UK social media ban blow to sports rights holders using TikTok and YouTube June 15, 2026 The UK’s incoming social media ban for under-16s will be a blow to sports rights holders and wider marketing strategies, experts have warned. The government on Monday announced that there will be a ban on social media for those aged 16 and under from next year – covering the likes of X, TikTok, Twitch and [...]
People named Mark called upon to raise money at London charity golf day June 15, 2026 Some of the UK’s estimated 600,000 people called Mark have been called upon to take part in a world record attempt at Royal Blackheath Golf Club to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. The On Your Marks golf day will take 88 people called Mark and aim to raise £88,000 for charity just a stone’s [...]
Nocturne London dazzles as riders take in Square Mile June 15, 2026 The Square Mile was transformed into an Olympic-style time trial cycling circuit at the weekend as Nocturne returned to the City of London. The festival of cycling saw two days of racing around the capital, with XTX Markets winning the City Criterium – a pro-am team event – and Ned’s Club coming home first in [...]
Fifpro accused of leaving footballers ‘in the cold’ by doing deal with Fifa June 15, 2026 Global player union Fifpro has been accused of leaving thousands of footballers “in the cold” by accepting a deal with Fifa. Justice For Players, a class action claiming billions after Fifa’s transfer rules were deemed illegal, says it is “disappointed” that Fifpro agreed to ask its members to drop any legal action in exchange for [...]
Can football conquer the US? Why culture is key this World Cup June 14, 2026 Dame Heather Rabbatts DBE discusses why culture is key to football conquering the US after the World Cup Football has been a pivotal part of British culture for decades, but the last month alone has seen the drama of the Premier League climax, the success of Crystal Palace and Aston Villa in Europe and the [...]
Adidas, Burberry and so much Beckham: The six best 2026 World Cup ad campaigns June 13, 2026 An unnecessarily serious review of the best ads around the 2026 World Cup, including campaigns by Adidas, Nike and Burberry, as picked by amateur footballer and professional creative Harriet Russell-Vick. Football ads in 2026 finally remembered a crucial detail: football is supposed to be fun. After years of ultra-serious slow-motion shots of rain hitting crossbars [...]
Has Fifa quietly made mandatory release clauses the future of football transfers? June 12, 2026 It was easy to miss amid the hullabaloo surrounding the start of the 2026 World Cup, but earlier this week Fifa announced the biggest changes to football’s global transfer rules for 25 years. Fifa patted itself on the back for “a major step forward”, emphasising the new regulatory framework had been “developed through a collaborative [...]
2026 World Cup: Why YouTube and TikTok could re-write Fifa’s revenue playbook June 12, 2026 The 2026 World Cup could erode the price that Fifa can command for its media rights as YouTube and TikTok compete directly with traditional broadcasters, analysts have warned. This World Cup, which kicked off last night, is the first in which YouTube and TikTok will both stream the first 10 minutes of every game and [...]
Do the Prem Rugby semi-finals need a Welsh URC team? June 12, 2026 Ahead of this weekend’s Prem Rugby’s semi-finals, Ollie Phillips assesses whether they could do with a hint of Wales. Picture the scene: next year’s Prem Rugby semi-finals feature the top three teams from this year – Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby and Exeter Chiefs – plus one of the Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons or Cardiff. This would, [...]
World Cup: Third of fan visas from non-European countries are being rejected June 11, 2026 A third of World Cup fan visas from non-European countries are being rejected with Iran and Senegal hit the hardest, research has found. The United States, which is hosting 78 of the World Cup’s 104 matches, has refused 74 per cent of visas from Senegalese applicants and 61 per cent of Iranian submissions. These are [...]