Premier League’s first NFT partnership explained: Inside the £120m deal with Sorare January 30, 2023 The Premier League has taken its first step into the NFT market by agreeing a deal with fantasy gaming and digital collectible platform Sorare. After more than a year of deliberations, English football’s top division has signed a four-year contract worth around £30m annually which includes an option to take equity in the French company. [...]
Derby County: Why West Ham United should fear a giant killing at the hands of resurgent Rams’ dad’s army January 30, 2023 It’s only six months since Derby County’s nightmare ended but already they are starting to dream big again. The former champions of England and founding members of the Football League spent two years with their existence in the balance – nine months of it languishing in administration, which they only exited after being relegated to [...]
Brighton told to reject January transfer window bids for Moises Caicedo from Arsenal and Chelsea January 29, 2023 Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi urged the club to resist late offers for £80m-rated Arsenal and Chelsea target Moises Caicedo before Tuesday’s transfer deadline after dumping Liverpool out of the FA Cup on Sunday. The Seagulls came from a goal down to beat Jurgen Klopp’s team for the second time in a month, with Koaru [...]
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 [...]
TV schedule: What sports are on the tele and where can I watch? January 27, 2023 This weekend sees blockbuster sports ties while Saturday is set to see an important movers day at the Dubai Desert Classic. Here’s what you need to look out for. FA Cup: Wrexham v Sheffield United, Sunday The magic of the FA Cup returns to television screens this weekend and though there are some blockbuster clashes [...]
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 [...]
Oleksandr Zinchenko: Why Manchester City’s loss has been Arsenal’s gain January 26, 2023 When Oleksandr Zinchenko came off the bench at half-time in Manchester City’s final Premier League game of last season, he swung the title race decisively in their favour by helping them to win from two goals down against Aston Villa. It could be argued that he’s doing a similar thing this year at Arsenal, where [...]
International Tennis Federation facing mounting questions over Davis Cup deal after Gerard Pique’s Kosmos group brings legal action January 26, 2023 Former footballer Gerard Pique’s Kosmos investment group has heaped more pressure on the embattled International Tennis Federation by launching legal action over the early termination of their $3bn Davis Cup deal. The ITF ripped up the 25-year agreement after less than five years earlier this month in response to Kosmos asking to renegotiate the $120m-a-year [...]
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 [...]