‘The correct decision’: Reaction as West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta cleared July 31, 2025 West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta has been cleared of spot-fixing after an independent panel found charges of deliberately incurring yellow cards to be not proven, the Football Association has confirmed. It comes two years after the FA announced an investigation into the Brazil international midfielder, a development blamed for derailing Paqueta’s likely £85m transfer [...]
FA accused of stalling brain damage lawsuit from former players June 26, 2025 Football chiefs have been accused of “deliberately stalling” a landmark lawsuit brought by former players who suffered “life-altering” brain damage as the legal battle resumes today. The Football Association, English Football League and FA of Wales are the defendants in a case brought by 30 former players and their families who say the game’s authorities [...]
Tesco sorry after Lionesses promotion own goal in Welsh stores June 20, 2025 Tesco has been forced to apologise after shoppers in Wales complained about in-store promotion of the Lionesses, their group rivals at the upcoming Women’s Euros. Customers in Cardiff called the large stand, which showcased Lucozade’s support of the England team and offered a chance to meet the Lionesses, “disgraceful” and “deeply offensive”. Defending champions England [...]
The FA Cup is still magic – and now this Crystal Palace fan can die happy May 22, 2025 Long-suffering Crystal Palace fan Ed Warner savours his team’s moment in the sun, praises the FA for retaining the cup’s essential magic, and hopes his team don’t get too used to it… Toss a coin six times. The odds of it coming up heads every time is 1:64. Enter the FA Cup in the third [...]
Dan Ashworth: FA hand former Man Utd director lifeline with new role May 14, 2025 The Football Association has confirmed that it has re-hired Dan Ashworth, five months after he was sacked as Manchester United sporting director by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Ashworth, who was previously the FA’s director of elite development and then technical director between 2013 and 2019, has taken up the newly created role of chief football officer. [...]
FA issues blanket ban on transgender women playing in female football May 1, 2025 The FA has followed other major sports and banned transgender women from playing in women’s football from next month. Just weeks ago it was still resisting calls to implement a blanket ban but has now updated its policy following last month’s landmark Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act, which decreed that the lawful exclusion [...]
FA chief Mark Bullingham becomes UK sport’s best paid boss on £1.3m April 29, 2025 FA chief executive Mark Bullingham received total pay of £1.32m last year, making him the highest paid boss of a UK sports governing body. Bullingham’s remuneration package for the period ending July 2024 was up 55 per cent on the previous year and included £450,000 as part of a long-term incentive plan. The total figure [...]
Chelsea spend £60m on agents’ fees in year, Premier League hits £400m April 14, 2025 Chelsea has spent £60m on agents’ fees since February last year, the Football Association has revealed. The Blues are nearly £10m clear of Manchester City (£52m) and £27m clear of Manchester United in third. The 20 Premier League clubs, in total, spent a whopping £409m on agents between 2 February 2024 and 3 February 2025 [...]
FA should have seat on board of football regulator, say experts March 20, 2025 The Football Association (FA) should have a seat on the board of the independent football regulator, argues a new report by consultants LCP. LCP’s sports analytics and advisory unit calls for the incoming regulator to “work closely with the FA to guide its reform and build a modern football governance structure”. They add: “The focus [...]
Eyebrows raised as Manchester United skip tender to hire Foster for stadium March 12, 2025 Manchester United are set to confirm Sir Norman Foster’s firm as architects of their planned £2bn, 100,000-seat stadium without running a formal tender process. The absence of an open tender has caused surprise in the industry, given United are a listed company on the New York Stock Exchange, while Sir Jim Ratcliffe has also taken [...]