Only 5.8m viewers stuck around for whole England v Iran 6-2 victory November 22, 2022 Only 5.8m viewers stuck around to watch the whole of England’s 6-2 victory against Iran in its World Cup opening match yesterday. According to fresh data from ratings body Barb, the lunchtime match raked in far fewer viewers than the Lions’ opening match back in 2018 at the Russia World Cup, as well as the [...]
Comment: Criticise me not Qatar for World Cup, says Infantino. OK then, here goes November 20, 2022 In a speech riddled with crass false equivalences on the eve of the World Cup, Gianni Infantino had a message for critics of this tournament. “Don’t criticise Qatar. Don’t criticise the players” the Fifa president said. “Criticise me, because I am responsible for everything.” OK, Gianni; here goes. There is no shortage of material. Criticise [...]
Fifa president accuses West of ‘hypocrisy’ in Qatar World Cup coverage November 19, 2022 Fifa president Gianni Infantino has accused the West of “hypocrisy” in its reporting of Qatar’s human rights record. In a news conference in Doha, Infantino defended Qatar and the tournament, which is due to kick off tomorrow evening. “Today I have strong feelings. Today I feel Qatari, I feel Arab, I feel African, I feel [...]
Exclusive: Powerleague chief on price rises and making the ‘tinder of grassroots football’ November 18, 2022 On the eve of the World Cup, grassroots football is the focus for Powerleague boss Christian Rose, who has dragged it out of red and through pandemic with a metaphorical Cruyff Turn. The CEO has been in post for four years after being brought in during 2018 when the company was “not in great shape.” [...]
From Reece James to Paul Pogba: 10 football favourites you won’t see at the Qatar World Cup November 17, 2022 Reece James is the latest footballer to agonisingly miss out on a place at the 2022 World Cup, the Chelsea and England defender confirmed on Twitter earlier this week. After suffering a knee injury against A.C. Milan, discussions between James and England manager Gareth Southgate concluded that the Chelsea full back would be in no condition to [...]
Ed Warner: If Liverpool’s owners want to sell, expect more American buyers November 17, 2022 Ed Warner addresses why American investors are the most likely purchases of any Liverpool shares on the market, why England’s Rugby World Cup defeat was good for the women’s game, and cricket song choices with a sense of humour. Forty-three days without the Premier League. Three days in and already I’m suffering withdrawal symptoms. Yes, [...]
Size matters: Why tiny Qatar decided it needed to host the World Cup November 16, 2022 Sport business and geopolitics expert Professor Simon Chadwick explains the economic, security-related and nation-building reasons why Qatar is hosting the World Cup. With the start of the men’s World Cup in Qatar imminent, fans are looking ahead to the action starting. Some will be anticipating Harry Kane retaining his Golden Boot, though others may feel [...]
Magic materials, paperless tickets and Web3: Sports technology trends to watch in 2023 November 16, 2022 Rebecca Hopkins, chief executive of the STA Group, picks out the sports technology trends to watch in the next year. It is exciting to realise how far sport has come in the past 12 months and whilst the post-pandemic era is throwing up more external challenges than could have been predicted, the sector remains as [...]
Virgin’s ‘Pride’ Airbus called Rainbow to fly England squad to Qatar World Cup today November 15, 2022 Team England is reportedly flying off to Qatar today on a plane called ‘Rainbow’. The Virgin Atlantic Airbus, which is chartered by FA, also carried the registration number PRD, or short for ‘Pride’. Moreover, the Airbus plane also features a cartoon of a man holding wearing Rainbow-coloured shoes, while he carries the Union flag, according [...]
LIV Golf announces Adelaide event as part of inaugural £344m league season November 14, 2022 LIV Golf’s inaugural league season will visit Adelaide in April, organisers of the big-money circuit have announced. The Grange Golf Club in the capital city of South Australia is set to feature early in LIV Golf’s expanded 14-date schedule for 2023, which will run from February to September. Open champion Cameron Smith is one of [...]