Non-league football contracts row: Should athletes be a special case in employment law? March 27, 2023 Whether it realises it or not, non-league football has raised an age-old legal argument: should sportspeople be treated as a separate case under employment law, given the unique space in which they operate? Reports suggesting that National League players could be prepared to go on strike over upcoming contract changes put forward by the Football [...]
Newcastle United doc from makers of All Or Nothing to put focus on business March 24, 2023 Newcastle United’s transformation under Saudi ownership will be the subject of a new documentary series on Amazon’s Prime Video platform, it has been confirmed. The four-part series will focus on the business side of running the club, through interviews with co-owner Amanda Staveley and other club chiefs as well as behind-the-scenes footage. The show, set [...]
Activist investor Elliott ramps up Manchester United interest with bid for minority stake March 23, 2023 Elliott Investment Management has upped its interest in Manchester United by offering to buy a small stake in the Premier League club. The activist investor had previously offered finance to any other party bidding for United, who were put for sale by the Glazer family in November. That offer remains, but after visiting Old Trafford [...]
Manchester United bidders fear Glazers want £6.5bn or will walk away from sale March 23, 2023 Manchester United’s suitors fear that the Glazer family will reverse their decision to sell the club unless they receive a bid of £6.5bn. The latest twists in the sale process have been interpreted in some quarters as evidence that United’s owners are not serious about relinquishing control at Old Trafford. Bidders were due to lodge [...]
Putin the boot in: Vladimir takes swipe at Britain over Russian sport ban lobbying March 23, 2023 Vladimir Putin has accused Russia’s critics including the UK of “using sports for unseemly purposes”. Putin said calls, led by Britain, for Russian athletes to remain banned from international sport were politically motivated. “Western countries are trying to use sports for unseemly purposes as a tool of pressure,” the Russian president told news agency TASS. [...]
I’ve seen 34 managers leave Crystal Palace and Patrick Vieira made me saddest – Ed Warner March 23, 2023 In my five decades supporting Crystal Palace I’ve seen 34 managers come and go (not including caretakers). Some resigned, others were sacked or left by the euphemistic “mutual consent”. One appeared to retire only to be reappointed this week – welcome back Roy! They ranged from the ‘aargh!’ (Alan Mullery and Steve Bruce) to God [...]
English clubs still want to join a European Super League, says Barcelona chief March 22, 2023 Leading English football clubs are still interested in joining a European Super League despite renouncing the project, says Barcelona president Joan Laporta. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur all backed out of the breakaway shortly after it was announced in April 2021. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus remain keen to press [...]
Why Rory McIlroy’s balls decision could boost his Masters chances March 22, 2023 Rory McIlroy is considering playing with a shorter golf ball in the hope of boosting his chances of completing the career grand slam at next month’s Masters. In a bid to curb ever-increasing driving distances at elite level, golf chiefs are giving tournaments the power to make players use Model Local Rule balls which travel [...]
Euro 2024 qualifying explained: Who is in England’s group? Where and when is Euro 2024? March 22, 2023 The countdown to the next major international tournament in men’s football begins this week with the first Euro 2024 qualifying matches. Ninety-five days after the World Cup final in Qatar, England will kick off their campaign to reach the tournament on Thursday against Italy in Naples. For all the details on where Euro 2024 will [...]
The barking mad merger: What experts think of potential Ealing and Ospreys deal March 22, 2023 With the flow of stories about financial woes in rugby resembling an everlasting hospital drip, one development has caused much less of a stir than it might otherwise have. It revolves around Ealing Trailfinders, who are top of the second-tier English Championship, a position they have been in or around for the past decade. They have [...]