Adidas plans to launch a marketing “offensive” ahead of this year’s World Cup as the sportswear company looks to halt a recent slide in sales.

UEFA’s long standing Marketing Chief Philippe Le Floc’h is leaving European football’s governing body after a 10-year career because of a major restructuring of UEFA’s in-house commercial arm.

The Irish Football Association’ Marketing and Communication Department has been recognized for its 2009 marketing strategy by winning the prestigious Chartered Institute Marketing’s UK award for Small and Medium Enterprise.