Moriselade Soladoye-Adewole, Author at The Ball Business

Moriselade Soladoye-Adewole / April 14, 2026

Why the Champions League Anthem Plays Before Every Match and What It Cost to Produce

Before the referee’s whistle, before the coin toss, before anything else, the Champions League anthem fills the stadium. Those rising strings, the choral swell, the three languages declaring masters, champions and great teams. Millions of people around the world recognise those opening bars immediately. But how did 40 seconds of classical music become the single […]

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Moriselade Soladoye-Adewole / March 31, 2026

Why Captains Wear Armbands in Football and What It Means in Football Law

Informative, Inside Football

Every football match has one. One player with a strip of fabric around their upper arm, singled out before kick-off, handed something that looks almost ceremonial. The captain’s armband is one of football’s most recognised symbols, but ask most fans why captains wear armbands in football and you will get tradition as the answer. Tradition

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Moriselade Soladoye-Adewole / March 24, 2026

Why Players Who Score Hat Tricks Take the Match Ball Home

Informative

You have seen it countless times. A player scores his third goal, the final whistle blows, and before he leaves the pitch he clutches the match ball under his arm. Teammates sign it. Managers acknowledge it. It goes home with him as a personal memento of the day. But have you ever stopped to wonder

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Moriselade Soladoye-Adewole / March 17, 2026

Why Football Matches Last 90 Minutes and Who Actually Decided That

Informative

You have watched hundreds of football matches. You know the rhythm, two halves, a break in the middle, and 90 minutes of play. But have you ever stopped to wonder why football matches last 90 minutes and not 80 or 100? The answer goes back over 150 years, to a dispute between two cities that

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Moriselade Soladoye-Adewole / March 10, 2026

What Financial Fair Play Actually Means and Why Clubs Keep Breaking It

Football Management

If you follow football closely enough, you have heard the term Financial Fair Play. You have probably also heard that clubs keep breaking it, that some get punished and others seem to get away with it, and that the rules keep changing. It is one of those topics that sounds straightforward until you try to

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Moriselade Soladoye-Adewole / March 3, 2026

Stadium Naming Rights in Football: How Clubs Turn Their Ground Into a Commercial Asset

Football Marketing

The stadium your club plays in has a name. Most of the time, you’ve never stopped to think about what that name is actually worth, or what it says about the club’s commercial strategy. Stadium naming rights in football are one of the most underappreciated revenue streams in the game, and understanding how stadium naming

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Moriselade Soladoye-Adewole / February 24, 2026

10 Football Business Decisions You Watch Every Matchday Without Realising

Informative, Inside Football

Every matchday, you settle in, pick your seat on the sofa, and spend 90 minutes watching football. You track the passes, debate the tactics, and question every substitution your manager makes. What you probably don’t realise, though, is that you’re also watching a masterclass in football business play out in real time, you just haven’t

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Moriselade Soladoye-Adewole / February 10, 2026

African Football Has a Business Problem, Not a Talent Problem

Football Management, Football Marketing

When you watch African football talent thrive on the global stage, it’s impossible not to notice the paradox. While players develop into world-class athletes, the business side of African football struggles to keep pace. You might wonder why leagues flush with talent lag behind commercially. The answer is not about ability. Instead, it lies in

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Moriselade Soladoye-Adewole / February 3, 2026

Content Not Available in Your Location: How Geo-Blocking is Alienating Fans

Football Marketing

You click the link with excitement. The match highlight is trending. The clip promises a decisive goal, a controversial call, or a moment everyone is dominating conversations with. Then it hits you. Content not available in your location. At that moment, you are not thinking about broadcasting rights or licensing agreements. You are thinking about

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