The League’s 20^th club will be named New York City FC and expects to begin play in 2015. MLS commissioner Don Garber said: “This is a transformational development that will elevate the league to new heights in this country. The New York area is home to more than 19 million people­, and we look forward to an intense cross-town rivalry between New York City Football Club and the New York Red Bulls that will captivate this great city.” English Premier League club Manchester City will be the majority owner of the new team, with the franchise fee reported to be around US$100 million. As an investor, the Yankees will be an active member of the ownership group. The Yankees and City have an existing commercial relationship through Legends Hospitality, an international entertainment, hospitality and marketing organisation. “New York is a legendary sports town, as well as a thriving global city with a rapidly expanding soccer fan-base,” said Ferran Soriano, CEO of Manchester City, who will oversee the process of filling top New York City FC leadership positions in the weeks to come. “We are thrilled to contribute to the energy and growth of New York City soccer. In the Yankees, we have found the absolute best partner for developing a world-class sports organisation and a winning team that will carry the New York City Football Club name with pride.”

MLS said that New York City FC will become the League’s first club whose home will be located within the five boroughs, joining the Red Bulls as the second MLS club in the metropolitan area. The League has been determined to add a second New York franchise to create an inter-city rivalry and the next steps will be to find a location for a new stadium. The League has been eyeing 10-acre site in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. After months of public hearings, applications and discussions, the New York Times reported at the end of April that a deal for a privately financed $340 million stadium, which would hold 25,000 spectators and could be expanded to 35,000, may be completed in several weeks. However, the revelation of the Yankees’ involvement in the new club’s ownership group may complicate this matter with the MLB franchise’s city rival, the Mets, also based at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

MLS said the new team is arranging to play in an interim home beginning in its inaugural MLS season in 2015. It added the club’s new management will continue discussions regarding the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park plan, but will continue to review other potential sites as well. “New York City FC will have a permanent home in the city in the great traditions of New York sports and world soccer – a home that must be a sports, commercial and civic success,” Soriano added.  “But in considering any stadium site, we will listen first. This is what we have always done in Manchester and what we will do in New York.  Only in this way, can the club truly represent the city whose name it will carry.”

The ratio of payments from the top to the bottom-earning club was 1.53:1, with relegated Queens Park Rangers having received the lowest sum of £39.8 million. The Founder Members’ Agreement of the Premier League rules that 50% of UK broadcast revenue is split equally between the 20 clubs, 25% is paid in merit payments, and the final 25% is paid in facility fees each time a club’s matches are broadcast in the UK. All international broadcast revenue is split equally amongst the 20 clubs.

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur both earned more than Chelsea despite finishing below their London rival in the table because both appeared in more live games. Under the 2010-13 cycle, which expired this season, each club received a £13.8 million equal share each season plus £18.9 million from overseas rights.

However, broadcast income will rocket next season, with the Premier League set to generate a total of about £5.5 billion in global rights revenues for the next three seasons – £2 billion more than the previous deal. The champion next season can expect to earn nearly £100 million, while the bottom club can expect to earn about £63 million.

The German firm joins Nike, BT and Hilton as other leading organisations in partnership with the FA’s £105 million development. With a focus on preparation for driving performance, the Continental presence at the National Football Centre will include a 60-metre indoor ‘high performance’ running track, a goalkeeping ‘stopping zone’ and a bespoke ContiWarmUp area to enable all players to prepare before a game or training session. Another element of the deal with St. George’s Park will be the joint development of the FA’s soon to be revealed online training area which aims to deliver more effective warm up activities that can be tailored to players of all ages and abilities.

Holly Glover, commercial manager at St. George’s Park, said: “The new deal with Continental is a hugely significant one for St. George’s Park. As a world leading brand, they bring with them a wealth of expertise and knowledge from having worked in football for many years on a global level, and we’re hugely excited about what the partnership can achieve over the next four years.”

Laura Hardy, sponsorship manager at Continental, added: “The facility is a real investment in the future of football in England and supporting that is really core to our values. We are committed to all levels of football from grass roots to elite and St. George’s Park typifies this for us. The integration of ContiWarmUp at St. George’s Park, both into the new FA learning website and physically on the Burton-upon-Trent site, is great for us and the work that we have done to create a platform that really gives a tangible asset back to the game.”

Multi-billionaire business magnate Slim’s telecommunications company, América Móvil, acquired a 30% stake in Grupo Pachuca, which owns Liga MX clubs León and Pachuca, in September 2012. The deals gave Slim control over the clubs’ domestic and international broadcasting rights. In December, he bought all the shares of second tier team Estudiantes Tecos and has recently dismissed reports that he is interested in acquiring Liga MX giant Chivas del Guadalajara.

The vote has been interpreted as a means of preventing Slim from expanding his influence in the Mexican game. América Móvil’s rivals Televisa and TV Azteca have previously owned multiple top-tier clubs, but the issue of multi-team ownership had not been discussed until Slim’s entry into the market in September. The Associated Press reported that Mexican Soccer League president Decio de Maria would not comment on the decision except to say the consensus was to ban multi-ownership. “I think it’s always time to analyse where you stand, and where you are going especially,” said De Maria. “Being able to make decisions unanimously is critical for the league.”

Monday’s ruling will not require Slim to sell one of his current Liga MX teams, but it will prevent him from acquiring any more. TV Azteca currently owns two teams, the Jaguares and Morelia, but is reportedly interested in selling the former. Televisa currently owns just one team, America.

The partnership will see the club embrace a new ‘single platform’ solution across all facets of commerce –including ticketing, corporate sales, marketing, communications and supporter relationship management. As a result, supporters of the club, which was relegated from the Championship this season, will be rewarded for their backing in the form of loyalty points and benefit from the removal of all booking fees.

Points will be earned with the purchase of all home and away tickets, travel costs and, in the coming months, merchandise bought from the club megastore. With the system currently undergoing final checks, the announcement of season ticket prices has been held back until next week in time to be sold via the new platform.

Bristol City commercial director Kevin Smith said: “Rewarding the loyalty of our fans has been the driving force behind this cultural and system change. If we better understand the movements and requirements of fans, we can not only reward their loyalty, but hopefully engage more effectively going forward. The removal of booking fees was something I felt passionately about. There is no worse feeling than seeing a price and then just as you’re about to pay, that price goes up! The price we advertise is the price supporters will pay – it is so important we are transparent. It’s the right thing to do.”

Perez made the announcement on Monday at a press conference in which Jose Mourinho’s departure as coach was confirmed. “As per article 38.b of the club’s statutes, as president of Real Madrid I’ve spoken to the board members to inform them we can now open the electoral process for Real Madrid president,” said Perez. “Elections will be held on June 16 and I’ve decided to run for re-election.”

It is believed that Perez will run unopposed in the election after returning for a second spell as president of the Primera Division giant in June 2009. Having overseen the infamous ‘Galactico’ era during his first period at the helm from 2000 to 2006, Perez’s second term in office has also been marked by heavy spending in the transfer market, most notably the Eur96 million used to acquire Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2009. On the pitch, Real has landed only one Primera Division title during the past four seasons, in 2011-12, while the club has been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the semi-final stage in each of the past three campaigns.

Perez’s declaration comes after FC Barcelona president Sandro Rosell last month stated his intention to remain at the helm of Real’s arch rival beyond the end of his current six-year term in 2016. Rosell confirmed his intention to stand for re-election after helping to turn around the finances of the club by reducing debt and increasing revenues since succeeding Joan Laporta in 2010.

The agreement, which was formally announced on Monday, has been drawn up on the same lines as that struck for Salvador’s Arena Fonte Nova, whose deal was sealed last month. Petrópolis will invest R$10 million (US$4.9 million) per year over the next 10 years for its beer brand Itaipava to adorn the stadium. However, under FIFA regulations the Itaipava Arena Pernambuco will be shorn of the brand when it hosts three group games during the forthcoming Confederations Cup and five matches during the World Cup itself.

Along with naming rights, the agreement also allows Petrópolis to sell its Itaipava and TNT energy drink products in the stadium. Douglas Costa, director of marketing for Petrópolis, said: “As a 100% Brazilian company, we want to help professionalise the management of the most popular sport in the country. This model encourages new arenas of modern management and efficiency, and promotes a different treatment for the fans. Even for the objectives of the brand in the region, the investment will be efficient only if the stadium is well used, which directly benefits football in the north east. This is why we’re making these investments.”

Located 19km from the centre of Recife, the 46,000-capacity Arena Pernambuco has cost a reported R$530 million to develop. The stadium was officially opened on Monday with a game between the workers who helped develop the facility. Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A club Náutico, which will move into its new home in July, will play a friendly game against Sporting Lisbon at the venue on Wednesday. Petrópolis is investing heavily in the local region and is currently building a factory in Itapissuma, 45km from Recife, which will open in 2014. “We are willing to do more than offer our products,” Costa added. “We want to contribute to the socioeconomic and cultural development of the region by directing our investments into the country.”

The existing contract between the SFA and the UK bookmaker still had a year to run, but William Hill has elected to strike an early renewal ahead of Sunday’s final between Celtic and Hibernian. The new partnership will now run until 2016 with William Hill remaining as an official supporter of the Scottish national team. The agreement will also allow the bookmaker to showcase its online, mobile and retail products to Scottish football fans throughout the country.

Stewart Regan, SFA chief executive, said: “It is fair to say it has been a partnership that has benefited the whole game and provided a real boost in profile and entertainment to our cup competition. In a tough economic climate for Scottish football, it is reassuring that one of the United Kingdom’s most established brand names have demonstrated that they are passionate and imaginative supporter and champion of our game.”

Kristof Fahy, chief marketing officer at William Hill, added: “It’s a great honour for us to be associated with the Scottish Cup and we’re delighted to be in a position to extend our relationship with the oldest association trophy in world football. We’re very excited about this new deal and look forward to working with the fans, clubs and the Scottish FA to make this great competition even bigger and better over the coming years.”

The agreement has been marked by the launch of a new and improved MLS app and new in-stadium fan experiences powered by Windows 8 as part of the North American competition’s initiative to be known as “the smartest league.” Fans will also be able to try out Windows 8 on the Microsoft Surface tablet in-stadium at more than 40 games throughout the season.

“MLS supporters are young and active, and technology plays a central role in their lives,” said Kathy Carter, president of Soccer United Marketing, MLS’ commercial arm. “This new partnership with Windows 8 will allow MLS fans to interact with best-in-class software, new devices and apps that will super-serve their fandom.”

Kathleen Hall, general manager of Windows Marketing, added: “Partnering with MLS, we are bringing the best technology experience through Windows 8 to players, coaches and fans across the league to deliver unique and immersive soccer experiences. As technology and sports continue to intersect, we look forward to continuing to provide innovative interactions for fans whether in the stadium or at home through Windows 8.”

The Hamburg-based German brewery’s new deal will take effect from the 2013-14 season. It will continue as an exclusive partner and official beer of the club.

Frank Maßen, chief executive of Holsten Brewery, said: “Holsten and HSV are now hardly conceivable without the other. In our over 70-year partnership we have had with players and fans many unforgettable moments together.”

Hamburg concluded its 2012-13 1.Bundesliga season with a 1-0 home defeat to Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Saturday, finishing seventh in the table.