Reading crisis goes on after former chairman’s takeover bid is rejected December 3, 2024 Former Reading chairman Roger Smee says he is “sad” that his takeover bid to prise the club from unpopular owner Dai Yongge has been rejected. City AM revealed last month that the 76-year-old property tycoon, who also played for Reading in the 1960s and 1970s, was putting together a rescue package. Smee also expressed his [...]
Sport isn’t as inclusive as it thinks it is – but brands can make it right December 3, 2024 From events giving less than one per cent of places to disabled participants to getting braille wrong on the medals, sport still has a long way to go on inclusion. But that’s where brands can help, says Steve Howell. Everyone knows that sport is an incredible force for good. Bringing a nation together, giving people [...]
FIA under fire amid safety fears over handling of chaotic Qatar Grand Prix December 2, 2024 Formula 1’s embattled governing body the FIA has come in for further criticism for the race stewards’ handling of an incident that led to Lando Norris receiving a 10-second stop-go penalty at the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday. Norris was sanctioned for ignoring yellow flags after the wing mirror of Williams’ Alex Albon fell off [...]
Can rugby’s biggest social media star boost the English game? December 2, 2024 You may not have heard of her but she can claim to be the most famous name in the game – and now Ilona Maher is seemingly on her way to England and Premiership Women’s Rugby. The 28-year-old USA sevens player is a social media sensation, with 4.6m followers on Instagram and a further 3.2m [...]
Inside Bernie Ecclestone’s £250m ‘unique’ sale of classic racing cars December 1, 2024 The trove of 69 historic cars includes Ferraris raced by world champions Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda and Mike Hawthorn.
Manchester United have got it right where Jaguar rebrand got it wrong November 30, 2024 Manchester United are showing Jaguar that inclusivity is about doing, not just showing, through their action on prostate cancer, writes Matthew Fletcher-Jones. It’s been a good week or so for football. Promotion for England and Wales in the Nations League (a format innovation that actually works), a Premier League weekend with the champions in ‘crisis’, [...]
Maradona’s shirt, Holyfield’s belt and Peaty’s trunks: How the world went crazy for sports memorabilia November 29, 2024 The phenomenon hit the headlines earlier this year when a baseball shirt worn by Babe Ruth was sold for $24m (£19m).
British Olympic Association gets first female chair in 120-year history November 28, 2024 Trailblazing former rowing champion Dame Katherine Grainger has been elected the first female chair of the British Olympic Association in its 120-year history. Grainger, 49, will succeed Sir Hugh Robertson in the post early next year after she completes her final term as chair of UK Sport. “It is a huge honour to be elected [...]
West Ham chief snubbed over ‘alarming’ football regulator letter demand November 28, 2024 The Government has rejected calls from West Ham chief Karren Brady to publish a letter from Uefa which warns that domestic clubs and the England team could be banned from the Champions League and Euros over interference from the incoming football regulator. Speaking in the House of Lords, Conservative peer Baroness Brady described the correspondence [...]
Ed Warner: Why sports will have to change to stay down with the kids November 28, 2024 A leading cricket journalist bemoaned the lack of Test cricket on terrestrial TV to me recently, trotting out the well-worn argument that the England Wales Cricket Board had severely weakened the sport when it signed coverage over to Sky back in 2005. That’s as maybe, but if long-form cricket was free to view on mainstream [...]