Spanish football’s LaLiga backs financial fair play shake-up as “major step forwards” March 29, 2022 Spanish football chiefs LaLiga have welcomed the proposed overhaul of European football’s financial fair play rules. New regulations set to be phased in from next year will see clubs’ spending on wages, transfers and agents’ fees capped at 70 per cent of their income but a greater tolerance for loss-making clubs. LaLiga, which represents the [...]
European football club chiefs defend controversial changes to Champions League qualification March 29, 2022 European football club chiefs have defended proposals to give more Champions League places to historically successful teams, saying they are “fair, add value and make sense”. The changes are set to take effect from 2024, when the competition’s group stage expands from 32 to a single 36-team league. Under plans approved by leading clubs, two [...]
Mystery surrounds Roman Abramovich poisoning in Kyiv but seen as ‘firm warning’ to Chelsea owner as fresh details emerge March 29, 2022 The suspected poisoning of Russian billionaire and Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich was not intended to kill him and the two Ukrainian representatives, the lead Russia investigator with investigative news outlet Bellingcat has said. Christo Grozev told Times Radio the “most plausible” explanation for the alleged poisoning was that it was a warning to Abramovich. [...]
Jacksonville Jaguars returning to Wembley Stadium for three more years March 29, 2022 NFL team the Jacksonville Jaguars have committed to playing a game at Wembley Stadium for the next three years. The Jags have played in London every year since 2013 except 2020, when fixtures were cancelled because of Covid-19. The Florida-based franchise switched to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year but will return to Wembley this [...]
Europe’s top football clubs back new spending cap in place of financial fair play March 28, 2022 The influential European Club Association (ECA) has backed the proposed scrapping of football’s controversial financial fair play (FFP) rules in favour of a new cost-control system based on a soft spending cap. Uefa’s planned shake-up is the biggest change to the financial regulation of European club competitions such as the Champions League and Europa League [...]
Chelsea’s bankers tell bidders to commit £1bn for club’s future March 26, 2022 Chelsea FC’s bankers have told those left in the race to acquire the team to commit at least £1bn to finance the club’s future. Former British Airways and Liverpool FC chairman Sir Martin Broughton as well as former Olympian Lord Coe feature among those making a play for the team. The bidders are expected to [...]
Chelsea bankers reject bids from Saudi Media Group and Woody Johnson March 24, 2022 The sale of Chelsea took a major step towards conclusion today when a number of bidders, including Saudi Media Group and Woody Johnson, were reportedly rejected. US bank the Raine Group, hired to sell the club by sanction-hit owner Roman Abramovich, contacted a number of unsuccessful bidders as it whittled down would-be buyers. Saudi Media [...]
PM Boris Johnson dents UK and Ireland bid by suggesting Ukraine should host Euro 2028 March 24, 2022 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appeared to undermine the UK and Ireland’s bid for Euro 2028 by suggesting Ukraine be named hosts. Johnson also joined a chorus of criticism of Russia, who only declared their interest in staging the championship hours before the deadline on Wednesday. “The idea of Russia holding any football tournament or [...]
Ed Warner: Does it really matter if Chelsea buyers are true Blues fans? March 24, 2022 Who are the wannabe owners of Chelsea trying to impress when they flaunt their fandom? Investment bank the Raine Group is only likely to give a jot when someone first stood in the Shed, or how long they’ve sat in the same seat in the Matthew Harding Stand, if this matters to HM Treasury. If [...]
Chelsea handed £30m cash boost and permission to sell tickets as government relaxes licence March 23, 2022 Chelsea have been handed a £30m boost from the government and given permission to sell some tickets again. The strict licence that the Premier League club has been operating under since owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned was relaxed slightly today. It means Chelsea can receive up to £30m from their parent company “in respect of [...]