‘Most expensive lottery ticket on the planet’: Premier League told why it must give more money to rest of English football March 2, 2023 English football’s financial structure needs a “proper reset” to make clubs outside the Premier League sustainable, says EFL chairman Rick Parry. The riches on offer in the top tier incentivise teams lower down the pyramid to overspend to dangerous degrees, says Parry, who wants the Premier League to reduce the inequality between divisions with more [...]
Premier League reveals stance on scrapping Saturday 3pm blackout March 2, 2023 The Premier League has ruled out supporting the abolition of the Saturday 3pm blackout which restricts when live football can be televised in the UK. The English Football League (EFL) has floated scrapping the ban and broadcasters have said they would consider it but Premier League chief executive Richard Masters insisted they had no intention [...]
FA Cup: Fifth round recap and quarter-final draw March 2, 2023 This week has seen a number of upsets in the world of football as the fifth round of the FA Cup took place across Tuesday and Wednesday. There were epic scenes last night as League Two Grimsby knocked Premier League Southampton out of the famous knockout competition while Sheffield United beat Tottenham on Wednesday, too. [...]
How a Fifa climbdown has paved the way for expanded Club World Cup to start in 2025 March 1, 2023 Europe’s top football teams are closing in on a deal with Fifa that would give the green light to an expanded Club World Cup in 2025 but rule out a switch to biennial international World Cups. After months of tense exchanges, talks between umbrella organisation the European Club Association and world governing body Fifa are [...]
Former Chelsea bidder hints at interest in Liverpool and Manchester United March 1, 2023 Former Chelsea bidder Stephen Pagliuca has hinted that he could be interested in buying Liverpool or Manchester United but says he won’t be sucked into overpaying. The private equity veteran and co-owner of Italian club Atalanta and the NBA’s Boston Celtics missed out on Chelsea to Todd Boehly’s consortium last year. Pagliuca says he is [...]
Just Fontaine: Record-breaking former France footballer and World Cup icon dies, aged 89 March 1, 2023 Former France striker Just Fontaine, whose 13 goals at a single World Cup proved to be one of football’s most enduring records, has died aged 89. Fontaine scored 30 goals in just 21 appearances for France, including a hat-trick on his debut, before his career was cut short by injury at the age of 28. [...]
Why football clubs are like tomatoes – and these are salad days for the likes of Manchester United’s owners February 28, 2023 The salad shortage and the appeal of elite football clubs such as Manchester United are both being driven by the same thing, writes Neil Hopkins. Early 2023 seems destined to be remembered for shortages. For most of us, a shortage of tomatoes and other salad produce. For cash-rich investors from the Middle East, a shortage [...]
Kop of living crisis: Soaring bills hit Liverpool’s bottom line February 28, 2023 It seems that even the world’s richest football clubs are not immune to the cost of living crisis after soaring bills put a dent in Liverpool’s profits. The Premier League club achieved record revenues of £594m last season but turned a pre-tax profit of just £7.5m following a steep rise in matchday overheads. The return [...]
Tottenham Hotspur sign 15-year partnership with Formula 1, strengthening US links February 28, 2023 Formula 1 and Tottenham Hotspur chiefs are building an electric karting track under the Premier League club’s stadium as part of a new long-term partnership. The facility, due to open this summer, will be London’s longest indoor track and the first electric karting circuit in the world to be housed in a sports stadium. Tottenham’s [...]
Harry Kane to Manchester United? Striker upgrade could turn Erik ten Hag’s improving team into title contenders – Trevor Steven February 27, 2023 Erik ten Hag has brought the good times back to Manchester United but the signing of Harry Kane would make them serious Premier League title contenders, says Trevor Steven. If the hallmark of a good manager is improving your players then I have to take my hat off to what Erik ten Hag has accomplished [...]