Magic of the FA Cup has resisted tinkering and is only getting stronger January 15, 2026 Macclesfield’s historic defeat of Crystal Palace warmed even this Eagles fan’s heart and shows the FA Cup retains its powerful magic, writes Ed Warner. The first WhatsApp arrived seconds after the final whistle. “Will this get a mention in the next edition of your column?!!!” Of course it does. After Macclesfield went ahead against Crystal [...]
Premier League stadiums: Inside football’s grandstand revolution January 10, 2026 The Premier League is going through a revolution, and it is not in the form of playing formations. Stadiums – new and old – are second homes for fans, the community centre of their weekend. And England’s top flight is ever-changing. Three teams may get promoted each year and three may get relegated, but the [...]
Manchester United head coach’s job is to be a fall guy and human shield January 8, 2026 AI is the scourge of the modern employment market. Applicants generate automated covering letters that tick off every requirement in a job spec, and are then interviewed by robots which provide almost instantaneous rejections. Reluctant to be a Luddite in this mind-scrambling new world, here is my open letter to Sir Jim Ratcliffe applying to [...]
Manchester City asked to give up FA Cup revenue to opponents Exeter January 7, 2026 Cash-strapped Exeter City have asked Manchester City to ease their financial struggles by donating some of their share of the proceeds from this weekend’s FA Cup tie. Exeter and City are both due 45 per cent of the gate receipts from Saturday’s third-round match at the Etihad Stadium, which will bank the visitors between £250,000 [...]
Ruben Amorim sacked: £20m cost of Manchester United’s failed experiment January 5, 2026 Manchester United have sacked manager Ruben Amorim, concluding a failed experiment which has cost the cash-strapped club around £20m in compensation. Amorim was relieved of his duties on Monday morning, less than 24 hours after publicly issuing a demand for more control of affairs at United in the wake of a 1-1 draw with Leeds [...]
Is the Premier League decoupling from the rest of English football? December 18, 2025 Ed Warner pores over a report on the polarisation of English football and comes up with a solution to the Premier League’s stand-off with the EFL for the new regulator. “I just hope they don’t mess it up.” The Premier League club chairman’s answer to my question about his hopes for the Independent Football Regulator [...]
Paul Pogba announces move into camel racing with Saudi team Al Haboob December 10, 2025 World Cup-winning former Manchester United footballer Paul Pogba has become an investor in the world’s first pro camel racing team, Saudi Arabia-based Al Haboob. Pogba, who now plays for Monaco after returning from a ban for anti-doping breaches, has also been named an ambassador for the team, which competes across the Middle East. “I’ve watched [...]
Selhurst Park among 22 stadiums for 2035 Women’s World Cup November 28, 2025 Selhurst Park, the home of Crystal Palace, Birmingham City’s planned new stadium and Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground are set to host games at the Women’s World Cup in 2035. They are among 22 venues – along with the more established likes of Wembley, the Principality Stadium, Hampden Park and Windsor Park – proposed by the football [...]
Arsenal praised for ‘Big Club’ move after ending Visit Rwanda partnership November 19, 2025 Arsenal fans have welcomed the club’s decision to end a controversial eight-year partnership with Visit Rwanda at the end of this season. The Premier League leaders had been in talks to extend the deal, which sees Rwanda’s tourism arm displayed on the team’s sleeves, beyond the current campaign. But both parties have now decided to [...]
Gareth Southgate sticks to business and leadership and shuns football return November 3, 2025 Sir Gareth Southgate insists he is happy to keep a return to football management on ice and focus on delivering lessons in leadership to business and wider society. Southgate walked away from the England job after eight years in 2024, having taken the team to two major finals in a spell noted for repairing the [...]