FIFA can’t kick posh nosh

FIFA started a three-day summit with national associations from 40 countries at the Heathrow Hilton yesterday.

But even in the pared-down days under president gianni Infantino, there is only so much time FIFA members want to spend in a functional airport hotel. Dinner has been arranged for two nights at the grand Stoke park Country Club. BT

SPORT’S plan to boost their Champions League viewing figures by putting more content on social media will have the Premier League rubbing their hands at the possibility of digital giants competing in their next rights tender. Twitter’s deal for Thursday night NFL football, Facebook showing La Liga and China’s Weibo entry into NBA basketball show increasing opportunities for selling content to social media platforms. THE premier League are challenging uEFA head on with the Manchester City v Stoke game kicking off at 8pm tonight in a direct clash with Champions League action.

The pL argue they had nowhere else to go with the domestic fixture because of FA Cup replays. Also the memorandum of understanding under which the pL avoided scheduling games on Champions League nights was ripped up following the pL’s upset at their lack of consultation over recent reforms to Europe’s top club competition.

A uEFA spokesman said that calendar clashes would be reviewed at the end of the season and that any possible sanctions would be taken against the national association and not the clubs or league.