Omiya Ardija are the latest team to be given wings by Red Bull, recently unveiling a new logo following the takeover by the energy drink giants.

Coming on the back of Jurgen Klopp’s decision to join as Global Head of Soccer, fans are once again dealing with the idea of something they love being tainted by a global corporation.

To some it’s a tactically and statistically proven method of starting a high-value sequence of play. To others it’s needlessly risky, a fad that may work for Pep Guardiola in the rarified air of the top end of the Premier League but which invariably fails as you get lower down the leagues.

A script-less chat about things happening in the world of football.

To some, it’s the highest individual honour that a footballer can receive. To others, it’s a vanity award, a simple popularity contest. But it has an interesting history and every year seems to get more controversial.

So how do you win it? Who decides it? Do players care about it? And what is the plural of Ballon d’Or?

Fans of the A-League call it the best league in the world. Whether that’s true or not, it’s a beautiful league and it’s uniquely Australian. In part two of our series on football in Australia, we’re talking about how the A-League was created, and what it is today.

Last week, Australia’s professional football league, the A-League, kicked off its 20th season! To celebrate this milestone, our next two episodes are dedicated to the national football leagues in Australia. It is a complicated story of identity, crowd trouble, fighting against forces that want to destroy football in Australia, before being reborn in the early 2000s.

オーストラリアのプロサッカーリーグ、Aリーグが20周年のシーズンを迎えました！この特別な節目を祝うため、2回のエピソードに渡りオーストラリアのリーグについて特集します。アイデンティティ、観客のトラブル、サッカーを壊そうとする勢力との闘い、そして2000年代初めに復活するという、様々な要素が絡み合った物語を紹介していきます。

The J.League is one of the most interesting football leagues in the world. On the pitch, amazing talent brings excitement to a competitive and unpredictable league. Off the pitch, fans add vibrant colour and endless support, creating a matchday experience that stands out among leagues and sports worldwide.