Ollie Phillips: Bath will sneak win against troubled Wasps September 23, 2022 I’m going to call it: I think Bath will pick up their first Premiership win of the season this weekend against Wasps. While they struggled against Bristol Bears and Sale Sharks in their opening two matches, I get a sense that they could be about to snap out of their losing habit. There’s an opportunity [...]
Exclusive: Saracens CEO says “financial model of rugby doesn’t work” September 22, 2022 As one Premiership rugby club teeters on the brink of going under and another considers administration, Saracens’ chief executive Lucy Wray has admitted that English rugby’s finances are broken. But Wray has faith in Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Football Union to make the changes needed to ensure no more clubs face the same threats [...]
Ronaldo signing pushes Manchester United to record financial loss of £115.5m September 22, 2022 Manchester United suffered their worst ever financial loss last year despite revenues rallying as supporters returned to stadiums following the pandemic. United made a loss of £115.5m for the year ending June 2022, a further deterioration on the previous season’s record £92.2m loss. Revenue increased 18 per cent to £583.2m thanks to the return of [...]
Laver Cup: Federer’s farewell, the big three and reliable London September 22, 2022 After runs in Prague, Chicago, Geneva and Boston, the Laver Cup will mark its fifth year this weekend by arriving at London’s O2 Arena. The tennis tournament pits Team Europe, captained by Bjorn Borg, against Team World, captained by John McEnroe, with the visiting side looking to win the cup for the first time. So [...]
Ed Warner: Marathon season revives questions about unequal fight against doping September 22, 2022 The track season is behind us and athletic thoughts now turn to autumn marathons. Berlin, renowned world record course, this Sunday. London and then Chicago within a fortnight. New York at the start of November. That’s four of the six marathon majors in seven weekends, and doubtless plenty of competition among race organisers to secure [...]
Staging Hockey World Cup at Tottenham Hotspur will ‘sustain the sport for years’ September 21, 2022 England Hockey is pinning its hopes of hosting the men’s World Cup in 2026 on staging matches in bigger venues than the sport usually visits, such as the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The 62,000-capacity ground has been earmarked to host finals weekend if the joint bid from England and Wales is selected in early November. “This [...]
West Ham sponsor Betway hit with £400k fine over marketing on kids’ webpages September 21, 2022 West Ham’s main sponsor Betway has been whacked with a fine of over £400,000 for marketing on children’s webpages, adding to the tide of penalties given to gambling firms in recent months. The Gambling Commission found that between 14 April 2020 and 6 November 2021 the operator’s gambling logo, which linked to its website, was [...]
Worcester Warriors given until Monday to prove they have credible plan September 21, 2022 Troubled Premiership rugby club Worcester Warriors have been given until 5pm on Monday to prove they can operate as a organisation going forward. In a statement released by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the governing body finally put a hard deadline in place for a club who have been struggling financially in recent weeks. “The [...]
Worcester Warriors creditor raises questions over Sport England loan September 20, 2022 Sport England have been dragged into the row over financially troubled Premiership rugby outfit Worcester Warriors with one creditor raising questions around a £15m Covid-19 loan. In allegations set out in summarised correspondence to Sport England seen by City A.M., the creditor, who wishes to remain anonymous, alleges that the organisation – which acted as [...]
Qatar 2022: How can brands navigate the most political World Cup ever? September 20, 2022 While the location of this year’s Qatar 2022 World Cup makes it the most controversial yet, it is still a huge global moment that fans across the world will want to engage with, and brands be a part of. This is the first time a men’s football World Cup has been held in what is [...]