BT must innovate to win over more football fans and justify its lavish £1.2bn outlay on Champions League rights March 7, 2017 The business of football TV rights used to be relatively simple. There were rights to show live games, and rights to show highlights. For years, Sky dominated the live market, crushing a series of challengers with its financial fire-power and superior coverage. Highlights were often reserved for traditional free-to-air TV channels such as ITV and [...]
West Ham United 1, Chelsea 2: Antonio Conte praises Blues for handing title pressure March 6, 2017 West Ham United 1, Chelsea 2 Chelsea manager Antonio Conte praised his team for withstanding pressure from their title rivals after they re-established a 10-point lead atop the Premier League with a clinical dismantling of West Ham. The Blues took hold of the contest when Eden Hazard finished a rapier counter-attack and tightened their grip [...]
Arsene Wenger plays down rumours of Alexis Sanchez rift on eve of near mission impossible against Bayern Munich March 6, 2017 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger played down suggestions of a rift with Alexis Sanchez on the eve of his side’s near impossible Champions League conundrum against Bayern Munich. Wenger denied that a training ground feud was the reason for Sanchez’s omission from the Gunners’ starting line-up at Liverpool on Saturday, but conceded the Chile playmaker was [...]
Helter-skelter Premiership action is wire brush for rusty stars as England grow in strength for Six Nations climax March 6, 2017 For a club’s fringe players, the Six Nations provides opportunities to accrue a run of games that can build coaches’ confidence in the consistency and repeatability of favourable performances. International stars will normally only appear at their clubs in order to receive treatment from physiotherapists who are most familiar with the imperfections of their physical [...]
Why cool customer Dustin Johnson is cream of the American crop March 6, 2017 Dustin Johnson provided a snapshot of his character when his ball got stuck up a tree during the WGC-Mexico Championship on Saturday. Some players might lose their temper, but Johnson just laughed. That unflappable temperament helped the new world No1 clinch victory 24 hours later, in his first tournament since hitting the top of the [...]
Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to miss Manchester United’s FA Cup clash with Chelsea after FA misconduct charge March 6, 2017 Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic faces missing his side’s FA Cup quarter-final showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday after being slapped with a misconduct charge by the Football Association (FA). Bournemouth’s Tyrone Mings has also been charged after he and Ibrahimovic clashed in two separate incidents during the Cherries' 1-1 draw at Old [...]
Chelsea enters the big league after Sadiq Khan signs off new £500m home March 6, 2017 Chelsea's £500m stadium expansion has been given the green light by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, paving the way for a 50 per cent increase in the ground's capacity. The club, currently sitting at the top of the English Premier League, will expand within the tight constraints of its Fulham-based home. Match-day capacity at Stamford Bridge [...]
Dustin Johnson begins his reign as world No1 with victory at WGC-Mexico Championship March 5, 2017 World No1 Dustin Johnson began his reign by securing back-to-back triumphs on the PGA Tour with victory at the WGC-Mexico Championship. Johnson won by a single stroke from England’s Tommy Fleetwood, having carded a final round of 68 to finish on 14 under par. The 32-year-old became just the fifth player to win his first [...]
Skipper Eoin Morgan hails Chris Woakes as England seal series-clinching victory over West Indies March 5, 2017 Skipper Eoin Morgan heaped praise on Chris Woakes after the all-rounder joined forces with Joe Root to guide England to a series-clinching victory over West Indies in the second one-day clash in Antigua. England slipped to 124-6 in pursuit of a victory target of 226 before Woakes and Root shared an unbroken stand of 102 [...]
Billy Vunipola included in England squad for Six Nations showdown with Scotland – but not before his fish and chips March 5, 2017 Powerhouse forward Billy Vunipola has been included in England’s training squad for Saturday’s Six Nations tussle with Scotland after making his return to action in Saracens’ victory at Newcastle. Vunipola, 24, played 72 minutes, his first appearance since November following a knee ligament injury, as Saracens defeated Newcastle 35-27 at Kingston Park to move within six [...]