Welcome to Footiebusiness. My name is Ben Berger and I am an attorney practicing in Hartford, Connecticut. My practice focuses on commercial litigation, construction law and intellectual property litigation. I have also been fortunate to be a guest lecturer at Quinnipiac University School of Law on the subjects of the business and legal aspects of soccer and a media voter for MLS end of the season awards such as player and coach of the year.
I have long been fascinated by the business aspects of the game. While this site focuses on the U.S., we will certainly cover international stories of special interest. Feel free to contact me with any questions, suggetions or criticisms about the site. In addition to questions about the world of soccer, feel free to contact me with any questions about the law and legal matters. Send me an e-mail to footiebusiness@gmail.com
Ben,
Congrats on a website that should have existed years ago. As someone who works in soccer(more about that later) there are a thousand stories every day about soccer that have major business impact all over the world. I have seen more than my share of screwy soccer issues and situations, some that I couldn’t repeat on the internet or repeat to anyone in person. I’ll just tell you that I’ve got a 37 year soccer background, and know more than my share of people in soccer both nationally and even internationally. If you pay close attention to worldwide soccer news you will have plenty to work on every day. Just to mention; I played GK for 16 years, have been a professional referee, college coach, high school and youth coach, and I still do private GK coaching. I also do a lot of event management at international matches, etc..
Ken:
Thanks for the kind words. If, in your current profession, you are involved with soccer events that you think make for appropriate content for the blog, I’d be happy to reach out. Thanks for connecting.
Why would anyone watch soccer, much less pay attention to “the business side.”
Far from being a beautiful game, it is a Chinese firedrill, a mess of incoherence, inconsistency, and incompetence, filled with continuous stalling, totally dead time, and the entire absence of coaching or management.
In many countries, top teams horde all the talent, so top level players sit on the bench while opponents are forced to use unqualified third raters whom they can afford.
The stands are filled with beer drunk slobs and hooligans, whose interest is stoked by having bet on the game at windows in the arenas. Or Town squares are filled with drunks watching jumbotrons, busily brawling and shouting racist comments at one another.
Soccer is sick and pathetic, and that’s why nobody in this country cares or should care.
Rod:
That was outstanding. This is probably one of the most coherent and well written comments criticizing soccer I have ever read.
Ben,
Don’t let anyone bring you down – this site is fantastic and since I’ve found it, I will pass it along. I’ve been looking for a blog like this for ages and glad to see someone of a high stature, take up the mantle.
I wouldn’t mind seeing more news concerning TV. I.e. how many folks watched the Philly v. Seattle opener, how many watched last night’s double header. If the history of soccer is anything to go by, TV dollars is where the real money and thus league expansion comes from.
I think it’d be an intriguing weekly to compare the start of the season to mid season and the end of the season. Do the number jump during the World Cup, after? Who draws the most viewers? Etc.
Keep up the good work!!
Hi there.. Nice Content about Soccer.. I was wondering If You only write stuff about Big events such as World cup, Or Do you also write about EPL, UEFA and other leagues that take place every year.. ?
Haha, the Way You critize Soccer is Absolutely Amazing.. Keep your good work up Champ..!