Ed Warner: Spare a thought for golfers locked out of Saudi Arabia and Greg Norman’s gilded cage February 10, 2022 In the Year of the Sportswash it should be no surprise that Saudi Arabia is at the centre of the struggle for control of pro golf. But would the beefed-up Asian Tour arouse such a frenzy if it had a different backer? The PGA Tour has been accused of greed that is “beyond obnoxious” by [...]
Sponsors and Peta round on West Ham over Zouma February 9, 2022 West Ham United sponsor Experience Kissimmee says it is “evaluating its relationship” with the club after it failed to suspend Kurt Zouma for apparently abusing an animal. The Hammers picked Zouma for last night’s Premier League match against Watford despite earlier condemning footage of him kicking and hitting a cat. Animal protection group Peta, meanwhile, [...]
Fifa Club World Cup: Chelsea set for competition that football doesn’t know what to do with February 8, 2022 For Wednesday afternoon, when they take on Asian champions Al Hilal in the semi-finals, the Fifa Club World Cup will be the focus of Chelsea’s attention. In a season in which the Blues could in theory still win five trophies, however, it is harder to say where the competition ranks among their priorities. Such is [...]
Five talking points from FA Cup weekend as Nottingham Forest stun Leicester February 6, 2022 If anyone thought their elimination of Arsenal was a fluke, Nottingham Forest underlined that it was nothing of the sort with a barnstorming 4-1win over another top-flight opponent in Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday. Forest were irresistible as they raced into a 3-0 lead inside 32 minutes, albeit helped by [...]
West Ham and familiar faces in Kidderminster’s FA Cup crosshairs February 3, 2022 West Ham United’s top brass would have been forgiven for wincing when they were drawn to face Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup fourth round this weekend. Not only do the lowest ranked team left in the competition pose the threat of a humiliating elimination; the non-league outfit’s taste for an upset is also already [...]
Five trends that defined the January transfer window February 1, 2022 Blockbusting deals did not materialise and most of the big clubs kept their hands in their pockets but the Premier League still managed to register a record-breaking January transfer window. While last year’s winter transfer window was one of austerity as teams absorbed the financial impact of Covid-19, this time enough of them threw caution [...]
Premier League clubs exceed pre-pandemic spending in January transfer window February 1, 2022 Premier League clubs spent £295m gross in January, their second highest total ever for a winter transfer window, according to Deloitte. The sum is more than four times higher than their outlay in January 2021 and was driven by newly rich Newcastle United and other teams at the wrong end of the table trying to [...]
Trevor Steven: Strong character Lampard is a positive choice for Everton January 31, 2022 As an Everton supporter, I am optimistic and excited about the appointment of Frank Lampard as manager. Lampard is a strong character. As the son of a famous footballer and a player for Chelsea and England, he has been in a hot-seat of sorts for most of his life. For Everton, having not seemed clear [...]
Frank Lampard confirmed as new Everton manager January 31, 2022 Everton have confirmed the appointment of former Chelsea and Derby County manager Frank Lampard on a two-and-a-half year contract. Lampard succeeds Rafael Benitez, who was sacked after just half a season earlier this month. “It is a huge honour for me to represent and manage a club the size and tradition of Everton Football Club,” [...]
Christian Eriksen returns to football with Brentford January 31, 2022 Danish footballer Christian Eriksen, who suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest while playing last year, has signed for Brentford. The 29-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has not played competitively since collapsing at Euro 2020 last summer. Eriksen, who was subsequently released by Inter Milan, has signed a short-term deal with Brentford until the end of the [...]