Fifa and football agents brace for ‘hugely significant’ day in war over fees May 11, 2025 The long-running conflict between Fifa and football agents over rules which seek to cap their commission payments will move a step closer to conclusion in the next few days. Football’s world governing body has, perhaps inevitably, received a huge backlash from agents who have sought to challenge their legality – and succeeded in having some [...]
Europa League final: Tottenham and Man United fans face price gouging May 10, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United fans keen to attend the Europa League final later this month face eye-watering flight, match ticket and hotel costs. All remaining seats on direct return flights from London or Manchester to Bilbao, where the final will take place on 21 May, now cost more than £1,000. Regular tickets for the [...]
John Textor’s $2bn Eagle Football Holdings IPO filing ‘imminent’ May 9, 2025 Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor is understood to be close to confirming a filing with the SEC for an IPO in his multi-club group, Eagle Football Holdings. Textor has been gearing up for the IPO in Eagle Football as part of a $1.1bn debt and equity recapitalisation, and announced in November that he had raised [...]
Kogan set for football regulator role after CMS committee endorsement May 9, 2025 David Kogan looks set to be confirmed as chair of the football regulator after a Culture, Media and Sport committee gave him a qualified endorsement for the role. In a report following his grilling by MPs on Wednesday, the committee said it was “content to endorse David Kogan OBE’s appointment as Chair of the Independent [...]
Beckham, Neville, PR guru Kelly and Lord Davies take over Salford City May 8, 2025 Former Manchester United stars David Beckham and Gary Neville have joined forces with entrepreneur Declan Kelly and Lord Mervyn Davies to take control of Salford City FC. Beckham and Neville were already shareholders in the League Two football club as part of the Class of ’92 but Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Phil [...]
Raiola Ratings, FPL gurus and €1m: What super agent’s family did next May 8, 2025 The larger-than-life, occasionally combustible figure of football super-agent Mino Raiola couldn’t have appeared further from the world of number-crunching and algorithms. The late transfer broker, whose clients included Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Erling Haaland, always seemed far more into pressing the flesh and pouring champagne than poring over data. But one strand of the [...]
Trump denies lobbying for Russia to be given 2026 World Cup place May 7, 2025 President Trump insists he is not lobbying for Russia to be parachuted into the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the US despite saying it could be “a good incentive” for an end to war in Ukraine. Russia and its clubs have been banned from international football since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and European [...]
Chelsea get Club World Cup update after Club Leon ban upheld May 6, 2025 Chelsea are set to face either Los Angeles FC or Mexican side Club America at the Club World Cup this summer after Club Leon and Deportiva Alajuelense lost legal appeals for inclusion. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Fifa was right to exclude Club Leon on the basis that they share an ownership [...]
Liverpool may demand fee from Real Madrid for Alexander-Arnold release May 6, 2025 Real Madrid have asked Liverpool to release Trent Alexander-Arnold from his contract early so that he can play for them in this summer’s Club World Cup. The England right-back confirmed his impending departure from Anfield on Monday and is set to join the 15-time European champions in July after his deal with Liverpool expires. But [...]
Michele Kang eyes new faces after London City Lionesses reach WSL May 5, 2025 London City Lionesses and their owner Michele Kang have already begun drawing up plans for their first season in the Women’s Super League (WSL) after clinching a historic promotion on Sunday. The Lionesses held off a comeback from Birmingham City to draw 2-2 at their title rivals and clinch the Championship on the final day [...]