Chelsea sale: Sir Jim Ratcliffe bid ‘rejected out of hand’ by Roman Abramovich’s bankers May 4, 2022 Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s bid for Chelsea has been “rejected out of hand”, according to senior figures at his business the Ineos Group. The British petrochemicals billionaire made an 11th-hour offer for the Premier League club last week which comprised £2.5bn plus a commitment to invest a further £1.75bn. But Ratcliffe has indicated that he is [...]
Sprinkling local football clubs with money won’t make them sustainable endeavours May 4, 2022 The domestic football season has come to a dramatic close, with two sides from the North West jostling for the title and four London teams competing frantically for the coveted spots in Europe. Since its inception, clubs from these two areas have dominated the Premiership, especially over the past twenty years. Perhaps it is something [...]
Chelsea sale: Deal plunged into doubt after U-turn on loan repayment – reports May 3, 2022 Fresh doubt surrounds the proposed sale of Chelsea after it was reported that owner Roman Abramovich wants to change the structure of the deal. Having previously indicated that he was willing to write off more than £1.5bn of debt owed by the club to another of his companies, he is now said to have asked [...]
Paul Merson: Football should do more to stop lives being ruined by gambling addiction May 3, 2022 Former footballer and reformed addict Paul Merson believes the sport should do more to stop players falling prey to gambling problems. Merson also battled alcohol and drugs during a career that nevertheless gleaned league titles, European trophies and playing at World Cups for England. The ex-Arsenal forward, 54, was driven to the brink of suicide [...]
English football regulator may be constrained by conflicting aims, says legal expert May 2, 2022 An independent regulator of English football may be rendered toothless by conflicting aims, says a legal expert on the running of the sport. The Government last week announced plans to create a regulator as part of its response to former sports minister Tracey Crouch’s Fan-Led Review of Football Governance. But Stuart Hatcher, a corporate lawyer [...]
Porsche and Audi to enter Formula 1 in 2026, confirms Volkswagen chief Diess May 2, 2022 Porsche and Audi are working on plans to enter Formula 1, says Herbert Diess, chief executive of their parent company Volkswagen. He said the decision was based on the growth in popularity of F1 in recent years, particularly in the US and among younger audiences. Confirming that Porsche and Audi would enter the series in [...]
Football super-agent Mino Raiola dies aged 54 April 30, 2022 Dutch-Italian football agent Mino Raiola has died at the age of 54. The football super-agent, who shot to fame for his work with football legends including Paul Pogba and Mario Balotelli, died after suffering a period of sickness lasting several months, according to reports. Raiola’s family confirmed his death in a statement via Twitter, as [...]
Tennis legend Boris Becker jailed: The dramatic rise and fall of a world champion April 30, 2022 A dramatic fall from grace for tennis legend Boris Becker, as he was jailed for two-and-a-half years yesterday for trying to hide £2.5m in assets and loans. As Becker starts his prison sentence, City A.M. zooms in on the turbulent and colourful life of the three-time Wimbledon champion. Boris Franz Becker was born in Leimen, [...]
Wimbledon star Boris Becker jailed for two-and-a-half years for hiding £2.5m in assets and loans April 29, 2022 Tennis legend and three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for hiding £2.5 million worth of assets and loans to avoid paying his debts. The former world number one, 54, was declared bankrupt on June 21 2017, owing creditors almost £50m, over an unpaid loan of more than £3m on his [...]
Sir Jim Ratcliffe makes eleventh-hour £4bn bid for Chelsea Football Club April 29, 2022 British tycoon Sir Jim Ratcliffe has swooped in with a sensational eleventh-hour £4bn bid to buy Chelsea Football Club.