DCMS and RFU in talks to block the sale of Worcester Warriors to Atlas February 9, 2023 The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is in talks with the Rugby Football Union to block the sale of Worcester Warriors to the Atlas consortium. City A.M. understands that the two bodies are meeting today with the governmental department expected to lobby against Worcester’s administrators Begbies Traynor selling the club to a bid that [...]
European Super League 2.0: Organisers reveal plans for vastly expanded breakaway competition February 9, 2023 European Super League organisers say they are ready to resurrect plans for the breakaway competition in an expanded format featuring as many as 80 teams. The new version of the European Super League would have multiple divisions and, unlike in its initial incarnation, no permanent members. All clubs taking part would have to qualify via [...]
Qatar interested in buying Manchester United – but bidders won’t be PSG owners Qatar Sports Investments February 9, 2023 The Qatar Investment Authority is interested in buying a stake in Manchester United and has not ruled out a full takeover. QIA, which owns Harrods as well as significant shareholdings in Heathrow Airport and Sainsbury’s, has not made an offer for United yet. But it is one of the Qatari parties mulling an offer to [...]
Women’s T20 World Cup: When is it on and do England have a chance? February 9, 2023 Friday sees the beginning of the eighth Women’s T20 World Cup and five-time champions Australia are the overwhelming favourites. The 10 teams will compete for the trophy across this month in South Africa. Here’s what you need to know about the competition. Where is it? This year the T20 World Cup will take place in [...]
Ed Warner: Rugby union could learn from the NFL model on Super Bowl LVII weekend February 9, 2023 For all the relentless commercial growth of the Premier League, IPL and F1, the NFL remains the sporting brand to beat. Super Bowl LVII will be watched by more than 200m people worldwide on Sunday. The matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles has its stories, but in truth the identity of [...]
Ben Loader: London Irish winger wants to bag trophies like his brother February 8, 2023 As London Irish winger Ben Loader trains this week for his side’s Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final, his brother, Danny, will be going through a similar process 800 miles away in the Portuguese city of Porto. For the siblings, two years apart in age, are both playing at the top level in their respective sports. Danny [...]
Pressure grows over potential £42m deal between South Africa and Tottenham February 8, 2023 The South African government is under increasing pressure to scrap a proposed sponsorship deal worth over £40m with Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. The proposed three-year deal is worth 900m South African rand (£42.5m) and has been criticised by the parliament’s tourism committee. Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu told the committee that she had no knowledge [...]
Mohammed Ben Sulayem to take step back from Formula 1 February 8, 2023 Under-fire motorsport boss Mohammed Ben Sulayem has said he will step back from day-to-day involvement with Formula 1. The Emirati, who has been president of governing body the FIA since the end of 2021, said in a letter to team bosses reported by Sky Sports: “My stated objective was to be a non-executive president via recruitment [...]
England drop Ben Youngs ahead of Italy Six Nations Test February 8, 2023 England Rugby’s most capped man Ben Youngs has been dropped from the national side’s squad ahead of this week’s round two Six Nations clash against Italy at Twickenham Stadium. The Leicester Tigers scrum-half made his 122nd appearance when he came off the bench in England’s Calcutta Cup loss to Scotland at the weekend. Youngs, 33, [...]
FC Barcelona: Regulators tighten loophole and cut Spanish giants’ spending power February 8, 2023 FC Barcelona are facing a setback to their on-field resurgence in the form of a crackdown on their exploitation of so-called “economic levers”, City A.M. can reveal. The Spanish club, on course to end their four-year wait for another LaLiga title, have attracted the attention of domestic and European regulators with their innovative capital-raising. Last [...]