‘Zombie clubs’ on rise as Covid doubles football teams in distress December 22, 2021 Football finance experts have warned of a rise in “zombie clubs” as a result of Covid-19 restrictions slashing teams’ income. The number of English clubs in financial distress doubled from 17 to 34 in the six months after stadiums closed in March 2020, a new report by insolvency firm Begbies Traynor found. Derby County and [...]
Man City stars Grealish and Foden warned by Guardiola over night out December 21, 2021 Manchester City stars Jack Grealish and Phil Foden have been warned about their behaviour after being dropped by manager Pep Guardiola. Guardiola left Grealish and Foden on the bench for the Premier League leaders’ 4-0 win over Newcastle United on Sunday after the pair were pictured on a night out days earlier. “I pay a [...]
Premier League rejects calls to pause fixtures amid rising Covid-19 rates December 20, 2021 Premier League clubs have rejected calls to postpone a round of fixtures despite an increasing number of teams being hit by Covid-19 outbreaks. English top-flight teams met today to discuss the potential move after six of 10 games in the division were called off over the weekend. It means the matches scheduled for 28, 29 [...]
Big Sport Quiz of 2021: How much do you remember? December 20, 2021 From teenagers sweeping to Grand Slam tennis titles to England reaching a major football final, an Olympic Games like no other and the introduction of a brand new cricket competition, it has been a hugely eventful year in sport. Off the field it has been just as transformative, with private equity and, increasingly, cryptocurrency and [...]
Former Premier League winner Sergio Aguero announces health related retirement December 15, 2021 Former Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has retired from football in a bid to protect his health. The 22-year-old announced the news earlier today and said: “The decision I have made, I have taken it for my health.” The striker signed for Barcelona in the summer but was taken to hospital in late October after [...]
United game postponed as League reports record Covid-19 cases December 14, 2021 Tonight’s game between Manchester United and Brentford has been postponed after a series of positive cases in the Old Trafford club. Yesterday, United closed their training ground in a bid to stop the spread of the virus after a number of players and staff tested positive on Sunday morning after their 1-0 over Norwich in [...]
Champions League last 16 draw: Fiasco hands Liverpool raw deal December 13, 2021 Just when you thought Uefa couldn’t string out its Champions League last 16 draw ceremony any longer, it found a way. The extraordinary mix-up that failed to keep the right teams apart forced the governing body to scrap and re-run a draw that had featured a plum tie pitting Lionel Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain against Cristiano [...]
Manchester United Covid-19 cases could throw Brentford game into doubt December 12, 2021 Manchester United have recorded a series of positive Covid-19 cases within their squad and staff following their 1-0 Premier League win away to Norwich on Saturday. The club, now under the helm of Ralf Rangnick, have reported the cases to the relevant authorities. Depending on the spread of the cases, if any, in the coming [...]
Football players to be split by vaccination status December 10, 2021 The Premier League and English Football League (EFL) have advised clubs to reinstate covid restrictions including separating players out based on their vaccination status, according to reports. The new guidance from the EFL recommends splitting players into those who are doubled jabbed against coronavirus, boosted, previously infected or unvaccinated on team coaches, according to Sky News, [...]
Eight Premier League stars in KPMG top 10 most valuable players list December 8, 2021 KPMG has underlined the financial supremacy of English football by naming eight Premier League stars among its top 10 most valuable players. Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund, valued at €142m (£121m), and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe, valued at €128m (£109m) occupy the top two places. But the remainder of KPMG’s top 10 is comprised of [...]