Barcelona deny wrongdoing after £1m referee payments allegations emerge on eve of Manchester United tie February 15, 2023 Barcelona have strenuously denied any wrongdoing on the eve of their Europa League meeting with Manchester United after it emerged they paid a referees’ chief more than £1m. Spanish media reported that the club’s payments to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira were being investigated by local prosecutors over possible tax irregularities. Barca said the fees paid [...]
Everton investment blow as MSP Sports Capital switches focus to £3.1bn Tottenham Hotspur takeover February 15, 2023 Everton’s hopes of securing investment have suffered a blow after US private equity fund MSP Sports Capital reportedly turned its attention to a takeover of Tottenham Hotspur. MSP held talks about buying a minority stake from Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, who is seeking investment to help the cash-strapped club fund its new stadium build. [...]
Castore co-founder Tom Beahon on shelving IPO plans, bucking the Brexit trend by expanding in Europe, and the Andy Murray-backed sports brand’s first shoe launch February 15, 2023 At a time when Brexit has caused some British businesses to retreat from Europe, fast-growing premium sportswear brand Castore is eager to buck the trend. The company, founded by former City boys Tom and Phil Beahon and which counts Andy Murray among its investors, has opened a distribution centre in the Netherlands and is increasingly [...]
Manchester United sale: Saudi Arabia and US consortium set to rival Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatar in £5bn takeover battle February 14, 2023 Suitors from Saudi Arabia and the US are set to go up against Sir Jim Ratcliffe and a Qatari bid in the battle to buy Manchester United, City A.M. understands. The bank handling the sale, the Raine Group, has set a deadline of Friday for offers to be made to United’s owners, the Glazer family. [...]
Good news for Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City: Why clubs can forget about winning the Champions League if they’re not super-rich February 14, 2023 Can you spend your way to the Champions League? Not necessarily, but it certainly improves your chances, based on analysis of the last 10 seasons, which shows a strong correlation between revenue and progress to the latter stages. Tottenham Hotspur face a tricky trip to Italian title holders AC Milan when the Champions League knockout [...]
Liverpool supporters sue Uefa: 600 fans demand compensation for Champions League crowd trouble that ‘ruined lives’ February 14, 2023 Hundreds of Liverpool supporters have launched a legal claim for compensation from Uefa after European football’s governing body was blamed for the crowd trouble at last year’s Champions League final. Law firm Leigh Day is representing more than 600 Reds supporters who they say “should be recompensed for the trauma they experienced” during chaotic scenes [...]
Nat Sciver-Brunt banks biggest salary in English women’s cricket after being signed in Women’s Premier League auction February 13, 2023 All-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt has landed what is thought to be the biggest contract in the history of English women’s cricket after being signed for the inaugural Women’s Premier League in India. Sciver-Brunt and spinner Sophie Ecclestone both secured six-figure deals at the Women’s Premier League auction today. Sciver-Brunt was sold to Mumbai Indians for 3.2 [...]
Patrick Mahomes makes promise after inspiring Kansas City Chiefs to victory over Philadelphia Eagles in record-breaking Super Bowl LVII February 13, 2023 Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes insists the team are “not done yet” after winning a second Super Bowl in four years in a clash for the ages with Philadelphia Eagles. Mahomes defied injury to inspire the Chiefs to a famous comeback at the State Farm Stadium in Phoenix on Sunday night, winning 38-35 thanks [...]
Manchester City fans boo Premier League over charges ahead of win over Aston Villa February 12, 2023 Manchester City fans booed the Premier League anthem yesterday ahead of a 3-1 win over Aston Villa that laid down the gauntlet to Arsenal. City supporters were responding to top-flight chiefs charging the club with more than 100 alleged breaches of financial rules last week. “The supporters were really good today,” said City manager Pep [...]
Super Bowl ad review: T-Mobile, Squarespace, Popcorner, Workday, Paramount Plus – read who we think did it best and then watch them for yourself February 12, 2023 Once upon a time, the Super Bowl ads were just that: adverts that aired during the intervals of the most-watched sports event in North America. They ran once, with audiences across the country waiting in anticipation for the best work the advertising industry could muster. Today, Super Bowl ads are trailed by their own teaser [...]