dismantled a global piracy network used by over 22 million users.

Executed throughout the middle of 2024, during major sporting events such as the, Paris Olympics, UEFA EUROs tournament and UEFA Champions League, Operation Kratos undertook 112 search and seizures of equipment, and identified 102 suspects, arresting 11.

Across the seizures, law enforcement discovered 270 IPTV devices, 100 domains that had been used for crime, and nearly 30 servers. In addition, authorities found weapons, drugs, 2.65 million AUD in cryptocurrency and 66,000 AUD in cash.

UEFA played a crucial part in the operation, providing critical and prompt information on illegal sports streams. Information was gained through UEFA’s widespread content protection program which monitors for stolen content using the latest available technology.

A UEFA spokesperson highlighted the value of Operation Kratos for the organisation and sport as a whole.

“UEFA welcomes and supports such a successful and unprecedented operation that neutralised a record number of illegal streaming platforms and illegal IPTV services. We would like to thank the various stakeholders involved for their ongoing efforts and the high level of cooperation in fighting digital piracy by bringing actions such as this against organised crime”

“Financial revenue generated from media rights is vital for the well-being of both professional and amateur football. In particular, it is essential to football development and grassroots investment throughout Europe.

“The fight against the online piracy of our competitions remains a key priority for UEFA. We are committed to doing whatever is possible to stop this core threat to the revenues which underpin the European football ecosystem.”

UEFA will continue to assist organisations in the fight against piracy.

Football Queensland’s infrastructure proposal for 2032 Olympics

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Football Australia and Football Queensland have presented a comprehensive infrastructure proposal for the Queensland Government’s 100-day infrastructure review for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, positioning the sport as a key driver of long-term regional development.

The submission champions a strategic approach that leverages football’s significant community impact, highlighting the sport’s 350,000 active participants across Queensland.

Central to the proposal is a purpose-built Tier 2 rectangular stadium, potentially located at Perry Park, designed to accommodate 17,000 to 20,000 spectators with capacity for an additional 13,000 temporary seats during the Games.

The proposal also includes:

Enhancements to Training Sites

  • Strategic upgrades to Meakin Park’s Queensland State Home of Community Football, creating a versatile multi-sport infrastructure in a rapidly expanding urban corridor.
  • Guarantees FIFA tournament compliance while establishing enduring high-performance facilities for community and elite athletes.

Innovative Regionalisation Approach

  • Champions a decentralised Games delivery model to amplify participation across broader Queensland communities.
  • Introduces collaborative content-sharing and strategic partnerships to bolster regional sporting infrastructure and engagement.

Cost Savings and Value Creation

  • Identifies potential savings and revenue opportunities exceeding $1 billion through optimised venue design.
  • Commits to generating substantive economic benefits and sustainable legacies for Queensland’s diverse communities.

Football Australia Chairman Anter Isaac emphasised the proposal’s broader vision.

“Brisbane 2032 represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a legacy for communities across Queensland and across the Asia-Pacific region. Football’s submission aligns with a best for city, state and games, master planned approach with a focus on innovation and sustainability,” Issac commented on FQ official press release.

Football Australia CEO James Johnson also joined in underscoring the stadium’s significance.

“A purpose-built rectangular stadium is critical to addressing the needs of the sport in Queensland. This venue will not only elevate the fan experience but also position Brisbane to host future international tournaments,” Johnson explained via FQ official press release.

Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci was keen to highlight the grassroots focus that this investment would deliver.

“Football Queensland’s priority is to ensure the benefits of Brisbane 2032 extend to every community in the state. By investing in regional and grassroots infrastructure, this proposal ensures all Queenslanders can be part of the Games’ legacy,” Cavallucci expressed via FQ official press release.

The proposal has garnered support from key stakeholders including the Asian Football Confederation, Oceania Football Confederation, Australian Professional Leagues, Brisbane Roar, and Professional Footballers Australia.

Football Australia and Football Queensland’s approach show a unified football push to try and garner an exciting sporting and footballing spine within the city of Brisbane and wider areas, using innovation and sustainability to enhance a positive prospect.

With a comprehensive vision spanning elite and community levels, football’s Olympic submission represents a significant strategic play for the sport’s future in Queensland.

Read the official proposal from Football Queensland here.

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