A nice touch at the European Clubs Association executive committee meeting in Miami on Friday.
Outgoing Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain brought along his replacement, Hugo Viana and introduced the Portuguese to those present.
FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom delivered a presentation to the group, which included a video message from City’s Erling Haaland along the lines of how much he was looking forward to taking part in the Club World Cup.
The presentation also highlighted the sponsorship deals FIFA has secured with big-hitters including Bank of America and Michelob for the event, although insiders disclosed that there was no mention of ticket sales, which appeared to be the elephant in the room at the oceanside Grand Beach Hotel.
Jason Gannon, Chelsea president and chief operating officer, also attended.
Outgoing Man City director Txiki Begiristain brought his replacement to a committee meeting
Meanwhile, Erling Haaland sent in a message about his joy of playing in the Club World Cup
FIFA officials were given a first-hand glimpse of Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown when a boat trip hosted by Telemundo to mark a year to go to the World Cup was the subject of a US Coast Guard raid.
The mayor of Miam-Dade Daniella Levine Cava and a host of special guests of the American Spanish-language broadcaster, in smart dresses and suits, were on a luxury catamaran when it was unceremoniously stopped in the middle of the waters off Biscayne Bay while Coast Guard officers came onboard to check papers and carry put a search.
Reports claim the inspection lasted for an hour, leading Telemundo to cancel the event and return to shore.
There was no expense spared when FOX hosted their own year-to-go party on South Beach.
FIFA chief Gianni Infantino joined VIPs for a show which included a performance from ‘Tipsy’ rapper Shaboozey and a spectacular drone show, with the devices lining up to spell out the names of Club World Cup sponsors.
FIFA chief Gianni Infantino joined VIPs as FOX hosted their own year-to-go party
While the tickets may have ended up heavily reduced, as FIFA successfully scrambled to fill the stands at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium for the tournament opener, the same could not be said of the food and drink.
A can of Heineken at the Inter Miami versus Al Ahly stalemate cost no less than $14 (£10.32) while a chicken bowl came in at $22.50 (£16.59).
A goalless draw may not have been on FIFA’s menu, but officials may well have breathed a sigh of relief at the attendance for the first match.
The official figure of 60,927 appeared generous, but fears of half empty stands were averted on a balmy night in South Florida.
Organisers will also be pleased that there was no repeat of the chaotic scenes a year ago at the same stadium when ticketless fans tried to storm their way into the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia.
A ring of steel consisting of police checkpoints ensured that only those with tickets were allowed anywhere near the venue.
Meanwhile a chicken bowl came in at $22.50 (£16.59) at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium
Ref cam was a positive addition, with those watching on TV given an up close view of what Aussie whistleblower Alireza Faghani saw when he gave a first-half penalty.
The Football Supporters’ Association has thrown its weight behind the National League’s ‘3UP’ campaign.
The scandalous situation, which sees only two clubs promoted into League Two, continues, and it is to be hoped that backing from the fans can heap pressure on the EFL.
This season, York City finished 13 points clear of third place with 96 points but were thrashed 3-0 at home by Oldham Athletic, who went on to win the play-off final, and missed out on promotion. Change is needed, urgently.
British Olympic Association chiefs were amongst the first to get an audience with new IOC president Kirsty Coventry in Lausanne last week.
With Coventry set to take the reins from current IOC president Thomas Bach, the delegation met with both the ongoing and incoming president to discuss the future of the Olympic movement.
It was also BOA chairperson Katherine Grainger’s first formal engagement with the IOC, as both her, chief executive Andy Anson and chief operating officer Shahab Uddin took an early opportunity to solidify relations between the UK and the IOC.
Signatures are now being sought to reach the requisite 180 for an MCC special general meeting to try to establish ‘Lord’s plc.’
A group of members want the 238-year-old club to become a public limited company, with each subsequently becoming the proud owner of a share those involve estimate would be worth £50-100,000.
Should the magic 180 figure be reached, a two-thirds majority would then be needed to change the rules.
