Manchester City’s most successful era now has an asterisk after Premier League hit them with over 100 charges February 6, 2023 Manchester City are facing the threat of expulsion from the Premier League after the English champions were accused of the biggest financial scandal in the competition’s history. City were yesterday charged with more than 100 alleged rule breaches dating back to 2009, including falsely reporting income and the salaries of players and managers, and failing [...]
Football league club chairman makes radical suggestion to help non-league teams – and believes it could get majority backing February 6, 2023 English football is facing fresh calls to overhaul promotion and relegation and make it easier for non-league clubs to climb the men’s pyramid. The number of teams promoted from the National League to League Two should increase from two to three, argues Grimsby Town chairman Jason Stockwood. Stockwood, writing in the Guardian, says there may [...]
Full Swing: Golf’s Netflix docuseries lays bare rancour between PGA Tour and LIV Golf, but will it do a Drive to Survive? February 6, 2023 When Netflix weighed up what to call its latest behind-the-scenes sport documentary, this time about life on golf’s PGA Tour, it plumped for the beige Full Swing. It might have been better off choosing Making A Wedge, such is the preoccupation with money that runs through the eight-part series, or Taking Out The Pin, given [...]
Exclusive: Worcester Warriors sale in spotlight over administrator’s email to witness February 5, 2023 The impartiality of Worcester Warriors’ sale process has been called into question after the administrators were accused of pressuring a witness ahead of a parliamentary select committee. A partner at DCMS–appointed administrators Begbies Traynor warned the witness that they could be sued for defamation if they repeated allegations about preferred bidder Jim O’Toole’s Atlas consortium [...]
Harry Kane’s historic 267th Spurs goal dents Man City’s title hopes February 5, 2023 Harry Kane savoured a “magical moment” after becoming Tottenham Hotspur’s all-time leading goalscorer in yesterday’s Premier League defeat of champions Manchester City. Kane tucked past City goalkeeper Ederson in the 15th minute for his 267th Spurs goal, eclipsing the record previously held by Jimmy Greaves. It saw the 10-man north Londoners move to within one [...]
Defending Six Nations champions France sneak past Italy in Rome thriller February 5, 2023 Six Nations Grand Slam holders France began their Championship defence with a nervy win over Italy in Rome on Sunday afternoon. Les Bleus picked up a try bonus point win in their 29-24 victory in the Italian capital but Italy had led 24-22 in the final quarter. France crossed the try line on three occasions [...]
England may have lost Calcutta Cup vs Scotland but Six Nations hope remains February 5, 2023 Steve Borthwick’s first game as head coach of England offered an intriguing comparison with the last match of predecessor Eddie Jones in the autumn. They both started Marcus Smith at fly-half and Owen Farrell at No12, they both picked a pack that, in the end, was outmuscled and they ultimately both lost. Here are four [...]
Six Nations: Resurgent Italy on a mission to earn respect from relegation backers February 5, 2023 They’re the traditional whipping boys of the Six Nations, with their highest finish coming 10 years ago when they concluded the Championship in fourth, but Italy have a new-found confidence and are going back to basics in 2023. Last year they beat Wales in Cardiff to end a 36-match Six Nations winless run before backing [...]
Six Nations: France are serial winners but bond means more, says Kayser February 4, 2023 France come into this Six Nations as defending Grand Slam champions, something they haven’t been able to do since 2011. Les Bleus are in scintillating form having gone through the entirety of last year without defeat. But the stakes are higher in 2023, which brings a World Cup in which they’ll play hosts, and the [...]
Six Nations: Ireland are favourites but selection needs adjusting, says Best February 4, 2023 The four provinces of Ireland strut into this year’s Championship as the best in the world: the top ranked team on the planet and firing on all cylinders. Ireland look like they’re peaking, but they have been guilty in the past of climaxing a year too early when it comes to getting the World Cup [...]