Explained: Why replays are back in the 2022-23 FA Cup but face an uncertain future January 27, 2023 FA Cup replays were one of the casualties of the pandemic but they are back in football’s oldest knockout competition in 2022-23. The congested calendars caused by Covid-19 delays to English football’s normal schedule caused the Football Association to shelve replays in the last two seasons. Instead, all ties were decided on the day, going [...]
English football transfer spending tops £1.7bn in 2022 January 26, 2023 Clubs in England spent three times more than any other country on men’s international transfer business last year, Fifa data has revealed. A total of £1.78 was spent in transfers in 2022, over £1bn more than the second placed side Italy, who spent £543m. A total of 12.5 per cent of the total £5.24bn spent [...]
World Rugby should be taking the lead on tackle heights, not following January 26, 2023 It is the work of just a minute or two to create a petition on the Change.org website, to be one of the ‘people taking action’ whose signatures the public-benefit corporation claims to be turning into ‘victories every day’. Takes only a few seconds to add a signature to a petition. By contrast, seven years [...]
Revealed: Chelsea owner’s plans to pump money into women’s tennis – and why some insiders are alarmed January 25, 2023 Billionaire part-owner of Chelsea Mark Walter is the US businessman in talks with the International Tennis Federation over a controversial proposal to bring private investment to the Billie Jean King Cup, City A.M. has learned. We revealed yesterday that the ITF is close to agreeing a major new partnership with a US group to promote [...]
Billionaire Mark Walter: Who is he, what sports teams does he own and what is his net worth? January 25, 2023 Mark Walter is a 63-year-old American businessman who’s chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and a keen player in the world of sports team acquisitions. Walter, from Cedar Rapids in Iowa, may be best known to British sports fans due to his recent part-acquisition of a Premier League football club. He was part [...]
Manchester United and Liverpool fans put rivalry aside to call for government action over club sales January 25, 2023 Rival supporters from Manchester United and Liverpool have set aside their differences to demand that the UK government toughens up rules on club ownership before an independent football regulator is established. The Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) and the Liverpool-affiliated Spirit Of Shankly (SOS) want urgent action since both clubs could soon have new owners [...]
‘We are close to a deal’: Everton owner Farhad Moshiri responds to reports the Premier League club is up for sale January 25, 2023 Everton owner Farhad Moshiri says he is close to securing investment in the struggling Premier League club but insists he is not seeking a full sale. Fan unrest has grown as the Toffees have slipped into the relegation zone, costing manager Frank Lampard his job earlier this week. And the board have also been hit [...]
FA Cup fourth round in full and how to watch January 24, 2023 The fourth round of the FA Cup has been completed after Accrington Stanley beat Boreham Wood in extra time. The 1-0 result – which saw Tommy Leigh score a penalty in the 97th minute – completed the 32-team lineup for the fourth round of the Cup. Fixtures begin on Friday and conclude on Monday. The [...]
Chelsea, £400m of signings, long contracts and Financial Fair Play: Key questions answered January 21, 2023 Chelsea have raised eyebrows by spending close to £400m since Todd Boehly’s consortium bought the club last summer, including more than £100m in the January transfer window, but has it left the Premier League club in danger of breaking Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules? Why have they been signing players to unusually long contracts? And [...]
Newcastle United: Financial boost from Saudi takeover revealed in Deloitte Football Money League 2023 January 19, 2023 Newcastle United’s financial transformation under Saudi ownership is highlighted by their return to the Deloitte Football Money League, a ranking of the world’s richest football clubs. The Magpies returned to the top 20 for the first time in four years last season, following their takeover by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. [...]