Beer we go: Football alcohol ban could be reviewed as MPs prepare to vote July 8, 2025 MPs could be asked to vote today on proposals to review the ban on football supporters consuming alcohol in the stands at matches. Fans have been prohibited from drinking in view of the pitch in the top five tiers of English professional football for the last 40 years. But that legislation could be reviewed as [...]
Chelsea face thousands of empty seats for Club World Cup semi-final July 7, 2025 Thousands of tickets remain on sale for Chelsea’s Club World Cup semi-final against Brazilian side Fluminense tomorrow, despite Fifa slashing prices. It means the match at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey could take place against a backdrop of empty seats of the like that has dogged the tournament. Fifa drastically reduced prices over the [...]
Multi-club ownership: Why EFL rule change will help in transfer market July 5, 2025 While multi-club ownership across the football industry continues to grow and remains a headache for Uefa, the EFL has gone the other way and taken the decision to remove restrictions for member teams to invest into sides across Ireland and Scotland for the first time. Under new regulations coming into effect next season, the EFL [...]
Liverpool mourn unimaginable loss of Diogo Jota, 28, who died in car crash July 3, 2025 Premier League champions Liverpool have expressed their sadness at the “unimaginable” loss of forward Diogo Jota. The Portuguese player died, alongside his brother, in a road accident just weeks after getting married. “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,” the club said. “The club have been informed the 28-year-old has [...]
Women’s sport needs to convert online fandom into ticket sales July 3, 2025 With England’s Euros defence getting underway on Saturday, how does women’s sport convert online fandom into ticket sales? Attendances down, TV viewing figures falling, but TikTok and Instagram metrics up. This is the current state of engagement with women’s professional sport in the United Kingdom. Phone surfing can be monetised, but there is an urgent [...]
Aston Villa sign UK licensed Xapo Bank as club partner July 2, 2025 UK licensed crypto firm Xapo Bank has partnered with Premier League club Aston Villa in a deal that will see them become the official partner of the club’s pre-season tour to the United States. The self proclaimed “pioneering private bank” was established in 2013 and last year passported its banking licence to the UK. And [...]
Premier League kicks off AI era with five-year Microsoft deal July 1, 2025 The Premier League has inked a five-year deal with Microsoft to overhaul how fans engage with the game. But the tie-up also tightens Big Tech’s grip on British sport, reigniting scrutiny over data use and monetisation. Under the agreement, Microsoft will become the League’s official cloud and AI partner, with its Copilot technology powering a [...]
London City Lionesses score Nike kit deal following promotion to WSL July 1, 2025 London City Lionesses have secured a high-profile kit deal with Nike following their promotion to the Women’s Super League (WSL) for the first time. The trailblazing club – owned by American Michele Kang – are the only side in the WSL to be fully independent, with no ties to a men’s professional team in the [...]
West Ham announce betting sponsor year before gambling ban July 1, 2025 West Ham United has announced a sponsorship deal with bookmaker Boyle Sports one year out from a voluntary Premier League gambling ban. Clubs in England’s top flight have agreed to scrapping gambling brands as front-of-shirt sponsors from the 2026-27 season. Irish bookies Boyle Sports will replace Betway at the London Stadium. The multi-year deal will [...]
Surj Sports chief: Saudi parent PIF, investing and league focus July 1, 2025 Chief executive of Dazn investors Surj Sports Investments Danny Townsend discusses the state of the changing landscape. When Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund purchased Premier League club Newcastle United in 2021, Middle Eastern sports spending was thrust into the voyeuristic forefront of executive and fan consciousness. Since then Saudi Arabia has invested in a multitude [...]