Ed Warner: My memo to sport’s blazers? Stay out of the way March 6, 2025 Sport governing bodies should focus on organisational framework but professional activity can largely be left to the free market, argues Ed Warner. Who doesn’t love a badge, especially if having the right to flaunt it conveys status? Witness the urge to wear replica kit, even though the status this gives is simply identification as a [...]
MPs slam TNT Sports cycling subscription fee hike March 5, 2025 MPs have slammed TNT Sports over its plan to move the Tour de France behind a paywall that is more than four times the former subscription fee. Cycling has long been on Eurosport but as of last week the broadcaster ceased to exist in the UK and its assets were transferred over to TNT Sports, [...]
Flintoff, Vaughan and Anderson register for Hundred cricket draft March 5, 2025 Rocky Flintoff, son of former England favourite Andrew, has registered himself for the Hundred draft alongside Archie Vaughan, son of Michael. Flintoff, 16, and Vaughan, 19, are among more than 800 players to have put their names forward for inclusion in this year’s competition, with the draft scheduled for 12 March. At the other end [...]
Fifa asks Coldplay to curate first ever World Cup final half-time show March 5, 2025 Fifa is introducing a half-time show for the 2026 World Cup final and has asked Coldplay singer Chris Martin to help curate a selection of artists to perform. The half-time show is a staple of NFL’s Super Bowl and, with the next World Cup final set to be held in the US, Fifa is importing [...]
Millwall set to fight FA bid to extend Roberts ban for Mateta tackle March 5, 2025 Millwall are expected to contest the Football Association’s push for goalkeeper Liam Roberts to be given an extended ban for his challenge on Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. The FA has asked a regulatory commission to increase Roberts’ ban from the standard three-match sanction for serious foul play on the grounds that it was “clearly [...]
TNT Sports leads UK TV deal race for Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track March 5, 2025 TNT Sports is set to bid for UK TV rights for Michael Johnson’s new Grand Slam Track league, which begins in Kingston, Jamaica next month. The four-time Olympic champion has signed 48 international athletes, including Team GB Olympic silver medalists Josh Kerr and Matthew Hudson-Smith, and sprinter Daryll Neita, for the inaugural season of Grand [...]
WNBA: Serena Williams joins ownership group of basketball franchise March 4, 2025 Tennis superstar Serena Williams has joined the ownership group for a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) expansion franchise. Toronto Tempo have welcomed the 43-year-old into their group alongside Larry Tanenbaum, who is the chairman of controllers Kilmer Sports Ventures and owns the likes of AS Saint-Étienne of Ligue 1. The WNBA has 13 teams but [...]
LaLiga launches UK free-to-air rights tender as ITV deal comes to end March 4, 2025 Spanish football’s LaLiga has launched a media rights tender for free-to-air coverage of games in the United Kingdom. Two packages are on offer to British and Irish broadcasters: the first for exclusive access to all LaLiga matches, and the second for free-to-air matches scheduled for 8pm on Sunday evenings. ITV Sport has been the host [...]
Broadway Boy to put his name in lights in the Ultima March 4, 2025 WAITING is nearly over for the Olympics of Jumps racing with less than a week to go to the Cheltenham Festival. We learned the handicap weights last week and I think I’ve found another bet in these devilishly difficult-to-solve contests. The Ultima Handicap Chase is the first handicap of the meeting, and The Changing Man [...]
Let Betty lift your Spirits at Sandown March 4, 2025 CHELTENHAM is now virtually upon us but before then Sandown’s meeting on Saturday provides a last chance to fill the coffers before we head into the greatest four days of Jumps racing. There’s a £100,000 bonus in place for any horse that wins the Imperial Cup (2.25pm) and follows up in any race at Cheltenham. [...]