Int’l Marketing Notes: McDonald’s Re-Ups FA Sponsorship

England’s Football Association has signed a four-year sponsorship extension deal with McDonald’s. The previous four-year deal “helped create 8,000 new community-based volunteer coaches,” and the goal is “to develop 4,000 more by 2010 while providing 1,500 of the existing coaches with an opportunity to earn higher qualifications.” FA CEO Brian Barwick said, “Our aim is to improve the standard of football at every level in this country and our continuing partnership with McDonald’s is crucial to this aim” (ESPNSOCCERNET.com, 8/7).

YOU BET: Internet sports betting company Gamebookers has signed a three-season deal to sponsor French soccer team FC Nantes. Gamebookers’ logo will appear on the team’s shirts and around its home stadium. Last week, 888 Holdings, “the largest Web casino,” inked a deal with Toulouse FC of the French soccer league. 32Red has “a similar agreement” with Premier League club Aston Villa (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 8/7).

SPLIT DECISION: Massachusetts-based Rattle Advertising and the Brazilian Ice Sports Federation (BISF) are teaming to market the “Frozen Banana” mascot of the Brazilian bobsled team. BISF Marketing Chair Jim Bucci said that the logo –- a half-peeled banana with sunglasses, a wool cap and “a wide smile — could end up on T-shirts, mugs and at the front of the Brazilian team’s efforts to recruit sponsors” (BOSTON HERALD, 8/7).