Britain’s strongest man to run 48 marathons in 48 English counties in 48 days June 16, 2021 John Clark plans to raise thousands of pounds for charity by running 48 marathons in each of England’s 48 counties in 48 days. The former international strongman, who was crowned Britain’s Natural Strongest Man in 2015 and 2016, is fundraising to support children living in food poverty. He will begin his challenge in Northumberland on [...]
Premier League clubs slip to record £1bn loss as Covid-19 hammers income from match days and broadcasters June 15, 2021 Premier League clubs suffered a record aggregate pre-tax loss of almost £1bn in 2019-20 as a result of Covid-19’s impact on football. The combined revenues of the 20 top-flight teams fell for the first time ever to £4.5bn, a drop of 13 per cent, according to Deloitte. A delay to the completion of the season, [...]
French Open prize money 2021: How much can tennis players win at Roland Garros? June 11, 2021 Tennis has been badly affected by the pandemic, and that is reflected in a further reduction in French Open prize money for 2021. The winners of the men’s and women’s singles titles at Roland Garros this weekend stand to earn €1.4m each. That is 12.5 per cent down on the payouts to Rafael Nadal and [...]
Week in Sportbiz: Ukraine told to change Russia-baiting Euro 2020 kit; Germany muscles in on London NFL patch; beIN and Channel 4 bag rights deals June 10, 2021 Euro 2020 may not have started yet but it has already kicked off between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine tweaked the nose of Russia earlier this week when it revealed a Moscow-baiting new football kit, to be worn at Euro 2020. The yellow shirt features a map of Ukraine that includes Crimea, which Russia annexed in [...]
Six Premier League clubs fined £22m over failed European Super League project June 9, 2021 The Premier League has fined six English clubs who tried to join a breakaway European Super League a combined £22m. The rebel teams – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur – will pay £3.67m each. But they face fines of £25m per club and 30-point deductions should they attempt a similar [...]
Debbie Hewitt to become first female chair of the FA as she leaves Restaurant Group June 8, 2021 Debbie Hewitt is set to become the FA’s first female chair, with the Restaurant Group confirming she will be leaving the same position at the hospitality firm this morning. Hewitt will leave the Restaurant Group – which owns Wagamama and Frankie and Benny’s – at the end of December 2021. Read more: FA Cup to [...]
Private equity giant CVC in talks to invest in OneTennis, a proposed merger between of the men’s ATP Tour and women’s WTA Tour June 7, 2021 CVC Capital Partners is in talks to buy a stake in a proposed new entity that combines the men’s and women’s tennis tours, according to reports. OneTennis would unify the ATP Tour and WTA Tour under one organisation, with CVC taking a minority shareholding in the new commercial vehicle. Approval for the merger could come [...]
Week in Sportbiz: Mexican stand-off over Club Necaxa NFT; press conferences overshadow French Open; English football in distress June 3, 2021 From NBA Top Shot to Christian Fuchs, the march of the NFT in sport has looked unstoppable. Until now, that is. Mexican football chiefs this week put the brakes on the plans of Club Necaxa to become the world’s first sports team to sell an ownership stake using blockchain technology. Club Necaxa, whose shareholders include [...]
Matchroom leaves Sky Sports for DAZN in five-year, £100m deal – but Anthony Joshua fights aren’t included June 3, 2021 Boxing promoter Matchroom has signed a deal with DAZN to show its fights exclusively on the sports streaming platform in the UK and Ireland. The five-year agreement, reported to be worth more than £100m, begins in July when Matchroom’s contract with Sky Sports ends. The deal also cements the relationship between Matchroom and DAZN, which [...]
Exclusive: Vegan footballer Chris Smalling invests six-figure sum in plant-based meat company Heura June 3, 2021 Former Manchester United footballer Chris Smalling has become an investor in plant-based meat company Heura. Smalling, who switched to a vegan diet five years ago, is understood to have invested a six-figure sum in the Spanish brand. “Backing from a top athlete like Chris further bolsters Heura’s nutritional credentials, which are second to none,” said [...]