How gambling and betting companies have taken over the Premier League’s shirts October 8, 2016 Football fans might have noticed a recurring theme on this year's Premier League shirts — gambling. More Premier League teams are sponsored by gambling companies than ever before this season, with exactly half of the division's teams displaying logos for online casinos or bookmakers on their shirts. England's top tier was 10 years old before Fulham became the [...]
Premier League shirt sponsors quiz: Do you know what these Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Sunderland sponsors do? October 7, 2016 Shirt sponsorships generate Premier League clubs millions in commercial revenue every season. According to industry estimates, last season the Premier League's clubs made a massive £260m from splaying corporate brand names and logos across their sacred sporting tapestries. Read more: Why Chelsea parting ways with Adidas makes financial sense After enough hours in front of Sky [...]
Real Madrid fail to reclaim football’s richest crown from Barcelona despite posting club record breaking revenue October 7, 2016 Real Madrid posted the highest revenue figures in the club's history last season, with income breaking the €600m mark for the first time and reaching €620.1m (£560m). Yet the 7.4 per cent rise in income from €577.7m in the 2013/2014 campaign, the Spanish giants were unable to match the record €679m enjoyed by Barcelona last season. It [...]
Chris Coleman hails fighting spirit as Wales secure precious World Cup qualifying point October 6, 2016 Wales manager Chris Coleman revelled in his side’s fighting spirit as the European Championship semi-finalists emerged from their World Cup qualifier in Vienna with a precious point after drawing 2-2 with Austria. The visitors twice held the lead courtesy of a 20-yard half-volley from Stoke midfielder Joe Allen and unfortunate own goal by Tottenham centre-half [...]
Betting: Back Southgate to have his Three Lions roaring late against Malta October 6, 2016 GARETH Southgate heads into the Three Lions’ den tomorrow in the wake of Sam Allardyce’s sacking, and couldn’t have asked for an easier start. At 176th in the world, Malta are the lowest ranked team in England’s World Cup qualifying group, some 59 places below next worst Lithuania. In the overall FIFA list, they sit between Suriname and Laos. The Maltese were routed 5-1 by [...]
Malta fact file: Everything you need to know about England’s opponents at Wembley on Saturday October 6, 2016 As far as easy starts go, England caretaker boss Gareth Southgate couldn't have hoped for a better opponent than Malta for his first game in charge. The Three Lions' opponents are 50/1 outsiders to cause an upset at Wembley this weekend. Read more: Southgate has chance to stake claim for England manager's job on permanent basis, insists [...]
Giving World Cup to Qatar and Russia may be best thing to happen to football, says Fifa vice-president Victor Montagliani October 5, 2016 One of football governing body Fifa’s leading officials has suggested that the controversial votes to stage the World Cup in Qatar and Russia “may be the best thing” to have happened to the game. Victor Montagliani – a vice-president of Fifa and head of the Concacaf confederation which governs North America, Central America and the [...]
Sports and second screens: How stadium designers and broadcasters are dealing with the smartphone revolution October 5, 2016 Pep Guardiola isn't the only figure in elite sports for whom the prevalence of smartphone use has disrupted business as usual The Manchester City manager has cut off 3g and Wi-Fi connection from the club's training complex in order to pull his players' gaze away from screen and back onto the team. Yet for broadcasters, rights holders, club [...]
European leagues threaten to rebel against Uefa over “totally crazy” changes to European club competition October 5, 2016 The chairman of Europe's football leagues insists they are ready to defy Uefa over the governing body's "totally crazy" plans for changes to the Champions League and Europa League. Lars-Christer Olsson said the leagues might break their agreement not to schedule domestic fixtures on the same night as Uefa competitions unless changes set to take effect from 2018 were scrapped. [...]
Gareth Southgate has chance to stake claim for England manager’s job on permanent basis, insists skipper Wayne Rooney October 4, 2016 England skipper Wayne Rooney insists interim manager Gareth Southgate has a huge chance to press his claim to be named Three Lions boss on a permanent basis following the shock departure of predecessor Sam Allardyce. Southgate has been entrusted with the England reins for the next four matches after Allardyce’s tenure was brought to a [...]