Football news site calls in administrators
A MANCHESTER-based football news website which was jointly owned by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has called in administrators.
Givemefootball, which was a joint venture between the PFA and a London-based web marketing business Sports New Media, provides football news covering the domestic English football leagues, the FA Cup and the Champions League.
The PFA’s chief executive, Gordon Taylor, was also a director of GivemeFootball, alongside Sports New Media directors Jae Chalfin and Nick Thain.
Insolvency firm FRP Advisory were appointed as joint administrators to Givemefootball.com on 24 August 2011.
Joint administrator Chris Stevens said: “Givemefootball.com was unable to fulfil its obligations to a supplier, resulting in the company becoming insolvent and entering administration.
“We are now trading Givemefootball.com as a going concern, with the hope of locating a buyer for the business as soon as possible.”
In July, Givemefootball lost a court dispute over a £1m sponsorship agreement with Australian online betting firm Playup Interactive Entertainment. The sponsorship related to a tie-up with the Professional Football Association’s Fans’ Awards.
Following the case, the the judge Mr Justice Walker ordered Givemefootball to repay more than £340,000 of the £692,000 Playup had paid to it for the sponsorship. It was also ordered to pay more than £53,000 in damages.
