Arthur McPherson (1870-1919) :The Father of Russian Football

Arthur Davidovich MacPherson was born in St Petersberg in 1870 but his grandparents came from Perth, Scotland. Murdoch MacPherson was an engineer and part owner of a Clyde shipyard. He emigrated to St Petersburg in the late 1830s after building a yacht for the Russian Imperial Family and in 1856 he founded the world-famous Baltic Shipyard which built some of the Russian Navy’s best-known ships. His grandson Arthur was a sport’s loving fellow, known affectionately as the 'Russian Scotsman,' and became a successful stock exchange dealer and timber merchant. Throughout his life worked tirelessly to promote football in Russia, playing in some of the country’s earliest matches.

The Scottish mill workers in St Petersburg were the sons of Scottish weavers possibly from Strathaven, Condorrat, Bridgeton and the Calton and the St Petersburg’s English weavers came mainly from Lancashire. At first, football was a way for ex-pats to preserve a sense of heritage in their new home and scratch matches were encouraged by Russian mill owners to prevent workers from drinking vodka on weekends. Crews of visiting British ships were eagerly invited to provide opposition teams. Russians began to take an interest in the beautiful game and wanted to participate. St Petersburg Football Club was founded in 1879, and after a Frenchman published the rules of the game in Russian other teams began to form. It took another 20 years before Russian football was established with the first-ever fully organised match in 1897. Until this time sports clubs held friendly matches with many of the teams made up with British players.
br>

The Viktoria Football team was formed in 1894, was made up a mixture of Englishmen, Germans and Russians. The Samson weaving mills located in St Petersburg formed Nevka (1900-1904), which was made up of a team of Scottish players. The Neva Spinning Mill formed Nevsky (1900-1912), a team made up of Englishmen. The St Petersburg Football League was established in 1901 and the core of the new league were made up of industrial factory sides. The newly formed Sport joined them in 1902.

Games took place on snow covered frozen pitches with many of the matches were officiated by Brits. This would later become a bone of contention. Nevka won the first St Petersburg Football Championship. Football games were drawing attendances of up to 12,000 people including many female mill workers. Some unofficial ‘international’ matches also took place between a St Petersburg select team and other nations (Bohemia). The Russian Football Union (VFS) was created in 1912 and in the same year was admitted to FIFA. At the head of the Russia Football Union was Arthur MacPherson who became the first president from 1903 to 1905 and from 1912 through to 1913 played a huge role in its organisation and functioning.

The Union consisted of 52 football organizations across the Russian Empire and was the organizer of the Russian national football team. Their first match in an official international tournament was against Finland at the Olympic Games in Stockholm 1912, and the lost the match 2-1. After Germany defeated Russia, 16-0, Tsar Nicholas IIwas reportedly so upset he refused to pay for the players' return journey home. Almost all of the players in the squad hailed from the St Petersburg sides and its first ever goal scorer Vasily Butusov came from a team located in St Petersburg.

Arthur McPherson also founded the first All Russian Union of Lawn Tennis Clubs the forerunner of today’s Russian Tennis Federation. He became the First Chairman of the All Russia Lawn Tennis Union (1908 -1917) and was instrumental in introducing rowing to Russia. For his services in "planting" sports in Russia, Macpherson was awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus of the third degree by Tsar Nicholas II .

The Russian National Team played 16 internationals between 1910 and 1914, but development of Russian football was temporarily halted by the First World War and many of the early football players were killed on the frontline. After the Russian Revolution, individual pursuits such as tennis and organised football were treated with suspicion by the Bolsheviks who considered them ‘bourgeois sport’. Arthur MacPherson was arrested by the Bolsheviks following the October Revolution in 1917 and imprisoned. Whilst there, he contracted typhoid and died in 1919. There were rumours he had been tortured and executed but these were dismissed when his body was finally discovered, buried beneath 40 others. He was identified when it was discovered he had pasted his name on a piece of paper around his wrist. The leading figure in Russian football history was buried in the Smolensk Lutheran Cemetery in St Petersburg.

In 2012, at the centenary celebration of the Russian Football Union, President Vladimir Putin honoured the Russian Scotsman for his contribution to Russian sport.

What's inside The World Cup Soccer Ball?

(Video Courtesy: What’s Inside? Youtube Channel)

The Story of Denis Law

(Video Courtesy: Легенда футбола ( lf.net.ua ) Youtube Channel)

Jimmy Greaves Story

(Video Courtesy: Легенда футбола ( lf.net.ua ) Youtube Channel)

John Obi Mikel played on for the fans

Hours before Nigeria were about to play Argentina, Nigeria’s captain John Obi Mikel (Tianjin TEDA F.C.) received a randsom demand to say his father had been kidnapped in south-east Nigeria. The kidnappers wanted 10 million naira (approx. $30,000) for his release. Mikel agreed to pay the ransom but was on his way to the match. Bravely he kept silence and did not tell his team mates nor his coach Gernot Rohr , before he went on to play.

Fortunately, after a gun battle, the Nigerian police were able to secure his release from his week-long ordeal, where he had been tortured. In gratitude the player publically thanked the police authorities on behalf of himself and his family for the safe return of his father. This is the second time Pa Obi has been kidnapped and rescued. The first incident was in 2011 when he was abducted from his home in Jos in Nigeria's central region. He was rescued days after.

FIFA: Political gestures are unsporting behaviour contrary to the principles of fair-play

Using gestures to make political points is outlawed under FIFA’s disciplinary code. The laws of the game state that disciplinary sanctions are the responsibility of the competition organiser and the referee will include details in the match report. In 1996, goal keeper Mark Bosnich (former Aston Villa, and Australia) was seen giving a mock Nazi style salute at White Hart Lane during a 1-0 defeat to Spurs, he was severely repromanded for his puerile action.

Unlike, declared fashist, Paolo Di Canio (Lazio ), who in 2005 used the Roman salute (gesture associated with 20th century Italian fascists) on several occasions toward rival supporters. He received a one-match ban after the second event and was fined €7,000. Controversial, Di Canio's political ideology continued throughout his managerial career.

In 2013, former Greek internationalist, Giorgos Katidis (FK Olympia Prague ) celebrated scoring a goal when he was captain of the under 19 team, by giving the crowd a Nazi salute. For his actions, the Hellenic Football Federation imposed a lifetime ban, barring him from participating in all Greek national teams.

During the Group E tie between Switzerland and Serbia, Swiss internationals Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City) and Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) put their hands together to form what appeared to resemble a two-headed eagle, which features on the Albanian flag. The Swiss captain, Stephan Lichtsteiner (Arsenal), also made the same gesture during the match. The Swiss players have family connections to Kosovo and Serbia does not acknowledge Kosovo as an independent state, with relations between the Balkan nations tense. After due consideration by FIFA and under "unsporting behaviour contrary to the principles of fair-play", ruling all, three payers were warned and fined. Both Xhaka and Shaqiri were each fined Swiss Franks 10,000 (A$14,000); and Lichtsteiner ,a fine of Swiss Franks 5,000 (A$7,000). Under the FIFA disciplinary code “Anyone who provokes the general public during a match will be suspended for two matches,” but FIFA have confirmed they will not be banned for World Cup games over their goal celebrations.

FIFA also punished Slavisa Kokeza, president of the Football Association of Serbia, as well as coach Mladen Krstajic in relation to comments they made on the goal celebrations after the match. Kokeza and Krstajic were sanctioned with fines of Swiss Franks 5,000 (A$7,000) and both men were also warned about their conduct. The Football Association of Serbia was also fined Swiss Franks 54,000 (A$74,000) and given a warning "for the display of discriminatory banners and messages by Serbian supporters as well as for throwing objects during the match".

Kazan Beach Brides play the beautiful game

Women in Kazan, Russia are playing football on the beaches. Normally considered a man’s game, the popularity the FIFA World Cup TM Russia has brought the girls out in their beach gear but instead dressed in elaborate bridal outfits and running shoes.

The women were playing in teams of five for 15-minute halves on the sand, and good on them, I say. Perhaps we may see them in France at the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 TM

World Cup 18 : Prize Money

In 2017, FIFA confirmed a total of $400 million prize monies would be shared between the participants at the 2018 World Cup. The prize money available to participants at the last World Cup in 2014 was $358m. The central FIFA prize fund is awarded to national associations and the associations will often add extra reward to their teams depending on their performance.

As per 2014, each national team to reach the finals receives a minimum of $9.5m ($8m for taking part in the group stage and $1.5m for tournament costs). All prizes are paid out after the completion of the competition.

When a team progresses from the group stage but gets knocked out at the round of 16, they each receive an extra $4m (a total of $12m).

Teams eliminated in the quarter-final stage receive a further $4m ($16m).

The winners of the FIFA World Cup TM receive $US38 million and the runner-up gets $US28 million. Third place receives $US24 million with Fourth getting $US22 million.

Performance-based bonus payments are shared between squads who take part in the tournament and, vary depending on how well a team does. These bonus payments are at the discretion of each association and are often negotiated with representatives for the players. England have guaranteed themselves a share of £1 million (£43,478 each) for reaching the last 16. They would have received nothing had they failed to get out of Group G. The Football Association refuse to release details of the bonus scheme, but it is believed they would share a £5 million pot for lifting the trophy (around £215k per player). England manager, Gareth Southgate would receive a bonus of £1.5 million, and each player would pocket around £217,000 each.

Belgium’s players were guaranteed a share of £850,000 for playing in the tournament, and this sum hasincreased to £1.61 million (£70,000 each) for qualifying for the last 16. Should Belgium win the World Cup, the squad would earn a £9.2 million bonus or £400,000 each.

The Brazil squad stand to earn £750,000 a man for winning the World Cup.

Clean sweep fans Japan and Senegal

Japanese fans have a reputation for tidiness having previously stayed behind at the Mordovia Arena, to clean up after themselves after a 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. After seeing off Colombia, they were at it again draped in Japanese flags and scarves, the Japanese fans again had the good manners to clean up rubbish discarded on the floor of the stadium. If there was a medal for best behaved fans then Japan would be winners for their impeccable behaviour at the tournament.

Tidyness is important to the Japanese and children are taught to leave their school classrooms and hallways, tidy. In many public schools, children do much of the cleaning at the end of each day, a 20-minute routine known as o-soji.

Seems the habit is catching because Senegal fans were also applauded for following the example set by Japan’s fans by cleaning up after their side’s 2-1 victory over Poland.


(Video Courtesy: FIFATV Youtube Channel)


(Video Courtesy: FIFATV Youtube Channel)

Cristiano Ronaldo in new boots for round 16

Cristiano Ronaldo will be wearing a new pair his signature boots when Portugal play Uruguay. Ace goal scorer will hope his new boots help him against an unbeaten Uruguay and secure the golden boot award.


(Video Courtesy: FernandoF7 Youtube Channel)

The new Telstar Mechta 18

adidas have announced a new World Cup match ball will be used for the knockout stage of the competition. All matches from the last-16 phase onward will be contested using the new Telstar Mechta 18. The new ball has a brand new panel design of red as well as all the other bells and whistles of the Telstra 18. It is still unclear whether adidaswill introduce a further official match ball for the final in Moscow on July 15, but it is likely.

Guerrilla marketing and political gestures

Sometimes players cheekily slip in a promotion for their personal sponsor. This is called ‘guerrilla marketing,’ and whilst not against the FIFA rules, it has become a concern to the regulators of the game. Tim Cahill (Australia) likes to use his box-the-corner-flag celebration to engaging the camera with gestures which could be construed as reference to his commercial interests. After scoring the winning goal in extra time against Syria in the Socceroos’ World Cup qualifying win at ANZ Stadium, Cahill outstretched like an aeroplane, then made a ‘T’ sign with his hands. On social media, a Byron Bay-based travel company asked followers soon after full-time if they had seen Cahill, their new brand ambassador, “doing the ... ‘T’. Cahill quickly responded to the post with eight emojis, including a football and an aeroplane. Previously, in 2015 the same player pretended to turn over the pages of a book before delivering his trademark boxing routine by the corner flag. He had just released a children’s book and an autobiography.

FIFA Law 4 on players’ equipment states a player will be sanctioned if they remove their jersey to reveal slogans or advertising. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal), flaunted the rules when he played for Borussia Dortmund by dying his hair with a red Nike swoosh. Dortmund are sponsored by Puma, a shareholder in the club who also provide the team's kits. He was also back at ‘guerrilla marketing,’ when celebrating his opener for Borussia Dortmund against Schalke, as he wheeled away to celebrate he grabbed a superhero mask and pulled it over his head. Transpired the rouse was part of a promotional campaign for the Nike Hypervenom. Aubameyang earns a reported 2 million euros a year from Nike for promoting the company as well as receiving extra payments when he mentions the company on social media.


(Video Fox Sport Youtube Channel)

In 2012, Denmark internationalist, Nicklas Bendtner (Rosenborg) fell foul of the Law 4 when he lowered his shorts to show the name of his sponsor on his underpants. He was fined €100,000 for promoting a betting company on his underpants.


(Video SilverbirdNews Youtube Channel)

Jérôme Boateng : Sneaker Freaker

Bad boy, defender, Jérôme Boateng (Bayern Munich, and Germany) may have been given an early bath for a second yellow card in the game against Sweden but it seems he can console himself with his 650 pairs of shoes in his personal collection.


(Video ESPN Youtube Channel)

Lionel Messi : Bitter sweet ... happy birthday

Lionel Messi (Argentina) may not have had the best World Cup of his career but he will still get the chance to celebrate his birthday in style. A team of five workers at Moscow's Altufyevo Confectionery worked for nearly a week to carve the sculpture in 60kg of chocolate to mark his 31st birthday. The sculpture has been on display in Bronnitsy, where the team have been based during the month-long tournament.

Xherdan Shaqiri flies the flag

Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland) is proud to fly the flag for two countries on his bespoke Nike cleats. The right boot has the Kosovo flag on the heel and the Swiss flag on his left. Shaqiri and his family fled their home in the city of Gjilan during the Kosovo War and moved to the village of Augst, near Basel. In a politically charged game. Shaqiri scored the winning goal in the 90th-minute with his left foot, against Serbia.

Neymar penalty is reversed :VAR you go !

(Video Sport News TV Youtube Channel)

Telstar 18: The Baw's burst

Inspite of all the scientitic testing and ‘bla ‘ from adidas about their new Telstar 18, being tough and durable, it burst during the game between France and Australia. A strong tackle on Lucas Hernandez (France) by Trent Sainsbury (Australia)sandwiched the ball and it burst. Then in the 34th minute, Ousmane Dembele (FRance) prepared to take a corner but was delayed when he checked the ball and found it had burst.

On the same day in a different stadium, during the Argentina vs Iceland match, Lionel Messi was forced to change balls after being unhappy with its state early in the first half. It remains unclear why competition balls are bursting during matches.

Nike gives adidas the boot

Nike was established in 1964 and began its forage into the football (soocer) market in 1971 with the release of ""The Nike" football boot, the first shoe to bear the Swoosh logo. The boots proved unpopular so it was back to the drawing board.

Nike, started to get seriously involved in soccer when the World Cup was played in the United States in 1994, within two decades the American company has the majority market share. Despite this soccer represents less than 10% of Nike’s overall sales.

Nike primary objective, unlike their main rival adidas, is to sell football boots, and have for years ambushed the World Cup and other Football tournaments by sponsoring the top players with boot deals, many of which play for team sponsored by adidas. This “nuisance” strategy has proven success and now sixty per cent (60% ) of all players at the 2018 FIFA World Cup TM Russia will be wearing Nike boots, with almost half the German and Spanish team and three-quarters of the Russians singed to a boot deal. Nike sponsor more of the world’s best-known soccer stars than Adidas in its battle to maintain supremacy over its German rivals.

According to CIES Football Observatory, 132 of the 200 most expensive players at the World Cup, wear Nike boots. Adidas have 59. By far Nike’s ace signing has been Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, for not only is he one of the greatest players on the planet, he also has an enormous presence on social media. It is this above all which helps the company sell shoes. Boot sales escalate after the tournament when school children and young adults buy them.

Nike outfit 10 teams at the 2018 FIFA World Cup TM Russia. These are: Australia, Brazil ($36M), Croatia, England ($40M), France ($50M), Nigeria, Poland, Portugal , Saudi Arabia, and South Korea .

Another form of promotion, called ‘guerrilla marketing,’ involves players slipping in a promotion for their personal sponsor. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (then Borussia Dortmund, now Arsenal ), dyed a red Nike swoosh into his hair while his team played in Puma sponsored kits. Puma is a Dortmund shareholder and provides the team's kits.

The player was back at it again when he celebrated his opener for Borussia Dortmund against Schalke, as he wheeled away to celebrate he grabbed a superhero mask and pulled it over his head. This issomething he has done quite frequently but on this occasion the Aubameyang’s celebration was part of a promotional campaign for the Nike Hypervenom. The player earns a reported 2 million euros a year from Nike and receives extra payments if he mentions the company on social media.


(Video Courtesy: Fox Soccer Youtube Channel)

adidas outstrip their rivals

Rudolf Dassler started the company when he and brother, Adi Dassler fell out in 1948. Puma has continued to rival adidas in soccer boot manufacture and supply. German Company, adidas, have enjoyed supremacy for decades in the soccer market but now face constant challenge from Nike. Together these companies control 89 percent of the soccer retail market.

Team deals are important for sales of football jerseys and adidas is the official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup TM 2018 tournament and will outfit 12 teams. The 32 nations competing in Russia are sponsored by eight different clothing brands. Fans will see kits from Adidas (Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, Germany, Iran, Japan, Morocco, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Sweden,); Nike (Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Egypt, England, France, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea); Puma (Senegal, Serbia, Switzerland and Uruguay); New Balance (Panama and Costa Rica); Erreà (Iceland); Hummel (Denmark); Uhlsport (Tunisia) and Umbro (Peru). However, the German brand are not expecting large returns from a financially depressed host country. Sales of jerseys bring returns earlier because the World Cup outfits have already been sold to retailers and fans want to wear the jerseys of their favourite team. The sale of boots usually happens after the event when fans want to play shod, like their heroes.

adidas celebrate 20 years as an official partner of FIFA World Cup TM and have invested hundreds of millions of dollars for exclusive rights that include having its logo on match balls and referees’ uniforms. It is estimated adidas will spend between $96 million (£71.9m) and $176 million for 2018 FIFA World Cup TM. On average it cost the German Company annually, approximately $80M to be an official World Cup sponsor. That allows them to advertise within every stadium for every game. adidas have designed the official World Cup ball since 1970, and outfit all FIFA personnel, referees, ball boys, and volunteers. As an official event sponsor adidas has access to platforms and markets that their rivals do not. adidas also sees more engagement on social media. The content it produces for you tube draws a more committed following than Nike’s. This is important to distinguish because a loyal following will spend money on the brand, while a superficial one won’t.

Over the past five tournaments three World Cup winners have lifted the trophy donning the Adidas logo. The focus is no longer on broad-based sponsoring, but on the top teams and players. However, the cost of sponsorship is considerable i.e., Spain ($47M), Argentina ($11M), Russia ($15M) and Germany ($58M). Manufacturers regard sponsorships as key to boosting sales of shoes, jerseys and other equipment to consumers, with a market valued at almost $19 billion last year, more than double the level a decade ago. During the 2014 FIFA World Cup TM, adidas exceeded its own revenue projections and spent an estimated $67m on advertising, and the actual figure has never been disclosed.