Trevor Steven: VAR, handballs and concussion breaks – seven rules that English referees must resolve in football in 2023 January 10, 2023 While some readers will have New Year’s resolutions and supporters may have January wish lists for their clubs, I have my own hopes for football in 2023 and they revolve around rules and refereeing. Recent times have seen a conveyor belt of tweaks to officiating that I believe has only muddied the waters. The thinking [...]
Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Manchester City: Which team has the biggest wage bill in European football? January 10, 2023 Paris Saint-Germain’s signing of Lionel Messi contributed to the club setting a new record for the biggest wage bill in European football history last season. The French champions paid their players and staff €728m (£642m) in 2021-22, a year-on-year increase of 45 per cent, according to a new report by advisory Football Benchmark. It followed [...]
Rafael Nadal joins Sergio Perez in owning E1 speedboat racing team January 10, 2023 Tennis sensation Rafael Nadal has launched an electric speedboat racing team to compete in a league alongside a franchise owned by Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez. The E1 series is the latest brainchild of Alejandro Agag – the man behind Formula E and Extreme E – and Nadal’s team is the third to be confirmed. [...]
SA20: What is it, when is it on and why people keep talking about the IPL January 10, 2023 South Africa’s Twenty20 competition, the SA20, starts tonight with six teams owned by IPL franchises battling for the inaugural trophy. Here’s what you need to know. The SA20 teams There are six teams in this competition, all privately-owned by Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises. The Joburg Super Kings, Durban’s Super Giants, MI Cape Town, Paarl [...]
Arsenal earn FA Cup fourth round tie with Man City after Oxford win January 9, 2023 Arsenal will play Manchester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the end of the month after the Gunners beat Oxford United 3-0 at the Kassam Stadium. League One Oxford were plucky opponents for the Premier League leaders and ensured it was all square at the break but three Arsenal goals inside [...]
The South African cricket league with Archer, Buttler and IPL influence January 9, 2023 Tomorrow, on a sunny summer evening in South Africa, the world’s newest T20 cricket league gets underway. But this one is like something sport has never seen before. Because every one of the six franchises – each based out of a different South African city or region – is owned by an Indian Premier League [...]
Why Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as a target for Paris Saint-Germain owners Qatar Sport Investments January 9, 2023 Qatar Sports Investments, the owners of Paris Saint-Germain, have identified Tottenham Hotspur as a potential minority investment as they accelerate plans to build a global network of football clubs in 2023. Sources close to QSI said chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who is also PSG president, held talks with Tottenham executive chairman Daniel Levy last week to [...]
Gareth Bale retires from club and international football January 9, 2023 Welsh footballer Gareth Bale has retired from the international and club game after a career which saw him reach over 100 caps for The Dragons. Bale’s last appearance was in Wales’ first World Cup campaign in 64 years – where the side crashed out in the group stages in Qatar. Bale scored 41 goals in [...]
Sam Torrance: Ryder Cup, Rory McIlroy, peace between tours – my hopes for golf in 2023 January 9, 2023 There is plenty to look forward to for followers of golf in 2023 but the thing I’m most excited about is Europe attempting to win back the Ryder Cup from the USA. The Americans won by a record margin last time and European captain Luke Donald will be conscious of the importance of regaining the [...]
Here’s why England rugby captain Owen Farrell is facing a Six Nations ban January 9, 2023 England rugby captain Owen Farrell could be banned for the Six Nations after he was cited for a dangerous tackle. Saracens fly-half Farrell faces a disciplinary hearing tomorrow over his challenge on Gloucester’s Jack Clement on Friday, which was not punished by referee Karl Dickson. If found guilty of a top-end offence, he could be [...]