Ed Warner: Sport needs a united front against Russia, not patchwork of policies March 3, 2022 On the opening day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine the Polish wheelchair rugby team decided not to take to the court in their Euros group match against Russia in Paris. A classy move. If only others were so decisive. The leaders of world sport are already divided in their response to Vladimir Putin’s war. It [...]
Chelsea: Abramovich confirms London club is up for sale March 2, 2022 Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has tonight confirmed that his club is up for sale with the net proceeds going to help Ukrainian war victims. The Premier League club owner confirmed the news in a statement on the club’s website and says the decision “is in the best interest of the club”. In a statement, he [...]
Clock ticking on Roman Abramovich after he puts Chelsea up for sale March 2, 2022 Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has put the Premier League club up for sale – but faces a race against time to find a buyer amid the continued threat of sanctions. Abramovich has hired US bank the Raine Group to advise on a deal and is believed to want £3bn for the reigning European champions, who [...]
Ukraine: Everton suspend arrangements with Russian linked billionaire March 2, 2022 Premier League side Everton have suspended their commercial sponsorship arrangements with all Alisher Usmanov owned companies. The Russian billionaire is on a list of people who have had their assets frozen by the European Union in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Usmanov owns USM Holdings, who sponsor Everton’s training ground and has Everton owner [...]
Swiss billionaire receives offer to buy Chelsea as Roman Abramovich is pushed to sell Stamford Bridge club quickly March 2, 2022 A Swiss billionaire has been approached to buy Chelsea football club, according to various reports this morning. 86-year-old Hansjorg Wyss reportedly confirmed he is interested in purchasing the Stamford Bridge club from Roman Abramovich, but only in a consortium. Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich is understood to want to retain his ownership of Chelsea but that could [...]
Russian athletes set for Winter Paralympics ban decision March 2, 2022 Winter Paralympics organisers will decide today whether to ban Russian athletes just 48 hours before the Games are set to begin in Beijing. All Russian competitors have already arrived in China but the International Paralympic Committee is under pressure to stop them taking part in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. The International Olympic [...]
After Italy farce rugby needs to take a look at its law book March 2, 2022 Ireland’s Six Nations victory over Italy on Sunday saw an officiating decision which by the letter of the law was correct but in practice ruined a game of rugby. Here is what was so wrong about it and two more rules that World Rugby should address before the World Cup next year: Red card replacement [...]
Cam’s the man: Norrie poised to defend Indian Wells title March 2, 2022 When the first serve of the Indian Wells Masters gets walloped next week, Great Britain will have a defending champion – Cameron Norrie – in the tournament for the first time. Cameron Norrie won his maiden ATP Tour Masters 1000 event last year when he overcame Nikoloz Basilashvili 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in what many [...]
Premier League takes slow road to first NFT deal March 1, 2022 Driven by the extraordinary early success of the NBA’s Top Shot digital collectibles, NFTs were the talk of the sports industry when the Premier League dipped its toe into the market last year. It launched a tender process, inviting bidders to submit proposals for a range of officially licensed Premier League NFTs, which was due [...]
Everton backer Usmanov has assets frozen by EU over Putin links March 1, 2022 Everton backer Alisher Usmanov has had his assets frozen by the European Union on the grounds that he is close to Russian president Vladimir Putin. Usmanov’s company USM Holdings sponsors Everton’s training ground and has bought the naming rights to the Premier League club’s yet-to-be constructed stadium. The billionaire is also a close associate of [...]