European football chief Ceferin plays down fears of talent drain to Saudi Pro League June 19, 2023 Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin insists he is not worried about the Saudi Pro League’s ambitious transfer policy stripping European football of its top stars. Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Ruben Neves have already followed Cristian Ronaldo in moving to Saudi, where a major investment programme from the Public Investment Fund is also reported to be [...]
‘Tennis is asleep at the wheel. It needs a wake-up call’ – Dietloff von Arnim interview June 18, 2023 Dietloff von Arnim on why the International Tennis Federation needs change, the Davis Cup ‘failure’, and running for president. With Novak Djokovic still in record-breaking shape, Iga Swiatek underlining her status as one the sport’s new stars and focus turning to the pristine lawns of Wimbledon, it would be easy to assume that all is [...]
How the Home Office made it easier for English football to sign foreign youngsters June 16, 2023 A little over two years after English football shut the door on a host of foreign talent by implementing strict post-Brexit rules, it prised it open again this week when the Home Office approved a relaxation of the regulations. The biggest change affords clubs more scope to appeal for an exception to be made if [...]
Premiership Rugby confirm new Sporting Commission June 15, 2023 Premiership Rugby has today launched a sporting commission as the English game looks to dig itself out of a hole that has seen three clubs go under. Worcester Warriors, Wasps and London Irish have all been kicked out of the top flight over financial woes. Premiership Rugby has been forced into action with the very [...]
Ed Warner: What’s next for the losers in the rush to embrace sovereign wealth? June 15, 2023 City A.M. columnist Ed Warner discusses the recent LIV Golf merger, the Saudi Arabia PIF deal and what comes next for the losers in the rush to embrace sovereign wealth. Elite runners focus on every step of every run. Us mere mortals seek displacement tricks to block out the pain. And so I found myself [...]
From Big Five to Big One: Premier League pulling away from European rivals – Deloitte June 15, 2023 European football’s Big Five leagues are steadily being replaced by a Big One as the Premier League pulls away from its rivals, according to research published today. The total revenue of Premier League clubs reached £5.5bn in 2021-22, around twice as much as its nearest challenger, Spain’s LaLiga, Deloitte’s Annual Review of Football Finance reports. [...]
BBC and ITV to show Fifa Women’s World Cup June 14, 2023 Broadcasting duo the BBC and ITV will show the Fifa Women’s World Cup this year after concerns over whether the tournament would be shown in Europe at all. Fifa had threatened a European blackout if broadcasters were not willing to stump up a desired amount to show the tournament, which kicks off on 20 July [...]
Royal Ascot runner goes Thunder the hammer June 14, 2023 Tom Marriott speaks to Jack Davison ahead of today’s ThoroughBid online auction of Royal Ascot runner Thunderbear. WALKING into the parade ring, or maybe even the winners’ enclosure, at Royal Ascot, with a horse running in your colours… the stuff that dreams are made of. At 3:05pm next Saturday, Thunderbear will line up in the [...]
Jude Bellingham signs for Real Madrid in potential English record transfer June 14, 2023 Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund in what could become a record fee for an English player. The 19-year-old England midfielder is believed to be costing the Spanish champions an initial €103m (£88m). That fee could rise to as much as €133m (£113m), eclipsing the £100m Manchester City paid [...]
Under-fire golf boss Jay Monahan steps back from PGA Tour with ‘medical situation’ June 14, 2023 Under-fire PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan has stepped back from his duties with immediate effect after suffering a “medical situation”. No further details were provided by the organisation, which last week entered into a controversial agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to merge their interests, including the big-money LIV Golf circuit. It comes on [...]