Football fans heading to the World Cup this summer are 'going to get an education in Chinese TVs, mobile phones, electric scooters and Mongolian dairy products,' according to the Gruniad Morning Star. As western companies, including Sony, Johnson & Johnson and BP's Castrol, have pulled out of sponsoring the tournament after the FIFA bribery and corruption scandal, Chinese firms have 'secured an unprecedented presence at Russia 2018.' When Russia kicks off against Saudi Arabia in the Luzhniki stadium on 14 June, 'fans will be treated to a seven-minute advert for Mengniu Group's inner Mongolian milk and drinkable yoghurt.' Drinkable yoghurt? Isn't that just ... milk that's gone off? Anyway, The commercial will be broadcast during each of the sixty four games in the tournament. Spectators fancying an ice-cream will have to pick from unfamiliar names such as Mood For Green, Ice+ or Suibian SuiXinGuo, after Mengniu secured exclusive rights to sell sweet treats in the stadiums. Other unfamiliar names to get to grips with during the month-long tournament include: Vivo, a mobile phone firm producing China's version of the iPhone at a fraction of the price; the TV and fridge maker Hisense; the electric scooter company Yadea and Dalian Wanda, a conglomerate controlled by the multibillionaire Wang Jianlin. The dominating presence of Chinese brands comes despite the country's national team failing to qualify for Russia 2014 or the previous World Cup in Brazil.Simon Chadwick, a professor of sports enterprise at Salford University, said: 'As FIFA is now seen as a toxic brand that many western companies do not want to be associated with, China is seizing the opportunity. The Chinese view of ethics and governance is different to western standards and it is very easy for Chinese companies to say "FIFA has moved on." And, that they were not backing the Sepp Blatter-era regime and are supporting a clean FIFA under Gianni Infantino.' Chadwick added that the lack of demand from western companies to sponsor the World Cup in Russia - and Qatar in 2022 - has left FIFA 'desperate for cash and Chinese companies spotted the opportunity for a relatively cost-effective way to get their brands in front of billions of global eyeballs.' Wang, the fifth-richest person in China with a seventeen billion quid fortune according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index - and a hugely funny name into the bargain - said: 'Two or three years ago, Chinese and Asian companies probably wouldn’t even have had a chance to sponsor FIFA even if we wanted to. But because some western companies dropped out, we got the opportunity.'Wanda, which owns the British luxury yacht builder Sunseeker, the Hollywood studio that made Godzilla and The Hangover as well as having a stake in Atlético Madrid, has signed up as a FIFA partner – the highest level of sponsorship – alongside Coca-Cola, Visa, Adidas and Russia’'s Gazprom for the next four World Cups. 'If more Chinese brother companies become FIFA sponsors like Wanda, we will join forces to advance the interests of China soccer,' Wang said. Chadwick said the Chinese companies' FIFA sponsorship deals were 'encouraged' by President Xi Jinping to help fuel his dream of turning China into a 'world football superpower' by 2050. 'China wants to host the the World Cup, China wants to win the World Cup and, I speculate, they also want a Chinese president of FIFA,' Chadwick said. 'Rescuing FIFA financially with these sponsorship deals will help the chances of achieving those dreams immeasurably.' After TV rights sales, sponsorship is FIFA's biggest income stream and was worth $1.6bn for the 2014 World Cup. The loss of sponsors and the struggle to sign deals after the bribery scandal dragged FIFA to a record three hundred and sixty nine million dollar loss in 2016. Jon Tibbs, founder and chair of JTA, a sports reputation management company, said that it was 'sensible' of Chinese firms to use football for promotion. 'As the traditional western brands get cold feet and face consumers' pressure, it is inevitable that FIFA turns to new markets,' he said. 'For Chinese brands seeking new markets it is relatively very easy and prestigious to partner with FIFA. It is widely believed that China will bid for the 2030 World Cup, obviously if there are a large number of Chinese sponsors helping to prop up FIFA that is a very good starting point.' Sam Burne James, news editor of PR Week, said FIFA was 'certainly seen as toxic' by many British brands and Boris Johnson's comparison of the World Cup under Vladimir Putin to the 1936 Olympic Games under Hitler had 'not helped. If you look at few tournaments back, most of the brands would be recognisable to western audiences, now several of them are unheard of and that shift will continue,' he said. 'Chinese companies get two things from sponsoring the World Cup. The first is access to western audiences that they will sooner or later be trying to win over, as their companies expand. The other is a cosmopolitan veneer to their brands, which they hope will resonate with their sizeable domestic markets.' Vivo, founded nine years ago, paid three hundred and fifty million smackers for a six-year deal that included Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and the Confederations Cup. It has signed up the Brazilian footballer Bebeto and yer actual Ruudi Gullit to front its World Cup campaign – and its advertising campaign video, launched this week, sums up the opportunity the Chinese corporate sponsors are trying to grab: 'The world is watching,' Vivo said. 'This is our moment.'
Yer actual Keith Telly Topping's beloved (though unsellable) Magpies have completed the permanent signing of Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on a four-year deal from Sparta Prague. The twenty nine-year-old greatly impressed during his six-month loan spell last season, helping The Magpies to retain their Premier League status and finish - a far better than expected - tenth. 'Ever since he arrived with us on loan he has shown a fantastic attitude and great work ethic,' said Newcastle manager Rafa The Gaffa. 'This was one of the key positions we needed to strengthen.' The Spaniard added: 'The loan deal with an option to buy was the perfect deal for the club. It is credit to [managing director] Lee Charnley and also Steve Nickson [head of recruitment] for putting that in place because it gave me and my staff the opportunity to look at him and work with him, and see how he would perform for us before committing to signing him permanently.' Dubravka has won ten caps for Slovakia and played against England at Wembley last September in a World Cup qualifier.
Merseyside Police says that 'it is aware' of death threats apparently made to Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius - by 'fans' - after the Champions League final. What a bunch of stupid glakes - they ought to think themselves lucky. They could've had Joe Hart. The German and his family were reportedly the subject of threats after his two mistakes helped Real Madrid to a three-one win over The Reds in Kiev on Saturday. Karius was in tears at the final whistle and later apologised to fans. 'We take social media posts of this nature extremely seriously. Offences will be investigated,' police said. 'Officers are aware of a number of comments and threats made via social media. Merseyside Police would like to remind social media users than any offences including malicious communications and threatening behaviour will be investigated.' During the game, the German gifted Real striker Karim Benzema an easy goal for the opener in Kiev. Karius later allowed a Gareth Bale shot to squirm in for Real's third as the Spanish club won their third consecutive Champions League trophy. On Sunday, he posted on social media: 'I'm infinitely sorry to my team-mates, for you fans, and for all the staff.'
Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt is training with Norwegian top-flight football team Stromsgodset. The Jamaican sprinter is scheduled to play a training match against Norway Under-Nineteens in his week at the club. Bolt, the one and two hundred metres world record holder, has already trained with Borussia Dortmund and South African club Sundowns this year. 'Maybe a club will see something and decide to give me a chance,' said Bolt, who is preparing for a charity game. He will captain a team of celebrities and footballers at the Soccer Aid match for Unicef on 10 June at Old Trafford. 'He is a good football player, otherwise he would not have been training with us,' said Stromsgodset director of football Jostein Flo. Flo said Bolt had been given shirt number 9.58 - his world record time for the hundred metres. The Manchester United fan has spoken previously about wanting to get into professional football, having retired from athletics last year. His arrival at Stromsgodset was a surprise for the players. Flo, a former Sheffield United striker, said: 'We told them a player was coming to try out and that he was damn fast - the door opened and Bolt came in. It was a shock for them, they couldn't believe it. He is one of the greatest athletes throughout all ages, and of course we can learn a lot from him. His presence will undoubtedly be a great inspiration for players, coaches, and the whole club.'
Fans will be able to watch this summer's World Cup in Russia in Ultra HD and virtual reality as BBC Sport trials cutting-edge technology. Users will be 'transported to a fully immersive stadium experience,' through headsets, 'as if they are sitting in their own hospitality box.' All thirty three matches broadcast by the BBC will be available for free on BBC Sport's VR 2018 World Cup app. And the twenty nine matches on BBC1 will also be available in Ultra HD. Ultra HD TV can be accessed through a high-speed Interweb connection and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The HD stream will be available from the BBC iPlayer home screen as soon as programme coverage begins but the number of users granted access will be limited to 'tens of thousands of people.' Matthew Postgate, BBC chief technology and product officer, said: 'From the very first tournament on TV in 1954 and England's finest hour in 1966, to the first colour World Cup in 1970 and then full HD in 2006, the BBC has brought major live broadcasting breakthroughs to UK audiences throughout the history of the World Cup. Now, with these trials we're giving audiences yet another taste of the future.'
An ex-footballer who crashed a stolen van into a fence and threw a loaded revolver into a family's garden whilst on the run from plod has been jailed. Luke Thomas, who represented Nottingham Forest before a knee injury curtailed his career, admitted acting as a 'courier' on 10 June last year. Nottingham Crown Court heard he had become depressed after the injury. The twenty-year-old admitted possessing a firearm and ammunition, as well as dangerous driving. He was very jailed for five years and eight months and disqualified from driving for forty four months. The court heard police began trailing the van in the St Ann's area of Nottingham as it was being driven with cloned number plates. After initially pulling over, Thomas drove off and, after driving down a dead end, he fled on foot with the van crashing into a garden fence and trapping a passenger inside. As Thomas ran away from officers, he threw the gun into a nearby garden. The weapon was handed to police by the householder, which they found was a blank-firing pistol converted to fire live ammunition and fully loaded with eight hollow-point lead bullets. DNA was found linking Thomas to the van and weapon, the court heard and he was arrested on 4 July. Jonathan Cox, prosecuting, said that Thomas's attempt to escape police saw him drive 'at high speed, taking no account for other road users' and that he threw away the loaded gun 'without any thought over who may find it, in particular children.' Defending, Barry Grennan told the court that Thomas had been depressed following the injury that ended his career and did not know the gun he was delivering was loaded. 'He was asked under some pressure to take the firearm [and] was afraid to do so,' Grennan claimed. 'On seeing the police he panicked and drove off in a dangerous manner.' Judge Paul Mann QC, sentencing, accepted Thomas had no intention to use the weapon himself, but described the hollow-point bullets in the gun as 'particularly grave' and 'truly dangerous pieces of ammunition. From what I've been told you had a promising career ahead of you as a professional footballer - somehow that all went wrong,' he said. 'You were acting as a courier for persons unknown, but clearly persons who were, if necessary, willing to use that gun and ammunition. It's because of people like you willing to act as couriers that it makes detection of these weapons and ammunition so difficult, and makes it easier for serious criminals to get hold of and share weapons of this kind. That puts the rest of us that live in this city at serious risk.'
The Russian billionaire owner of Moscow Chelski FC, Roman Abramovich, has flown to Tel Aviv after being found to be eligible for Israeli citizenship. Immigration officials told the BBC that Abramovitch was interviewed last week at the Israeli embassy in Moscow. He has - as previously reported - faced delays in renewing his UK visa. His spokesman would not comment on reports citizenship had been granted. Abramovich - who is ethnically Jewish - would be the richest person in Israel should he relocate to the country. His UK investor visa reportedly expired some weeks ago but the British government has refused to comment on his individual case. The delay in issuing him a new one comes amid increased diplomatic tensions between London and Moscow after the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal. Abramovich did not attend the FA Cup Final at Wembley earlier this month when Moscow Chelski beat The Scum. Israeli media reports say that he has been 'given an identity card' in Israel under the Law of Return, which allows Jews to become citizens of Israel. The Times of Israel claimed that the Israeli interior ministry had 'confirmed' Abramovich arrived in Israel on Monday and that he had 'immigrated' to the country. He has been a frequent visitor to Israel and bought a hotel in Tel Aviv in 2015 that reports say he has 'turned into a residence.' Israel passport holders are allowed to enter Britain without a visa for short stays. Abramovich is reportedly worth over eight billion knicker, according to Forbes magazine. The move could pay off financially as new Israeli citizens are exempt from paying tax on foreign income for ten years. Which is nice. One of Russia's richest people, Abramovtich bought Moscow Chelski FC in 2003. He reportedly sold dolls in Moscow before making his fortune in oil during the Perestroika years in the 1990s. Abramovich was a one-time business partner of the late tycoon Boris Berezovky, an associate of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin. Critics claims that the two businessmen used their Kremlin ties to acquire key state companies for below market value, something which Abramovitch has always denied. He served as governor of Russia's Chukotka region and is believed to be 'close' to the current Russian President, The Butcher of Grozny.
