The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy has confirmed that it will send a delegation to the Soccerex Asian Forum, which takes place on 13 -14 May in Jordan. 

Secretary general Hassan Al Thawadi is to speak on the “Major Events Panel” and deliver an exclusive presentation on Qatar’s plans to host football’s biggest event. The 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts will also welcome delegates to the VIP Lounge and an exhibition stand that will highlight the various projects that Qatar is undertaking over the next eight years. 

“It is a huge honour to welcome back Mr. Al Thawadi and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy to another Soccerex event,” said Soccerex Chairman Tony Martin.

“The positive investment being made by Qatar for the World Cup represents the commitment and passion shown for football within this thriving continent.”

With an unprecedented number of stadiums and infrastructure projects to be built, training facilities to be supplied and sponsorships to be agreed on, the Qatar 2022 World Cup represents a unique opportunity for the international major events industry. The Soccerex Asian Forum is a rare occasion for the industry to meet decision makers from the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.

A record number of senior industry figures from FIFA and the AFC are set to attend this year’s Soccerex Asian Forum. Leading dignitaries will also attend from La Liga, Real Madrid, Liverpool, the United States Soccer Federation, Manchester United, the Australia Football Federation, the Qatar Football Association, Barcelona, the Japan Football Association, the All India Football Federation and Galatasaray. 

The Forum, held in partnership with the AFDP founded and chaired by HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, will bring together the leading figures from the world of Asian football as well as other international football experts to discuss the development of the game across Asia. The conference agenda will include a review of the opportunities for growth and the challenges facing Asian football.

For more details about the Soccerex Asian Forum please contact Soccerex on +44 208 987 5522 or visit www.soccerex.com/events/asia/

Three of FIFA’s most influential figures voiced concerns at Soccerex Global Convention about the media crisis that has engulfed football’s governing body in recent times, expressing a need for action to counter negative perceptions. 

Quizzed by Soccerex consultant David Davies about the impact of the ongoing media allegations about FIFA’s affairs, in a panel discussion entitled “A Word from the Wise”, FIFA Executive Committee Member Michel D’Hooghe said “I think we must be very honest and say that this has been very damaging for the reputation of FIFA.

“Although FIFA does many good things, these things never appear in the media. It’s the bad things that give, for the moment, FIFA a bad reputation.”

And according to Jim Boyce, Vice President of FIFA, the press is not the only source of negative attacks. “We are not only talking about the English press – the FA have come out and made certain statements regarding FIFA” said the Northern Irish ExCo member.

“There is a perception that when England lost the bid, that’s when most of the adverse criticism started. Some of the criticism is entirely justified, but an awful lot is not entirely justified.

“There are a lot of good people in FIFA – they shouldn’t all be tarnished with the same image. I am proud to finish my career as being Vice President of FIFA.”

The challenge for FIFA is to communicate its positive contributions to the world. “I am not blaming the media; I think we have to blame ourselves,” said D’Hooghe. 

“We need to have better communication of the good things that FIFA is doing. Do you hear about 20 centres for hope? Do you hear about restoration of sports facilities after the tsunami? 75 per cent of all FIFA funding goes back into infrastructure.

“Whoever is or will be president, this will be one of his first obligations: to restore confidence in FIFA, to prove to the world that FIFA wants to good for people all over the world. We are promoting football for health to youth in many countries. 

Another major priority is to tackle the issue of transparency. “We are challenging transparency and integrity, to restore confidence in FIFA, to prove to people that FIFA wants to good,” said D’Hooghe.

Also on the panel was Moya Dodd, who joined FIFA’s Executive Committee in 2013. “I get people asking me how it feels to be part of the problem now I’ve joined the FIFA ExCo,” she said. “It’s difficult for people from outside it to understand how it works.

“What’s important is that the leadership of any organisation at board level is independent from the day-to-day flow of interests that tend to make decision-making difficult.”

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) and Soccerex announced today a partnership to support Soccerex’s return to the U.S. for the second time since its founding, which will convene the international soccer community in Miami, Florida on November 15-16 to exchange strategies, insights and a vision of the world of football.

The partnership is an extension of an institutional supporter agreement that Concacaf signed in 2017 with Soccerex to provide further opportunities to engage with the global football community – and one of the sport’s most important regions in North and Central America, as well as the Caribbean. Under the collaboration framework for Soccerex USA, the Confederation will have a key role in the convention activities, including presentations of senior executives on the organization’s evolution and leading industry trends. All the 41 Member Associations from the region and key decision makers will be invited to the event. 

In a new initiative for Soccerex USA this year, Soccerex have gathered an executive advisory board of regional experts and industry leaders, consisting of Concacaf General Secretary Philippe Moggio and representatives from both the U.S. Soccer Federation and Major League Soccer. The advisory board will ensure the conference programming and structure provides valuable and relevant insights to meet the needs of different sectors in the rapidly growing soccer market.

Philippe Moggio, who acts as the chief executive officer of the Confederation, has helped usher in a new era for the organization, pushing its vision and business operations to new levels of growth and professionalism. He brings to the board his global vision providing core advice through many years of experience at Concacaf and within the sports industry.

This is a crucial time for the Confederation following the historic win of Canada, Mexico and the United States to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026. In addition to the culmination of years of reforms and streamlined governance, the announcement of a new organizational identity – along with the expansion of clubs and national teams competitions.

“As a proud organization based in Miami, FL, Concacaf is thrilled to welcome Soccerex USA to a first-class sports and tourism destination. Hosting this industry platform on ‘home soil’ will draw key stakeholders and experts for a productive discussion on the business of football and to explore core areas to our ONE Concacaf Vision including the access to more opportunities to grow the game within our region and throughout the world,” said Concacaf General Secretary Philippe Moggio. “We look forward to working with the Soccerex team and its advisory board in supporting a successful edition of Soccerex USA.”

“It is a real pleasure to be working with Philippe and all the team at Concacaf. For us, to do an event in this region, it is essential we work with the right people and I am sure that with Concacaf’s support, we can deliver a vital business and development platform for Concacaf and all the nations they represent,” said Soccerex COO, Rita Revie.

Soccerex USA is sponsored by the London Football Exchange, the world’s first fully integrated soccer club stock exchange and marketplace and hosted in partnership with General American Capital Partners. The two-day event will take place at Miami’s iconic Marlin’s Park and will comprise an exhibition showcasing the latest soccer business, performance and technology innovations. It will include a program of structured and informal networking events to connect delegates from across the USA and the rest of the world and it will feature a market leading conference agenda, with international experts tacking topics such as league expansion, women’s soccer, youth development, eSports, stadia technology and investment.

In addition to Philippe Moggio, other members of the Advisory Board include Oscar Mayo, International Development Director, LaLiga, Mayi Cruz Blanco, former Head of Women’s Football Development, FIFA and David Dein, founding member of the English Premier League.

For more information on Soccerex USA, please go to www.soccerex.com/usa

FIFA have confirmed that new Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, will deliver an exclusive keynote address as part of the opening of this year’s Soccerex Global Convention (26 – 28 September, Manchester) to update the football industry on the future plans of FIFA. She will be staying on to present the inaugural FIFA Diversity Awards which will take place at the end of the first day of the Convention.
Her appearance at Soccerex will give the football industry a rare opportunity to hear from one of the new leaders at FIFA and now, one of the highest profile female administrators in global sport.
Ms Samoura, who was appointed to the post at the FIFA Congress in May, is the first female Secretary General in the organisation’s 112 year history. She is a 21-year veteran of United Nations programmes and was, in her last position, the UN’s Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria. Commenting at the time FIFA President Gianni Infantino said:
“Fatma is a woman with international experience and vision who has worked on some of the most challenging issues of our time. She has a proven ability to build and lead teams, and improve the way organisations perform. Importantly for FIFA, she also understands that transparency and accountability are at the heart of any well-run and responsible organisation.”
Commenting on her upcoming Soccerex appearance, Ms Samoura said: “I am very excited to attend Soccerex – it is a great platform for football stakeholders and I am looking forward to speaking with delegates about my thoughts and vision for our game and the work we have started at FIFA to ensure football enters a new era of greater transparency and good governance. I am also very excited to present on the occasion of the convention the first FIFA Diversity Award, which will recognise an outstanding organisation, group initiative or personality that is standing up for diversity and anti-discrimination in football.”
Soccerex CEO, Duncan Revie commented: “It is a huge honour to welcome Fatma to this year’s Convention – given her impressive background and her role at FIFA, she is someone our delegates will be fascinated to hear from and her address will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the event.”
Ms Samoura’s address and the FIFA Diversity Awards are just part of a high level conference agenda at the Global Convention that will feature senior representatives from organisations such as NFL, LaLiga, Facebook, Vauxhall, The Chinese Football Association, Fox Sports, Leicester City and Atletico Madrid tackling a wide range of subjects spanning everything from social media and sponsorship, to stadia technology and how virtual reality is changing football. For more information on the conference programme please go to www.soccerex.com/global.
The three day football business event, which is supported by LaLiga, The English Football League and Serie A, will also feature a market leading international exhibition and a programme of structured and informal networking events.
For more information on Soccerex please visit www.soccerex.com, call +44 (0)20 8987 5522 or email us at enquiry@soccerex.com.

Source: Soccerex
 

LaLiga will be taking a huge presence at Soccerex as part of an expanded institutional partnership with Soccerex ahead of the Soccerex Global Convention 2016, taking place at the Manchester Central Convention Complex, 26th-28th September.
As part of the deal, LaLiga will be sponsoring the Soccerex VIP Lounge, which will be rebranded to the LaLiga Lounge, as well as featuring on a number of the event’s conference programme sessions and having a stand on the exhibition floor.  
President Javier Tebas will be speaking on the ‘International League Expansion’ panel alongside NFL Executive Vice President for International, Mark Waller, and will be opening up on the league’s global development plans, whilst Fernando Sanz, LaLiga’s General Director for MENA and International Projects, will be supporting this with a presentation on LaLiga’s international growth strategies.
Also featuring on the conference programme will be Adolfo Bara, Sales & Marketing Director, who will lift the lid on the league’s ever expanding sponsorship portfolio, Ignacio Trujillo, Managing Director Innovation & Global Development, who will be speaking on how best to maximize digital content, and Pedro Malabia, Head of Women’s Football, who will be talking about LaLiga’s commitment to the women’s game. 
LaLiga’s enhanced participation at Soccerex comes at a momentous time for the league as it seeks to match its period of on-field prosperity off the pitch, including a new broadcasting rights restructuring that will expand LaLiga’s global footprint into new territories and captivate new audiences.  The Convention provides the perfect platform not only for LaLiga to broaden its presence in the global football industry but also for brands and organizations seeking to greater their involvement in Spanish football, and meet with the necessary stakeholders. 
Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie commented: “We are thrilled to have agreed an expanded partnership with LaLiga, one of the most exciting and forward-thinking organisations in world football.  With so much fantastic work ongoing at the league, we are very pleased to be providing a platform for LaLiga to showcase their international development and I have no doubt their comprehensive participation at the event will provide excellent value for our delegates.”
LaLiga President Javier Tebas said: “As ever, the opportunity to be involved with Soccerex and the many high-level industry professionals that it attracts is a very exciting one for LaLiga. In terms of sporting competitiveness we are the best league in the world and now we want to expand the league into new markets and are delighted to be using our participation in Soccerex help us fulfill these ambitions.  This is a time of great opportunity for all involved with LaLiga and I am sure the Convention will further strengthen this message.”
LaLiga will be part of a thought-provoking conference programme at the Soccerex Global Convention 2016, designed to deliver unique business insight across a variety of key sectors and subject matters ranging from sponsorship and fan engagement to the technological innovations and stadium development. For more information on the programme, click here.
The event will also feature unparalleled networking opportunities, via a market-leading international exhibition and a mix of targeted and structured networking sessions.  A programme of social events completes the agenda for what is widely acknowledged as the world’s leading football business event. 
For more information on Soccerex please visit www.soccerex.com, call +44 (0)20 8987 5522 or email us at enquiry@soccerex.com.
Source: Soccerex
 

Three leading figures in football have been added to the bill of the Soccerex Asian Forum, organised in partnership with the Asian Football Development Project (AFDP). 

Speaking alongside AFDP founder HRH Prince Ali Bin Hussein, Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie announced that Moya Dodd, AFC Vice President and FIFA Executive Committee Member will be playing a key role at the event. 

Dodd will speak on the future of football in Asia and the development of women’s football. She will be joined at the event by Singapore FA General Secretary and AFC Executive Committee Member, Winston Lee.

In addition to these two leading football administrators, Revie also confirmed that Argentinean football legend and World Cup winner Osvaldo Ardiles will be attending the event and sharing his vast football knowledge, including his experiences of playing and coaching in Asia and winning the World Cup.

Mr Ardiles will join fellow football legends, Bryan Robson and John Barnes as part of a special panel discussion at the event.

Also in attendance at the press conference was Sunando Dhar, CEO of I-League, who discussed the All Indian Football Federations involvement with the Soccerex Asian Forum, which will see General Secretary, Kushal Das participating in a panel discussion on commercial development within Asian football.

It was also confirmed at the press conference that the Marriott Hotel Jordan Valley will be the official event hotel. Soccerex also announced a new global partnership with leading international law firm, Pinsent Masons.

HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein said “The Asian Forum is a platform for all the major Asian leagues, clubs and other stakeholders to get together and discuss the development of football across the continent; to share best practices in coaching development, stadia development, women’s football and most importantly for me, social development. Soccerex is the best platform for this.”

Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie added “My thanks goes to his HRH, and to all those participating in this unique event, in this unique setting. We will be truly be bringing the world of football, not just Asia, to this wonderful country.”

The Soccerex Asian Forum will take place on 13-14 May at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre by the Dead Sea in Jordan. The two day event, featuring a conference and exhibition, will bring together over 1000 senior decision makers from the football industry across Asia and the rest of the world, providing a platform for networking and knowledge sharing, with the aim of developing football throughout the continent.

For further details about the Soccerex Asian Forum please go to www.soccerex.com/asia or contact Soccerex on +44 208 987 5522

The local organising committee (LOC) of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup Australia has confirmed that it will contribute to the Soccerex Asian Forum, which takes place in Jordan on 13 to 14 May 2014. 

Speaking at the conference, the LOC’s chief operating officer Mark Falvo will update the industry on Australia’s preparations to host Asia’s biggest football tournament. The organising committee will also exhibit at the event through a joint partnership with the Austrade, the Australian Trade Commission. 

“With major events very much a focal point for the world of football, we’re looking forward to sharing our successful pre-event activities, as well as the remaining challenges to putting on a major international event with our counterparts from across the world. There is no better event to do that at than Soccerex,” Mr Falvo said.

Austrade will promote “Match Australia”, the International Sports Business Program for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, showcasing the best of Australian business in delivering major sporting events with the aim of fostering relationships within the Asian market. 

Australia will join an array of international delegations at the Forum, including Jordan, Spain, England, Brazil, Qatar, United States of America, Turkey, Argentina, India, Singapore, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Norway, Palestine, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman, Kyrgyzstan and Lebanon. 

 “The Forum is going from strength to strength and with the addition of the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 LOC, it will undoubtedly encompass the entire Asian and Oceania football industry,” says Duncan Revie, CEO of Soccerex. 

“The ‘Major Events Panel’ will provide delegates with a true insight on what it takes to host and plan a major event, guaranteeing a few eye openers from those at the top level.” 

 The Forum, held in partnership with the Asian Football Development Project founded and chaired by HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, will bring together the leading figures from Asian football and other international experts to discuss the development of the game across Asia. 

The conference agenda will include a review of the opportunities for growth and the challenges facing Asian football.

For further details about the Soccerex Asian Forum please contact Soccerex on +44 208 987 5522 or visit www.soccerex.com/events/asia/