Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami debut: All you need to know and how to watch in the UK July 21, 2023 All you need to know about Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami debut, from the date and time to the opponents and TV details – plus suggestions that the club could yet make fans wait a little longer. After jetting in to Florida last weekend to confirm his long-awaited signing, Lionel Messi is poised to play his [...]
Ed Warner: I found a solution to cricket’s privilege problem in the South Downs July 20, 2023 Cricket can tackle its elitism problem by supporting initiatives take the sport to new audiences such as disadvantaged kids, says Ed Warner. Back in my investment banking days, I was responsible from across the Atlantic for a US research department. Every time I headed for JFK after a visit to my team of analysts I [...]
Chelsea land deal boosts Stamford Bridge revamp prospects July 19, 2023 Chelsea have boosted their prospects of redeveloping Stamford Bridge after winning the race to buy adjacent land. The Blues are keen to play at a bigger home and are exploring the possibility of expanding their current stadium, which holds 40,000 fans. The club saw off 12 other bids to agree a deal for a 1.2 [...]
Golf’s Open chiefs change tack on Saudi sponsorship following LIV-PGA deal July 19, 2023 Open Championship chiefs have admitted they would consider sponsorship from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund despite previously criticising its impact on the sport through LIV Golf. On the eve of last year’s tournament Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, said LIV Golf was “harming the perception of the game” and depicted it as “entirely [...]
‘Absolutely embarrassing’: Victoria blasted for Commonwealth Games hosting U-turn July 18, 2023 A bitter war of words has broken out over the 2026 Commonwealth Games after the Australian state of Victoria abruptly pulled out of hosting the event. Victoria was named host for the multi-sport championships last year but reneged on that commitment on Tuesday, citing spiralling costs – plunging the Games into doubt. Commonwealth Games Australia [...]
2023 Women’s World Cup: Prize money up three-fold – but Lionesses in bonus row July 18, 2023 The Women’s World Cup may not have kicked off yet but it has already been hailed as a transformative moment in the growth of the game, with prize money increasing more than three-fold and, for the first time, most of it being paid directly to players. But some financial issues, including a bonus row between [...]
2023 Women’s World Cup ads showcase new-found star power of players July 17, 2023 Four years ago, the Women’s World Cup in France was billed as the biggest to date, but despite the hype it was still struggling to be commercially attractive for sponsors and advertisers in its own right. As the Women’s Sport Trust explained “when women’s sport is approached using the same commercial frameworks as men’s sport [...]
Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon win pulls in nearly as many viewers as coronation July 17, 2023 Carlos Alcaraz’s thrilling Wimbledon triumph attracted a peak audience of 11.2m viewers on BBC One – just short of the number who tuned in for the coronation of King Charles. Alcaraz, 20, came from a set down to beat 23-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and win his first men’s singles title at the All [...]
Fan-owned AFC Wimbledon named best-run club in English football July 17, 2023 AFC Wimbledon are the best-run club in English football, according to a new report on the future funding of the game by campaigners Fair Game. The Fair Game Index rates all 92 teams in the top four divisions in four areas: financial sustainability, governance, fan engagement and equality standards. Wimbledon achieved the highest score of [...]
Harry Kane wants to join us, says Bayern Munich president July 16, 2023 Bayern Munich chiefs are increasingly confident of signing England captain Harry Kane despite seeing two offers rejected by Tottenham Hotspur. The Bundesliga champions held negotiations with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy last week and have also had talks with Kane’s camp. Tottenham dismissed a second bid of £68m last week but Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeness [...]