Ascot CEO on Royal meet, pooling media rights and the best of Britain June 10, 2026 The chief executive of Ascot Racecourse has suggested major horse racing meets could pool their media rights to compete with rival sports. The 300-year-old Royal Ascot festival returns to Berkshire next week with record prize money and 300,000 fans expected over five days of racing. And chief executive Felicity Barnard has floated the idea of [...]
Everton chief calls for full review of England academy talent funding June 10, 2026 Everton technical director Nick Cox, one of the most respected figures in the academy world, has questioned the Premier League’s model for investing in youth development. Cox, who worked at Manchester United’s academy for nine years – six as its director – before joining Everton last year, believes big clubs receive too big a slice [...]
World Cup office sweepstakes could leave employers facing legal red cards June 10, 2026 With the World Cup set to kick off on Thursday, many offices across the City will be gearing up to offer employees the chance to participate in competitions – known as sweepstakes – to place informal bets on who might win. Sweepstakes involve participants paying a fee into a cash pot and being randomly assigned [...]
UK Government warns Joe Joyce against travelling to Russia for Moscow fight June 9, 2026 The UK Government has warned Joe Joyce against travelling to Russia after the British heavyweight boxer agreed to fight Artem Suslenkov in Moscow next month. The 2016 Olympic silver medallist will head to the 14,000-capacity VTB Arena next month to take on the unbeaten Suslenkov, from Volgograd, amid Russia’s continued military operation in Ukraine. Vladimir [...]
Justice For Players hopeful of Fifa deal in football class action after Diarra settlement June 9, 2026 Justice For Players insists its multi-billion-pound claim against Fifa has been strengthened by the governing body settling with the man who triggered the class action, Lassana Diarra. Diarra’s lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont confirmed on Tuesday that his client had reached agreement with Fifa and the Belgian football federation over an out-of-court settlement in relation to the [...]
Government to invest £3m in five new cricket domes June 9, 2026 The Government is investing £3m into the construction of five new cricket domes as plans to increase participation in the sport ramp up. The state contribution will help communities in Birmingham, Derby, Newcastle, Bolton and Nottingham after an initial three domes were opened in the West Midlands, Bradford and Lancashire. A further £1.5m was committed [...]
Fifa charging World Cup fans £59 for ‘shoutouts’ in new money-making scheme June 9, 2026 Fifa is charging football fans £59 to have their name announced before matches at the 2026 World Cup, which starts this week. For $79 (£59), supporters can buy a “Super Shoutout” to have their name read out and appear on the stadium scoreboard before any fixture at the World Cup. It is the latest money-making [...]
Platini sues Fifa and president Infantino over alleged plot to topple him June 9, 2026 Former Uefa president Michel Platini is suing Fifa boss Gianni Infantino, accusing him and two others of plotting against him and ending his chances of landing football’s top job. Platini’s lawyers have announced that they are bringing legal action in Paris against Infantino and two former Fifa officials, legal director Marco Villiger and audit chair [...]
Mayor Khan hails London as ‘undisputed global capital for women’s sport’ amid £50m boost June 9, 2026 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has hailed the capital as the “undisputed global capital for women’s sport” after the sector pulled in £55m in 2025. City Hall research claims that events such as the Women’s Rugby World Cup final, the WTA event at Queen’s and the Hundred all contributed to £55m being delivered into the [...]
Rugby needs its Premier League to step up and take control, Raine says June 9, 2026 Merchant bank Raine Group has warned that professional rugby is not big enough for “five or six leagues” and that it is “time for someone to put the hammer down” and become the sport’s equivalent to the Premier League. Rugby union has been going through a crisis of late, with different leagues using different structures [...]