Football

Apologies to any North American readers but this page is wholly concerned with the original game of football, which, strangely enough, is largely played with the feet rather than the hands, unlike the gridiron version. As the weeks and months go by we will attempt to bring as much useful (and sometimes not) information about the ‘beautiful game’, but in particular the major European leagues and international competitions.

Why soccer fans in Brazil watched game on a screen despite being sat behind the goal

Soccer fans in Brazil watched the Serie A match between Palmeiras and Botafogo on a big screen despite being sat in the stadium directly behind one of the goals after their view was obstructed by staging for a music concert. Instead of closing the stand at Allianz Parque, Palmeiras offered supporters the opportunity to watch the game on a big screen for free to allow them to still experience the atmosphere in the stadium. The stand was being blocked by staging for a gig headlined by Brazilian singer-songwriter Roberto Carlos,…

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Portugal sign kit deal with Puma, ending 27-year association with Nike

The Portugal Football Federation (FPF) has signed a new long-term deal with Puma, ending their 27-year partnership with Nike. The deal, which comes into effect on January 1, 2025, means Puma will produce the kits for the Portugal men’s and women’s national teams in addition to Portugals’ futsal, beach soccer, and e-Sports teams. Puma already have existing deals in place with Manchester City, Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Palmeiras, and Marseille as well as the national teams of Austria, Iceland, Czech Republic, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Switzerland, and…

Read MorePortugal sign kit deal with Puma, ending 27-year association with Nike