Why the Champions League playoff round draw is a load of balls January 30, 2025 If you thought the new format for the tournament was needlessly long and convoluted, wait until you hear about the Champions League knockout stage draw. Actually, make that draws. Because despite many elements of the draw being pre-determined by the final table of the league phase, Uefa will be conducting three separate draws to finalise [...]
Goodbye, Hilal: Saudi Pro League ends Neymar deal which cost £37m per game January 28, 2025 It will go down as one of the most expensive failed experiments in world football, with Neymar’s move to Al-Hilal reported to have cost the Saudi Pro League side more than £250m. But after 17 months, a meagre seven games and only one goal, the Brazil international, 32, looks bound for a return to his [...]
It’s D-Day for Champions League’s new format. So has it worked? January 28, 2025 When Uefa revealed its new format for the Champions League, it was with injecting more excitement and unpredictability in mind. Specifically, a stale group phase would be replaced with a ‘Swiss model’ league phase that promised more games between top teams and – crucially – a more competitive product. Notwithstanding the fact that Manchester City [...]
Clear and simple calendars like NFL, not tennis, should be applauded in sport January 23, 2025 The NFL, unlike tennis, should be applauded for its clear and simple sport calendar that sees athletes thrive, writes Ed Warner. Naomi Osaka, Gael Monfils, Jack Draper. Each retired from the Australian Open mid-match. No substitutes bench in tennis, so the ultimate anticlimax for spectators. Injuries are an occupational hazard, but across sport the sheer [...]
Real Madrid named richest football club after breaking €1bn revenue barrier January 23, 2025 Real Madrid have cemented their status as the richest club in world football after becoming the first to achieve more than €1bn of revenue in a single year, says Deloitte’s Football Money League. The European champions increased their income by 26 per cent to €1.046bn (£884m) for 2023-24 thanks to the full reopening of their [...]
Cates to keep Sky Sports role despite getting Match of the Day job January 15, 2025 Kelly Cates is set to keep her role with Sky Sports despite being named as one of three new presenters for Match of the Day, the flagship football show of rival broadcaster the BBC. Cates, who currently anchors Sky Sports’ biggest live Premier League games alongside presenting for BBC Radio 5 Live, will join Mark [...]
Football, rugby and boxing: The most attended sports events of 2024 December 29, 2024 It’s no secret that the Brits love going to watch live sport. Whether it’s domestic action, international sport or a special annual event; we love it! So which event saw the most people through the turnstiles on a single day for each month of the year? We take a look. January 73,489, Old Trafford, Premier [...]
Entain reveal sports events punters bet on the most in 2024 December 26, 2024 Betting giant Entain has revealed the biggest sporting events of 2024, using their global sportsbook to identify which events saw the most bets placed. The Grand National was the runaway winner but 60 per cent of the top 10 featured matches from the summer’s Euro Championships in Germany. The NFL, Champions League final and golf’s [...]
The best and worst sports marketing campaigns of 2024 December 25, 2024 In the true Christmas spirit of judging others, I’ve looked at my favourite – and not so favourite – sports marketing campaigns of 2024. I had planned to hand out awards with categories based on the startling number of current football pundits who were in Graham Taylor’s Euro 92 England squad. The Gary Lineker Award [...]
European Super League plans revived – and it’s got a new name December 17, 2024 The organisers of the European Super League have announced its rebranding as the “Unify League” as they step up efforts to revive the breakaway competition. A year after the European Court of Justice breathed new life into the controversial plan, A22 Sports Management has begun a fresh push following talks with clubs and leagues. Having [...]