Club soccer is back this weekend after the international period but that has not stopped the domestic scene being busy across Europe and particularly in France which explains this week’s strong Gallic theme to these stories which might have escaped you at first glance.
We are here to make sure that you did not miss a thing.
PSGxDior
There is a rarely a week which goes by where Paris Saint-Germain are not being talked about within the global soccer world and this week was certainly no different with a Dior collaboration and Crypto.com partnership announced.
On Monday, PSG and the house of Dior announced the signing of a two-year partnership which will see the French fashion giants provide the capital club’s official wardrobe and outfit the team in a first for the renowned luxury fashion house.
Dior’s Artistic Director for men’s collections, Kim Jones, has designed a series of new creations for the two-season deal which will span both casual and formal wear in news that will delight #MENSWEAR fans everywhere.
“With this partnership, PSG continues its pioneering foray into the world of fashion and lifestyle,” read an official statement. “The club shares the house of Dior’s passion for Paris, whose global influence is enhanced by the two brands’ creativity.”
PSGxCrypto.com
That was only part of a busy week at Parc des Princes as PSG also announced on Thursday a move deeper into the crypto market with a lucrative multiyear sponsorship deal with Crypto.com which will see the platform become PSG’s “Official Cryptocurrency Platform Partner.”
Not only is the size of the deal notable, Crypto.com paying a “significant portion” of their sponsorship fee to PSG using their own CRO cryptocurrency token is unique with exclusive Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) also part of a deal which CBS Sports understands is worth “tens of millions.”
“We are delighted to welcome Crypto.com to the PSG partner family,” said Chief Partnerships Officer Marc Armstrong. “We share the same passion for innovation and the same ambition to reach the very top. With this partnership, PSG demonstrates once more its vision and leadership as a pioneer in areas such as lifestyle, esports and digital.”
It has been a busy period for Crypto.com, who also have F1 and NHL involvement, after deepening their ties with Italy’s Serie A via a multiyear innovation and technology deal which has seen two new player awards created and a branded VAR center.
PSG get their UEFA Champions League campaign underway away at Club Brugge in Belgium next week and you can follow the exploits of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and their superstar teammates exclusively on Paramount+.
Nice-Marseille replay
After weeks of deliberation, the LFP have ruled that OGC Nice vs. Olympique de Marseille will replay after their recent Ligue 1 clash was abandoned at 1-0 to the hosts after 75 minutes due to clashes between players, staff, and pitch invaders.
On top of the game being replayed, it will be at a neutral venue and behind closed doors as part of a three-match ban for Nice fans with the win over Girondins de Bordeaux before the international break also considered part of that.
OGCN have ben docked one point (with an additional one if they reoffend) while Marseille staff member Pablo Fernandez has been banned until June of 2022 with OM player Alvaro Gonzalez getting a two-game suspension and teammate Dimitri Payet getting a one-match suspended ban.
Al-Khelaifi: ‘Super League shouting to the sky’
PSG Chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi spoke publicly as the new head of the European Club Association this week and told Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus that they are “shouting to the skies” in trying to keep the ill-fated Super League idea alive.
“We will not dwell on the invocation made on April 18 and the ‘not-so-Super League’,” said the Qatari supremo. “Because I do not like to grant too much importance to fable makers and failures.
“Together, we have defended the interests of European football for everyone, for the fans, the clubs, the leagues, the FAs and most of all the supporters. And while the three rebel clubs waste their energy, twist narratives and shout to the skies, the others are moving forward and concentrating their efforts on building a better future for European football.”
Adams’ 39-year coma ends
Former France international Jean-Pierre Adams died this week at the age of 73 but had been incapacitated for nearly 40 years due to an error with the anesthetic before surgery on a ruptured knee ligament. Adams’ wife Bernadette refused euthanasia and cared for him until he died.
Pedri’s bananas and Pique’s NFTs
Barcelona starlet Pedri has shown his charitable side by being part of a donation for 80,000 kg of bananas from his native Canary Islands to the Food Bank while Barca teammate Gerard Pique revealed that his recent spate of bizarre selfies was part of his move into the world of NFTs.
Boateng guilty in domestic dispute
Jerome Boateng was in court earlier this week and has been ordered to pay just over $2.1 million in damages to a former partner after he was found guilty of domestic violence while the couple were on holiday in 2018. The 33-year-old former Germany international is yet to debut for new club Olympique Lyonnais.
Lyon face Rangers difficulties
OL are in a tough situation ahead of next week’s UEFA Europa League clash with Rangers in Glasgow with Scottish authorities refusing to permit Lucas Paqueta, Bruno Guimaraes and Tino Kadewere permission to feature due to their recent visits to high-risk countries while on international duty.
Simons dismissed
Like Weston McKennie with the USMNT, PSG’s Xavi Simons found himself dismissed by the Netherlands’ under-19 squad for breaking COVID-19 protocol.
