How a Fifa climbdown has paved the way for expanded Club World Cup to start in 2025 March 1, 2023 Europe’s top football teams are closing in on a deal with Fifa that would give the green light to an expanded Club World Cup in 2025 but rule out a switch to biennial international World Cups. After months of tense exchanges, talks between umbrella organisation the European Club Association and world governing body Fifa are [...]
Former Chelsea bidder hints at interest in Liverpool and Manchester United March 1, 2023 Former Chelsea bidder Stephen Pagliuca has hinted that he could be interested in buying Liverpool or Manchester United but says he won’t be sucked into overpaying. The private equity veteran and co-owner of Italian club Atalanta and the NBA’s Boston Celtics missed out on Chelsea to Todd Boehly’s consortium last year. Pagliuca says he is [...]
Just Fontaine: Record-breaking former France footballer and World Cup icon dies, aged 89 March 1, 2023 Former France striker Just Fontaine, whose 13 goals at a single World Cup proved to be one of football’s most enduring records, has died aged 89. Fontaine scored 30 goals in just 21 appearances for France, including a hat-trick on his debut, before his career was cut short by injury at the age of 28. [...]
Women’s Lions ‘must be based on form’ after tour gets early green light February 28, 2023 Former England international Shaunagh Brown has backed the idea of a women’s Lions tour following a feasibility report but insisted that the squad must only be made up of the best players and not employ quotas to stop English dominance. The study, funded by Royal London, investigated key aspects of what would make up a [...]
Fownes and Yiu runners to Storm home to Reach the Goal February 28, 2023 IT’S GUARANTEED the Zac Purton and Jamie Richards combination will once again be near the forefront of the betting when they team-up with the lightly-raced but improving Casa Cosmo in the competitive Pak Tin Handicap (2.15pm) over the extended mile. This New Zealand-bred son of Tavistock looked a sure-fire future winner after being narrowly beaten [...]
Purton to add another winner to his Armoury February 28, 2023 RACING enthusiasts and punters had better make the most of watching Champion Jockey Zac Purton in action on a nine-race programme at Happy Valley in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Their talisman, who only needs one more winner to reach his century for the season, will be out of action for the next couple of meetings [...]
Here’s how to watch England white-ball tour of Bangladesh for FREE February 28, 2023 The Test cricket may only have just finished in New Zealand but England are already back in action tomorrow as they take on Bangladesh in three ODI matches and three T20’s. But unlike the Test tour to New Zealand, you are able to watch this limited overs series for free. Because while Sky Sports will [...]
Why football clubs are like tomatoes – and these are salad days for the likes of Manchester United’s owners February 28, 2023 The salad shortage and the appeal of elite football clubs such as Manchester United are both being driven by the same thing, writes Neil Hopkins. Early 2023 seems destined to be remembered for shortages. For most of us, a shortage of tomatoes and other salad produce. For cash-rich investors from the Middle East, a shortage [...]
Kop of living crisis: Soaring bills hit Liverpool’s bottom line February 28, 2023 It seems that even the world’s richest football clubs are not immune to the cost of living crisis after soaring bills put a dent in Liverpool’s profits. The Premier League club achieved record revenues of £594m last season but turned a pre-tax profit of just £7.5m following a steep rise in matchday overheads. The return [...]
Ben Stokes: England captain to fulfil £1.6m IPL contract despite Ashes injury fears February 28, 2023 England cricket captain Ben Stokes insists he will fulfil his £1.6m Indian Premier League (IPL) contract despite injury restricting his participation in a blockbuster second Test in New Zealand and threatening his fitness for this summer’s Ashes. A knee injury meant Stokes took the ball for just two of the 216 overs bowled by England [...]