EFL calls for businesses as it kicks off innovation programme October 7, 2024 The English Football League (EFL) is calling for businesses to join its first innovation programme and develop their products by working with its 72 professional clubs. The EFL Innovation Lab is a partnership with corporate innovation specialist L Marks aimed at “suppliers, start-ups and scale-ups” and targeted at four key areas of business. They are [...]
Fifa embarrassed, more player power, forced transfers: Legal verdicts on the Diarra ruling October 7, 2024 Like the Bosman ruling to which it has been compared, the shockwaves from Lassana Diarra’s victory over Fifa’s current transfer rules at the European Court of Justice may take months, perhaps even years, to be felt in full. But legal experts are in agreement that Friday’s ECJ verdict in Brussels marks a watershed moment in [...]
Chelsea investor in talks for landmark stake in Miami Dolphins October 3, 2024 Chelsea investor Ares Capital is in talks with the owner of the Miami Dolphins to become the first private equity firm to buy a stake in an NFL franchise. The New York-headquartered asset manager is negotiating the purchase of a 10 per cent stake in the Dolphins’ parent company, according to multiple reports. The deal [...]
Chelsea squad worth €1.4bn. Rest of Conference League combined? €1.5bn! October 3, 2024 Favourites for the Europa Conference League Chelsea have a squad value of €1.4bn, just €100m less than the other 35 teams combined. The research by TransferRoom also shows the Londoners to be valued at over €1bn more than their closest rivals, Fiorentina. Enzo Maresca’s side are the overwhelming favourites to win the title. The calculations [...]
The new Bosman? Why the Diarra ruling could change football forever October 3, 2024 The biggest changes to the football transfer market since the Bosman ruling could be unleashed on Friday at the European Court of Justice, potentially making it easier for players to walk away from their contracts at will. That is when the ECJ is due to deliver its verdict in a long-running dispute between world governing [...]
Ed Warner: My 10 sports for a slimmed down Commonwealth Games October 3, 2024 The self-styled ‘friendly games’ are no longer quite so friendless: it appears Glasgow will indeed host a slimmed-down edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2026, although still we await official confirmation. The trouble is that 20 into 10 won’t go, and boxing’s political turmoil is holding up a decision on which sports will be left [...]
McIlroy: Deal between LIV, PGA Tour and DP World Tour to be done by 2025 October 2, 2024 A new deal for a mega golf merger between the PGA and DP World Tours and the breakaway LIV Golf League will be done by the end of the year, insists Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman was a staunch critic of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund-backed LIV Golf League but has since rolled back [...]
Sky Sports strike back at rival TNT with England cricket rights win October 2, 2024 England’s forthcoming Test matches in Pakistan will be shown on Sky Sports after the broadcaster loosened rival TNT Sports’ grip on overseas series. Ben Stokes’s side are due to play three Tests against Pakistan, starting on Monday in Multan. The second Test at the same venue is on 15-19 October and the series concludes in [...]
Ahead of the Game: Yorkshire land financial boost from Castore deal October 2, 2024 Yorkshire have agreed a multi-million pound kit deal with Castore in a major boost for the cash-strapped county. The five-year contract is the first significant commercial deal brought to the club since their leadership was overhauled following the return of Colin Graves as chairman in February. Graves has yet to secure the £4m outside investment [...]
FC Barcelona lose £76m after investors default on payments October 1, 2024 Barcelona suffered a £76m loss last year after investors defaulted on payments due for shares in the club’s media spin-off Barca Vision. The Spanish club was forced to write off £117m in the accounts for 2023-24 as a result of the dispute with investors including German fund Libero. Barcelona also lost out on an estimated [...]