Three sport law disputes to watch for in 2026 January 3, 2026 Joel Leigh and Rufus Scholefield take a look at the sectors that could define sport law in 2026 The left over mince pies are running out and the sporting world is looking ahead and bracing for a year that promises thrilling competition but also, significant legal and regulatory challenges. 2026 looks certain to be remembered [...]
Why Squad Cost Ratio rules can’t afford to ruin joy of Premier League January 2, 2026 Trevor Watkins, global head of sport at Pinsent Masons and Former director and chairman of AFC Bournemouth, discusses why changes in Premier League football’s financing rules cannot afford to ruin the sport With the Christmas period behind us, the traditional festive season of football fixtures – once a full list on Boxing Day but now [...]
Reading owner Rob Couhig considers selling training ground to raise funds December 31, 2025 Reading owner Rob Couhig is considering radical measures including downgrading the club’s Academy or selling the training ground to increase the funding he can make available to the first team. The American, who paid around £25m to buy the League One club from Dai Yongge at the end of last season, has been an outspoken critic of [...]
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 [...]
Manchester City v Premier League battle set to drag on beyond season December 17, 2025 Manchester City will face another lengthy wait to discover their punishment if they are found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules, as the much-anticipated verdict of the independent commission will be delivered in stages. The initial judgement of the commission, which finished hearing the case 13 months ago, will only deal with matters [...]
Premier League clubs count £1bn cost of injuries December 16, 2025 Premier League clubs have forked out more than £1bn in wages to injured players across the last five years, a new study has found. Since the start of the 2020-21 season, 5,367 injuries in the English top flight have cost its clubs £1.2bn in salary payments – equivalent to a quarter of their matchday revenue [...]
English football clubs facing financial distress drops by 50 per cent December 10, 2025 The financial health of English football appears to be improving, with the number of clubs in the EFL deemed to be facing distress halving since last year. Only three of the 72 teams in the English Football League, which comprises the three professional divisions below the Premier League, meet that bar, according to an annual [...]
Paramount takeover of UK sport cools despite Champions League grab December 10, 2025 Paramount Skydance has no plans to launch a UK sports channel after acquiring Champions League rights from 2027 onwards in an indication that a major expansion into sport from the global streaming platform is unlikely. As it stands the Champions League is likely to be broadcast in this country on Paramount+, while the entertainment network [...]
Cardiff City’s £100m Sala damages claim set for court in France December 8, 2025 Cardiff City’s £100m damages claim surrounding the 2019 transfer of Nantes striker Emiliano Sala will be heard today in France. The Welsh club argues that they’re owed damages after the death of Sala, who was killed when his plane crashed on the way to Cardiff for a £15m transfer in January 2019. He and the [...]
Premier League Predictions: Title Challengers Arsenal and Man City to march on, but more frustration for Chelsea and Liverpool December 5, 2025 There is no time to dwell on an absorbing midweek round in the Premier League with the action set to continue over the coming days. It has been a good week for Arsenal, Manchester City and Leeds in particular, with all three earning victories that could be pivotal in helping them achieve their respective targets [...]