Barclays will be the first title sponsor of the FA's "newly professional" Women's Super League in a deal reportedly worth more than $13.2M over the next three seasons. According to Nielsen, the sponsorship is a record for women's sport in the U.K. The WSL will offer prize money for the first time, with $661,000 divided "according to league position each season." FA Dir of Women's Professional Game Kelly Simmons said that a title sponsor was a "top priority when she took the role in September." Barclays, which was the title sponsor of the EPL from '04-'16, is "also committed to supporting the development of the game at grassroots level" (London GUARDIAN, 3/20).

The deal looks "set to change the face of women's football in England." A "credible sponsor" familiar to men's soccer taking an interest in women's sport "opens the door to a wider audience and links the top tiers of men's and women's football together" (LONDON TIMES, 3/20).

The photograph of Australian Football League Women's player Tayla Harris "which attracted abuse from trolls on social media" is expected to be used at "the forefront" of AFLW's marketing efforts "as soon as this week." The Seven Network's dedicated AFL social media channels "took the photo down" Tuesday in response to a flood of "inappropriate and offensive" comments, but later apologized and put it back up. The controversy has "inadvertently turned the picture into a symbol of deep significance" for AFLW. Dozens of Twitter users on Wednesday suggested a version of the picture "should become" the league's new logo. AFLW CEO Nicole Livingstone: "I know this photo is going to become an iconic part of AFLW history" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/20).

The Australian Rugby League Commission is reportedly "locked in discussions" with National Rugby League club chairs that could ultimately leave the ARLC with "unfettered power to demand the relocation of distressed sides." The talks are the latest "significant twist" in the ARLC's plan to "explore expansion." Discussions over perpetual licensing agreements, which have been on hold for more than a year, have reportedly "resumed in recent weeks just as debate over the relocation" of clubs has started to "heat up" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 3/20).

The ARLC has begun the process of determining whether to add to the existing 16 teams or to relocate "struggling" Sydney franchises to new markets. The majority of clubs are "united in their belief" that the game is not "ready to accommodate more teams given several existing ones -- despite a huge increase in funding from head office -- remain in the red" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/20).

Juventus spokesperson calls going to Asia for '19-20 preseason "normal."GETTY IMAGES

Int'l Champions Cup organizers decided to keep Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo away from the U.S. this year, "eliminating the risk" of Ronaldo "being detained by the authorities as part of a rape investigation in Las Vegas." While the bulk of ICC games will take place in the U.S. as usual, Juventus' games "will be a part of the Asian version of the annual event." Sources said that "legal troubles" for Ronaldo, who has been accused of raping an American woman in Las Vegas in '09, "played a role in shaping plans" for Juventus’s ICC participation. A Juventus spokesperson said that "going east" to Asia was "normal" after spending recent preseasons in the U.S. (N.Y. TIMES, 3/20).

League Championship club Bolton Wanderers was given two weeks to settle its debts "or risk going into administration." The club appeared in High Court on Wednesday over an unpaid $1.6M tax bill. However, it is understood Owner Ken Anderson has agreed to terms with a buyer who will pay off the debts, and the hearing was adjourned until April 3, giving Wanderers 14 days to avoid a winding-up order. Wednesday's hearing was the sixth time in 16 months that the Wanderers have "defended a winding-up petition because of unpaid tax" (BBC, 3/20).

Meanwhile, League Championship side Derby County Owner Mel Morris is considering selling the club for a "token price" of £1. Morris is "primarily focused" on "having his debts repaid through the sale process." Morris, who has been the club's sole owner since '15, is understood to have invested $213M in Derby County, which has lost money every year since '08 (LONDON TIMES, 3/19).

Vietnam on Wednesday began construction of a race circuit in Hanoi where the city will host its first F1 race next year. The Vietnamese Grand Prix scheduled for April '20 is "the latest street race on the F1 calendar" along with Monaco, Singapore and Azerbaijan. The 3.4-mile circuit in the west of Hanoi is scheduled to be completed by March next year (REUTERS, 3/20). Organizers said that they decided against holding the race in Hanoi's historical Old Quarter because of "logistical challenges and steep costs." Hanoi "bet big on the event's popularity," signing a 10-year deal worth a reported $60M per year. Race organizers said that they will "not dip into government coffers to pay for the event" but instead have "secured full financial backing" from the country's largest private conglomerate, VinGroup (AFP, 3/20).

Italian politician Marcello De Vito was arrested Wednesday on charges of corruption and "illegal influence-peddling" after being accused of taking bribes from Rome builder Luca Parnasi to favor his project for AS Roma's new stadium. De Vito, the president of the Rome City Council, was allegedly involved in a "series of corrupt operations with local businessmen in return for helping advance business projects" (LA REPUBBLICA, 3/20). AS Roma President James Pallotta first presented the stadium plan in March '14, saying that it would be ready for the '16-17 season -- "yet construction has still not started." Pallotta "has since cut ties" with Parnasi and is currently negotiating a $120M deal to "buy the proposed stadium site in Tor di Valle himself" (AP, 3/20).

Aussie Super Rugby teams fear the decision to cut the Japanese Sunwolves will spark another int'l "battle to keep their star players." Officials will announce a "competition restructure" on Friday, with the Sunwolves to be cut and a 14-team round-robin format to be reintroduced. The "reality of the situation has already hit Australian team officials:" fewer derbies, fewer home games and an opportunity for rich Japanese Top League clubs to be a "salary cap enemy rather than an ally" (THE AGE, 3/20).

At this stage, the Sunwolves will "still be expected" to field a team in '20, given that is when the current broadcast agreement runs until (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 3/20). 

The Chinese and Croatian national teams will participate at this year's NBA Summer League in Las Vegas from July 5-15 (AP, 3/20).

U.K. lobbyists said that Ineos, which acquired Team Sky on Tuesday, was "only interested in using the sport" for "green-washing." Ineos is a "vocal advocate of fracking" in the U.K., including Yorkshire, which could make Team Ineos' debut race at the Tour de Yorkshire "interesting" (London TELEGRAPH, 3/19).

FIFA named French telecom Orange a national supporter of this year's Women's World Cup (FIFA). 

The Brazilian Football Confederation partnered with Twitter in a broadcast deal for the Brazilian women's top flight. Twitter will have the rights to 134 games in '19 (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 3/19).

Sunday's Ligue 1 match between Olympique Lyonnais and Montpellier was watched by 1.2 million Chinese viewers on CCTV5. The French league and rights holder beIN Sports have an agreement with CCTV to broadcast select matches in China through '21 (L’ÉQUIPE, 3/19).

Glasgow Airport will be an official sponsor of the 2019 Solheim Cup, which is scheduled for Sept. 9-15 (Solheim Cup). 

Badminton Asia appointed IMG as its exclusive global media rights representative through '23 (IMG).

FERNANDO ALONSO joined Motorsport Network's Motorsports Games as an investor and board member. Motorsport Games is an esports initiative that "creates interactive experiences around real-life racing events." Alonso has been involved in esports since partnering with G2 Esports to create an esports racing team in '17 (THE ESPORTS OBSERVER, 3/20). ... U.K. soccer club Sheffield United Women terminated the contract of SOPHIE JONES after she was suspended for five games for "using abusive and/or insulting words" to Tottenham Ladies defender RENEE HECTOR (SKY SPORTS, 3/20). ... French soccer player PAUL POGBA on Wednesday confirmed he gave all his 2018 World Cup champion teammates "world champion rings" modeled "on those in many American sports." Pogba: "It's a small gift from me" (FRANCE 24, 3/20).

"I'd prefer to wait for at least another three races before drawing any conclusions. However, the initial signs are encouraging" -- F1 Managing Dir Ross Brawn, on whether the 14 overtakes during the Australian GP were a result of the sport's new aerodynamic regulations (SKY SPORTS, 3/20).

"I'm not saying throw the baby out with the bathwater, I'm saying relocate the baby" -- Super League rugby architect John Ribot, on the how the National Rugby League should approach expansion (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/19).

"We need to get more mobilized, get more angry and vocal" -- Football Federation Australia Dir Joseph Carrozzi, on how Aussie soccer needs to promote itself (HERALD SUN, 3/19).

"It's a little about the challenge of the Olympics and also the challenge of seeing if I can get into the world title talk this year" -- former world surfing champion Kelly Slater, on his motivation heading into this year's World Surf League Championship Tour (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 3/20).

The London Telegraph's Jason Burt explained that, "Despite apparent chaos at Arsenal, there are clear signs of progress under Unai Emery," writing, "It has been an extraordinary few months at Arsenal after Arsene Wenger was forced out."

The London Times' Matt Dickinson analyzed the takeover of Team Sky by Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos, discussing GM Dave Brailsford's "enviable habit of landing on his feet." Dickinson added that Brailsford recently faced the "potential ruin" of the team, but managed to "not just come up with a new backer within a few months but the richest billionaire in the country."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Georgina Robinson wrote under the headline, "Twiggy to the rescue for Super Rugby's axed Sunwolves?" about the possibility of Japanese Super Rugby side Sunwolves having a place in a "division two-style tie-up with Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest's Global Rapid Rugby."

Great morning with The FA & @barclays announcing the new and exciting 3 year title partnership. What a landmark moment for the @FAWSL and girls grassroots football 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/xO3kis4q4D

— Kelly Smith MBE (@kelly_smith10) March 20, 2019

Nos joueuses ont rejoint les 🇺🇸 pour une tournée exceptionnelle ! Suivez leur parcours jour après jour en 🎥. Episode 1 : l'arrivée à NYC 👍 pic.twitter.com/QutFtmlztt

— FCGB Féminines (@fcgbgirls) March 19, 2019

This is excellent work from Courtney Wilson, who creates social content for the AFL 👍🏼 Potential new @aflwomens logo?! pic.twitter.com/OkVTnilcjV

— Jonno Simpson (@JonnoSimpson) March 20, 2019

#Supermovers AMAZING!!!! 😂😂🙏🏻🙏🏻👏👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/LnOxIswOld

— Dan Gooding (@DirectorDanDan) March 20, 2019

We're proud to be the new title sponsor of the FA Women's Super League @FAWSL. We're really excited to see the professional women's game develop and give more girls the opportunity to play football. #BarclaysFAWSL ⚽

Find out more: https://t.co/c8D4z0Wc0i pic.twitter.com/9hpV2LKik9

— Barclays UK (@BarclaysUK) March 20, 2019