Russia planning 2036 Olympic bid as St Petersburg emerges as rival to London August 16, 2021 London will face opposition from Russia if it pursues a bid to host the Olympic Games in 2036. Russia has confirmed it is preparing a bid for the Games, with St Petersburg its leading candidate. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan pledged to explore staging the Olympics again, following the success of London 2012, in the [...]
Roger Federer facing ‘many months’ out with knee surgery as tennis great admits he may never play again August 16, 2021 Roger Federer is to undergo knee surgery to give himself “a glimmer of hope” of playing top level tennis again. The 20-time grand slam winner says he has been advised to have the operation even though it will likely keep him “out of the game for many months”. Federer, 40, will miss the looming US [...]
Taxman intensifies crackdown on footballers and agents August 16, 2021 The taxman is intensifying its crackdown on footballers as it pushes to clawback money from an industry that is swelling with unpaid tax, reveal fresh figures released today. HMRC is targeting football clubs for £45m in underpaid tax, according to national accountancy group UHY Hacker Young. The taxman probed 93 football players over the last [...]
UEFA close to €6bn aid package for European football clubs August 13, 2021 UEFA is reportedly close to signing off on a rescue package worth up to €6bn (£5.1bn) to help European football teams recover from the pandemic. The funding is part of a proposed three-part strategy by the governing body, to be outlined in the coming weeks, aimed at helping clubs following stadium closures and a sharp [...]
Paradise at National Theatre: Kae Tempest play a partial success August 13, 2021 Everything old is new again. The National Theatre is back with its first full-capacity show since lockdown, and like the Young Vic it has decided to run with a modern reimagining of a work from antiquity. Directed by Ian Rickson, with a script by the Ted Hughes Award-winning and Mercury Prize-nominated spoken word artist Kae [...]
Premier League 2021-22 season preview: Fans of London clubs name their best and worst case scenarios and their players to watch August 13, 2021 For even the most jaded of football supporters, the start of a Premier League season is a special time. The arrival of new managers and players promises to transform fortunes, while last year’s disappointments have faded sufficiently to allow optimism to break out again, at least until the first round of games. So ahead of [...]
How to build the best digital marketing team August 12, 2021 | City Talk No matter the size of your organisation, it’s increasingly important to have a strong digital marketing strategy. And finding the right people to create and effectively execute that strategy is key. But where to start, especially if your marketing team is a team of just a few people or even no one at all? Here [...]
Grave impact of pandemic on English football laid bare by report but US investor appetite grows August 12, 2021 A report published by accountancy firm BDO has displayed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on English football clubs. The BDO report, which surveyed the finance directors from the top four leagues, found that more than 80 per cent of clubs accessed the furlough scheme, while 70 per cent deferred tax payments. The impact of [...]
Real Madrid to sue La Liga and CVC chiefs over €2.7bn deal August 10, 2021 Real Madrid is suing bosses at La Liga and CVC Capital Partners over a €2.7bn (£2.3bn) deal that will see the private equity firm take a 10 per cent stake in Spain’s top-flight league. The football club said it will take civil and criminal action against La Liga president Javier Tebas and CVC chief Javier [...]
Messi to join PSG on two-year deal worth £25m a year August 10, 2021 Lionel Messi has agreed to join Paris Saint Germain on a two-year contract. The deal is subject to a medical and has the option to be extended to a third year. Messi, 34, left Barcelona after over two decades of service at the Catalonian giants due to the club failing to comply with La Liga [...]