Real Madrid aim to mend Mbappe diplomatic row with grovelling apology to China Sport Business Real Madrid have issued a grovelling apology to “the Chinese people” in a bid to soothe the diplomatic row caused by star Kylian Mbappe’s “dictator” remarks about Mao Zedong. Chinese media have confirmed they are suspending their £20m-a-year broadcast deal with the Spanish league after rejecting apologies from both Mbappe and LaLiga yesterday. Mbappe sparked [...]
Major Chinese brands drop Mbappe over Chairman Mao meme jokes Sport Business Two major Chinese sponsors of Kylian Mbappe have dropped their support for the footballer after the Frenchman made jokes about Chairman Mao Zedong. Dairy producer Mengniu and drinks firm Dongpeng have dropped the Ballon d’Or runner-up after he reportedly told French TV a meme “that makes me laugh the most…the one where there’s a video [...]
Nike: Shares fall, S&P 100 ejection and Mbappe out Sport Business Nike shares continued to fall this week after the sportswear giant warned of a decline in revenue over the coming year. The American firm, fresh off the back of news that it would be ejected from the S&P 100, adjusted its share price amid a mixed first fiscal quarter. Its statement comes alongside layoff warnings [...]
Kylian Mbappe receives shares in On as he jumps ship from Nike deal September 18, 2026 Swiss sportswear brand On has pulled off a marketing coup by luring Real Madrid and France striker Kylian Mbappe from Nike to launch its football products. Mbappe, who was previously on a £13m-a-year contract with Nike, is working alongside former Arsenal, Barcelona and France star Thierry Henry to develop On’s forthcoming football range. The 27-year-old [...]
Mbappe-backed brand set for London store in Harrods August 19, 2026 A firm which counts Kylian Mbappe as one of its shareholders will this week open a store at London shopping stalwart Harrods. German technology firm Loewe – which counts Mbappe’s family office as minority stakeholder – will have a space at the Brompton Road department store as the firm looks to expand its footprint. Chief [...]
Where Mbappe will go if he breaks up with Nike August 13, 2026 With rumours swirling about Kylian Mbappe’s future with Nike, marketing expert Steve Martin breaks down what could come next. I have spent more than 30 years working in sports marketing, and one of the most consistent truths I have learned is that the football boot market is one of the most tightly controlled consumer categories [...]
Real Madrid break world record for sports team with £1bn revenue July 28, 2026 Real Madrid have claimed the highest operating revenue of any sports team in history after reporting income of more than €1.2bn for last season. The figure declared, €1.221bn, equates to £1.04bn and $1.36bn at current exchange rates and is a three per cent increase on the 2024-25 campaign. As such it surpasses the $1.23bn reported [...]
The 2026 World Cup had its flaws, yes, but it was a resounding success for Fifa July 20, 2026 In the coming days following last night’s World Cup final, Fifa will release a report on how many people watched the tournament across its five and a half weeks. Look out for the social media KPIs – impressions, engagement, video views – that major sporting bodies now have to report, but the headline number will [...]
Manchester United debt pile may force owners to fund new stadium June 24, 2026 Doubts have emerged over Manchester United’s capacity to fund their £2bn-plus new stadium unless the owners inject cash. The club announced on Monday that they had secured the land required to build the 100,000-seater venue – dubbed a “Wembley of the North” – from Indurent, which lets industrial units. The 25-acre site is only 350m [...]
An England World Cup isn’t just football – it is money, politics and a nation’s bad habits June 18, 2026 England are being asked to win the World Cup, yes, but the absurdity is that they are required to do so much more in the process, both commercially and politically, writes Ed Warner. And so they’ve begun. Our boys, Tom’s 26. Their world is in motion, three lions on their shirts, out to erase 60 [...]