Magic of the FA Cup has resisted tinkering and is only getting stronger Sport Business Macclesfield’s historic defeat of Crystal Palace warmed even this Eagles fan’s heart and shows the FA Cup retains its powerful magic, writes Ed Warner. The first WhatsApp arrived seconds after the final whistle. “Will this get a mention in the next edition of your column?!!!” Of course it does. After Macclesfield went ahead against Crystal [...]
Is the Premier League decoupling from the rest of English football? Sport Business Ed Warner pores over a report on the polarisation of English football and comes up with a solution to the Premier League’s stand-off with the EFL for the new regulator. “I just hope they don’t mess it up.” The Premier League club chairman’s answer to my question about his hopes for the Independent Football Regulator [...]
Gareth Southgate sticks to business and leadership and shuns football return Sport Business Sir Gareth Southgate insists he is happy to keep a return to football management on ice and focus on delivering lessons in leadership to business and wider society. Southgate walked away from the England job after eight years in 2024, having taken the team to two major finals in a spell noted for repairing the [...]
Lucas Paqueta spared fine amid mental health concerns following fixing probe October 31, 2025 Lucas Paqueta has avoided a fine despite being found guilty of not cooperating with an FA spot-fixing investigation in part because of concerns about the West Ham star’s mental health. An independent regulatory commission said that Paqueta, who was cleared of spot-fixing earlier this year, would typically have been fined but that “the truly exceptional [...]
Chelsea and Arsenal may face fight for Wembley relocation October 15, 2025 Chelsea and Arsenal could end up competing to play at Wembley if they pursue plans to redevelop their stadiums over the next few years. Arsenal are in the middle of a consultation process over whether to expand Emirates Stadium to as much as an 80,000 capacity, which would require the club to temporarily relocate if [...]
Chelsea face fine and transfer ban after FA issues 74 charges September 11, 2025 Chelsea face a large fine and a possible transfer ban after being charged with 74 breaches of agent regulations by the Football Association. The charges relate to a period spanning from 2009 to 2022, during Roman Abramovich’s ownership, and come after the club’s current regime raised the alarm about possible “incomplete financial reporting” following their [...]
Former FA chief: I’d have hired Klopp as England boss in a heartbeat September 3, 2025 Former FA chief Alex Horne says he would have “hired Jurgen Klopp in a heartbeat” as the manager who did get the England job, Thomas Tuchel, looks to restore momentum to the World Cup qualifying campaign this weekend. Horne, who oversaw the hiring of Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson as England managers, believes that former [...]
FA criticised for ‘obvious flaws’ in failed spot-fixing case against Paqueta September 3, 2025 The Football Association’s case against Lucas Paqueta has been criticised by the independent commission that cleared the West Ham United player of four charges of spot-fixing. The full written reasons, published today, said the FA’s decision to call its in-house betting investigator rather than an independent expert as chief witness was “an obvious flaw” in [...]
Paqueta phone celebration raises eyebrows at FA as judgement looms September 3, 2025 The Football Association is expected to publish the independent commission’s full judgement in the acquittal of Lucas Paqueta on spot-fixing charges imminently, days after spotting a possible double meaning in his goal celebration during West Ham’s win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. After converting a penalty, the Brazilian mimed receiving a phone call and then [...]
Lucas Paqueta’s lawyer: No decision yet on whether to sue FA August 1, 2025 Lucas Paqueta’s lawyer says they have made no decision yet on whether to seek damages from the FA after the West Ham star was cleared of spot-fixing following a two-year investigation. Paqueta was found not guilty by an independent disciplinary commission of deliberately getting yellow cards in order to manipulate betting markets, in a decision [...]