Quote of the week
Uefa – reviewing “misleading” press treatment of the Panama Papers, 24 hours before police raided its offices on suspicion of “criminal mismanagement and misappropriation”: “This is a sad day for journalism.”
• Also not buying last week’s media work:
a) Ex-Fifa general secretary Jérôme Valcke – dismissing controversy around his use of Mossack Fonseca to create and then be installed as hidden owner of a legal offshore company used to buy a €2.8m 104ft yacht as: “a joke ... a non‑story”; and b) Fifa ethics judge Juan Pedro Damiani – resigning after the documents pointed to business links with an indicted Fifa money launderer – but denying the “baseless media allegations” against him. “My good name has been sullied.”
• Damiani’s previous biggest media setback: 2014 – issuing a clarification after he tried to end a Uruguayan live radio phone-in interview early, failed to hang up properly and was heard calling the host “a dirty Jew”. Damiani: “This unfortunate phrase reflects neither my thoughts, nor my values.”
Other news: racism latest
Also fighting sad journalism last week – Israel’s Beitar Jerusalem (favourite chants: “Death to Arabs” and “Here we are, the most racist club in the country”) banning newspaper Haaretz for calling them racist. Club spokesman Oshri Dudai: “Haaretz won’t let facts get in their way.”
Setback of the week
Nigeria FA head Amaju Pinnick: sacked by the federal high court in a row over his 2014 FA election win – a result ratified by Fifa despite claims the vote was “violent and abusive”. Pinnick’s 2014 message to critics: “My election was ordained by God … and football is the winner.”
PR news
Managing crises last week:
a) Aston Villa – reacting to fans staging protests against the club’s “out of touch” US ownership by rebranding their badge; and b) Leeds – taking no action over owner Massimo Cellino’s son Edoardo calling a fan a “spastic” on Facebook. (Leeds’ online customer charter [pdf]: “The club takes the issue of language causing offence seriously … our aim is an enjoyable and positive atmosphere.”)
Money news: best negotiator
Agent Dimitri Seluk and client Yaya Touré – the story so far:
• Nov 2009: Seluk sends Manchester City a message: “Yaya is not happy at Barcelona … but he would not go to Manchester City. He’s only considering really big teams.” Jul 2010: City offer a five-year, £185,000-a-week deal. Yaya signs.
• May 2012: Seluk: “Touré has now done all he can at Manchester City and needs new motivations. He would like a new challenge.” Touré receives assurances.
• Mar 2013: Seluk: “We have been discussing a new deal since last September. These people keep negotiating and negotiating, it’s not normal. Yaya feels it is disrespectful. He does not feel the respect of the staff and wants to leave. City pay big money, but don’t understand that human relations mean more than anything. This is not about money.” Apr 2013: City offer a £220,000-a-week four-year extension. Touré: “City is where I want to be. I will never forget how I have been treated here by the fans, the club and the owners.”
• May 2014: Seluk: “There is a big possibility Yaya will leave. He is very upset. What happened at his birthday means the club don’t care about him. It was proof. They can say whatever they want, ‘Oh we like him but we forgot’. Forgot? About Yaya? City make him feel like nobody. He’s very upset and he started thinking about leaving. We’re not doing this for more money.”
• Feb 2015: “I want City to give Yaya a new contract, just to show him they want him. It is not about money.”
• Apr 2016: “We have waited too long. City fail to show they appreciate him … He will leave in the summer, I can calmly confirm this. Various offers have arrived for Yaya. Will the economic aspect make the difference? Absolutely not. We don’t put money first.”
If you ever wondered why Yaya does what he does, well here's your answer. Dimitri Seluk, ladies and gents. pic.twitter.com/5TcBlHVTVe
— BlueMoonRisingTV (@BMRisingTV) April 4, 2016
Most respectful
Brazil: Minas Gerais club Tricordiano – given a stadium ban after president Gustavo Vinagre told a referee: “You’re a thief, I’m a bandit, I’ll fill your car with bullets”. Officials also recorded abuse and threats from other staff “including ballboys”; the league called it “a matter of deep regret”.
Best rethink
Romania: Botosani owner Valeriu Iftime – rehiring Leo Grozavu, seven months after sacking the coach for pledging to “beat” and “kill” his “cretin … devil’s butthead” players mid-match. Iftime: “Leo returns. I believe in his ability to motivate.”
Making changes
Germany: 16 Feb, Hannover 96 owner Martin Kind: “I completely rule out any changes. We stand by Thomas Schaaf until the end. Schaaf’s job is not to be questioned.” 2 Apr: Questions it. 3 Apr: Sacks him.
Plus: love news
Argentina: Racing Club’s Carlos “Discoteca” Núñez, revealing he “so regrets” dating a high-profile model behind the back of his pregnant 16-year-old fiancee. “It was just a blip. I had a clouded mind … it’s something that can happen to us football players. I put family first.”
