Industry Shorts: Jordan Sinnott, Fifa, Saracens

Football clubs across the UK have pledged to donate shirts to the Sport Relief charity in honour of Jordan Sinnott, the seventh tier footballer who died after an assault in Retford, Nottinghamshire, on 24th January.

As a tribute, Sinnott’s brother, Tom, asked for Football League clubs to donate a shirt with his brother’s name and number, 25, printed on the back to the sporting charity.

Clubs took up the mantle in response, with many donating both home and away shirts, while Premier League and Scottish teams also pitched in.

Former President of Argentina, Mauricio Macri, has been appointed Executive Chairman of the FIFA Foundation.

The former politician, who also served 12 years as President of Boca Juniors as well as spearheading Buenos Aires’s successful bid to host the 2019 Summer Youth Olympic Games, will be charged with heading up the independent foundation, supported by FIFA, which aims to promote positive social change.

Saracens Interim CEO Edward Griffiths has stepped down from the role after less than a month in charge. In a statement, he said his appointment was, “always going to be a very short-term” one, and that, “others are well-placed to drive forward the rebuilding of the club.”

The club has also been officially docked another 70 points, ensuring it will finish bottom of the Premiership this season and will be relegated to the Championship.

Meanwhile, Saracens Women have announced their first ever Principal Commercial Partner.

Bar snacks brand Made for Drink has signed a three-year deal and will see its logo featured on Saracens Women’s shorts. The partnership is also Made for Drink’s first formal sports sponsorship.

Formula E team Envision Virgin Racing and global technology group, The Teijin Group, have announced a multi-year sponsorship contract.

The two organisations say the deal commits both to exchanging know-how and complementing each other’s technologies. The Teijin Group will high-performance materials and products that will help improve the comfort of drivers and will also explore new business opportunities through the development of automotive components that will be required for next-generation automobiles.

Harlequins have re-appointed specialist sports and fitness communications agency Promote to drive attendance to ‘The Game Changer’ fixture, which aims to break the club’s own record for the biggest crowd ever to watch a women’s club rugby game. 

The 2020 fixture will take place at The Stoop on 11th April, and will see Harlequins Women take on Wasps FC Ladies.

Last season 4,800 spectators watch the club’s Tyrrells Premier 15s match against Gloucester Hartpury Women, which broke the UK club record for a women’s club match at the time.

England’s all time leading Test Match run-scorer, Alastair Cook, and Cricket West Indies President Ricky Skerritt have both joined the MCC World Cricket committee.

The committee meets twice a year to discuss issues within the game, and acts as an independent voice in world cricket. Its next meeting is scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka in March 2020.

Sports Sphere has announced that Personal Training education programme, PT Academy, has joined its client portfolio.

The programme is celebrating its 10th year anniversary, and will work with The Sports Sphere on a campaign to provide analysis on how the fitness industry has changed in the past decade.