UEFA is "putting the final touches to a rescue package" valued at as much as $7B to "help European soccer recover from the impact of the pandemic," according to sources. The funding is "part of a proposed three-pronged strategy by the soccer governing body, to be outlined in the coming weeks, to assist clubs after more than a year of stadium closures, as well as falling broadcast revenue." UEFA’s plan involves a funding facility of about $2.4-7B, an "emergency pot of money to guard against future crises and new rules on financial fair play," the sources said. Under the proposals, clubs will have access to funds "at lower borrowing rates and be able to restructure existing debt over longer periods of five to seven years." A representative for UEFA "declined to comment" (BLOOMBERG, 8/13).

The EPL returns this weekend for the '21-22 campaign and clubs are "preparing for the return of capacity crowds" for the first time since March '20. The easing of coronavirus restrictions will see stadiums "have no social distancing measures in place in the stands." However, there remains uncertainty on whether "vaccine passports" will be introduced in October. U.K. PM Boris Johnson announced last month there was a plan to "mandate certification" at venues where "large crowds gather," including sporting venues with capacities of 20,000 or more. Earlier this week, the EPL revealed new matchday protocols for the '21-22 season, stating fans "must be prepared to prove" they are fully vaccinated or have had a negative COVID-19 test in the previous 48 hours (BBC, 8/12).

Chelsea confirmed that more than 900 fans cannot attend Saturday's match against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge, with offseason repairs to sections of Matthew Harding stand "still incomplete." Chelsea will issue refunds and has "sought to make it up to affected season ticket holders and members" by offering a free ticket to a Champions League Group stage game this season (London DAILY MAIL, 8/13).

EPL CEO Richard Masters said that "taking the knee is a really powerful, unifying symbol" and the league will "continue to support players to do so before games this season, regardless of any booing from supporters." The EPL has released a one-minute long video, narrated by Rio Ferdinand, "explaining why players are taking the knee" (London TELEGRAPH, 8/13).

Meanwhile, in Germany, authorities will allow the return of fans to sports stadiums. In 14 of Germany's 16 states, a capacity cap of 50% has been put in place, with the maximum number of spectators set at 25,000. In the state of Bavaria (where Bayern Munich play), as well as in the city-state of Hamburg, "the authorities have taken a stricter approach" (DEUTSCHE WELLE, 8/10). In Spain, LaLiga stadiums have been cleared to welcome 40%-capacity crowds (SBJ).

Five Everton players, including MF James Rodriguez, are isolating because of coronavirus issues and will miss Saturday's game against Southampton. The Colombian, 30, is "yet to play in front of Everton fans" since he signed in September '20 because of pandemic crowd restrictions. The five absentees are "understood to be isolated cases rather than an outbreak at the club," which will welcome a full house back to Goodison Park for the first time since a 1-1 draw with ManU on March 1, 2020. But it is not clear if the players "have coronavirus or are isolating because they have been deemed as close contacts." Manager Rafa Benitez said, "The main concern for me and for all the managers are the rules around the country so everybody can go outside and do what they want" (BBC, 8/13).

F1 has completed 11 of 23 scheduled races this season, but there are questions over where and when Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen "will resume battle." The sport’s intent is that "they should conclude their fight over 12 more races." There is a "clear imperative to this: to alleviate the financial damage" the sport sustained in '20 because of the pandemic, when F1 managed 17 races that were "almost entirely behind closed doors." As things stand the next three races -- Spa in Belgium, Zandvoort in the Netherlands and Monza in Italy -- "all look to be fairly safe bets."

They are due to be followed by Russia, Turkey, Japan, the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, with one slot on November 21 still to be filled. Of these, "few can be guaranteed to take place." Turkey, Mexico and Brazil are all on Britain’s travel red list, a "major issue" with seven of the 10 teams based in the U.K. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali "had said he hoped to have a decision on the calendar by the middle of this month." McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes the situation remains fluid, saying, "I’m hearing a lot of different scheduling scenarios. I think the reality is no one probably definitively knows" (London GUARDIAN, 8/12).

Australian Olympics media rights holder Seven West Media is "expected to bid for the next batch of Olympic broadcast rights in a deal that could attract" a record A$200M ($147M) price tag if the '32 Brisbane Games are included. Seven Network is "looking to continue their Olympic partnership" as Paris '24, Milan '26 and L.A. '28 and Brisbane '32 "remain up for grabs." Seven has the rights to the upcoming Beijing Games and is "said to have paid" A$160M for a three-Games rights package back in '14 for Rio '16, Pyeongchang '18 and Tokyo. In May '20, there were "strong rumours that Seven were considering selling its rights to the postponed Tokyo Olympics." With a "total audience of 3.85 million viewers nationally, Tokyo’s Olympic opening ceremony has been the most most-watched TV program" of '21 (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/13).

Brazilian esports organization FURIA and Nike have mutually agreed to end their partnership that first began in '19, according to sources. FURIA will take over production of its jerseys from Nike, but the companies will continue to work together on special products in the future, sources said. To accomplish this, FURIA has hired former Nike Sports Marketing Manager Rafael Gimenes Pereira to manage the new initiative as Product Director. Pereira was already working with FURIA while at Nike.

The change was beneficial for both companies as FURIA had issues while making jerseys available for fans because Nike prioritizes large-scale wholesale production runs over smaller runs, according to sources. When compared to other Nike products like Brazilian national soccer team jerseys, the sales of FURIA jerseys were not sufficient to make factories dedicate more time to it. FURIA will also launch a new e-commerce platform to sell its products (Victor Frascarelli, SBJ).

ONE Championship, the dominant MMA property in Asia, is announcing today that it is launching its first NFTs as it looks to get in on the trend around digital products. The Singapore-based ONE is partnering with Theta Network to produce the NFTs; Theta has worked with the World Poker Tour and singer Katy Perry on other digital tokens in the past. The exact launch date is not being announced today, but fans can start pre-registering for them today. Prices are not being revealed today, but ONE is saying that its NFTs will also unlock real-world experiences including ringside seats and backstage passes. While the UFC is the major player in MMA in the U.S., ONE has the bigger presence in the sport in Asia currently. ONE, which is aired in more than 150 countries and features fights across multiple types of martial arts, is also looking to grow its presence in the U.S. in the coming years. Group ONE Founder & CEO Chatri Sityodtong helped set up the deal.

Get the latest from Leaders’ feeds on sports business and performance:

• PODCAST: Jimmy Worrall in conversation with Brighton & Hove Albion Owner Tony Bloom.
• INSIDE THE INSTITUTE: Simone Biles' mental toughness on display.
• What Performance Practice would you keep from the pandemic?
• LEADERS WEEK LONDON: Future of int'l football on the agenda Oct. 5-7 at Twickenham Stadium.

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Mediapro Founder Jaume Roures will "sever ties" with Barcelona President Joan Laporta in November. Roures will withdraw a guarantee of €30M ($35.4M) that he gave to Laporta to help Laporta win the club's presidential election, according to El Confidencial (PALCO23, 8/13).

PSG Manager Mauricio Pochettino said that Lionel Messi will not make his club debut in Saturday's Ligue 1 game against Strasbourg, and Messi "admitted he did not know when his first game with PSG will be" (ESPN.com, 8/13).

The Tokyo Paralympic Games will be "held mostly without spectators," according to sources, after organizers agreed late on Thursday to "limit spectators at the Paralympic events," set to begin on Aug. 24 (REUTERS, 8/13).

EPL side Crystal Palace confirmed that John Textor has become the club’s newest investor and director after paying almost £90M ($124.8M) for his stake, which is believed to be around 18% (London GUARDIAN, 8/11).

Portuguese first division club Benfica named betting firm Betano its betting and sleeve sponsor in a three-year deal (Betano).

The owner of the “Bathurst Challenge” -- dubbed as Australia’s greatest car race -- has "agreed to release his exclusive two week hold on Mount Panorama after the local council agreed to underwrite his event for an undisclosed figure which is believe to be" at least A$100,000 ($74,000) (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/13).

"What United are doing, I don't know how they did it. We have our own way to do it. We are allowed to spend the money we earn, that we always did. This year we spent before we earned money with [Ibrahima] Konate because after last season, just to be clear, we cannot take any risk in this position at all" -- Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp, on ManU's offseason, when the club signed Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane (ESPN.com, 8/13).

"It’s worth it. If this independent panel can have some meaningful outcomes that make the sport safer and more enjoyable for all stakeholders, not just women and girls, that is more valuable than an Olympic medal" -- Australian swimmer Madeline Groves, on missing the Tokyo Games after making allegations against Swimming Australia (SYDNEY MORING HERALD, 8/13).

"We need Ferrari in the fight. This needs to be a championship where there are four or five teams that can win, that compete against each other, and Ferrari needs to be right there" -- Mercedes F1 Team Principal Toto Wolff, on why he hopes Ferrari will challenge for the title in '22 (MARCA, 8/12).

"It just feels weird because he played for so long at this club, almost his whole life, and suddenly he had to leave" -- Barcelona and USMNT D Sergino Dest, on Lionel Messi's departure (ESPN, 8/13).

The BBC's Simon Stone asks whether the pandemic has created a "European Super League" of big spenders.

🚨 #LaLigaSantander on @ESPN 🚨

Share the Fútbol: opening weekend kicks off 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄. 🔥#LaLigaAmerica pic.twitter.com/5gI49N5jCL

— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) August 12, 2021

Football is back - powered by SPORTFIVE!

Learn about our involvement in some of the world's top leagues 🧵 pic.twitter.com/UVNX03IxUq

— SPORTFIVE (@sportfiveagency) August 13, 2021

Sampdoria's Morten Thorsby will switch from shirt number 18 to 2.

Why? To raise awareness of climate change.#bbcfootball

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 12, 2021

Madam Nawal Khalifa is the new FUS Rabat 🇲🇦 President becoming the very first woman to lead a football club in Morocco

She has before been board member of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and also the finance director at the National Office for Electricity & Drinking Water pic.twitter.com/qJt9p1DOpU

— N U H U 🐼 (@NuhuAdams_) August 11, 2021

Sir Ian McGeechan has led calls for radical change in rugby before a player dies on the pitch, branding the game unnecessarily dangerous, and said World Rugby stand accused of negligence if they allow the situation to continue.

✍️@Hathers46allout https://t.co/xzBeOw0HJy

— Times Sport (@TimesSport) August 13, 2021