Europe’s lesser lights put Super League plotting in shade in across the continent April 26, 2021 The European Super League (ESL) has hogged the headlines to such an extent lately that it has obscured the real drama playing out across the continent. With just a handful of games left to play in this most unpredictable of seasons, league titles and Champions League places remain the subject of fierce tussles in Spain, [...]
Week in Sportbiz: Succession at Matchroom; PGA Tour’s $40m fame fund; taking knee banned at Tokyo 2020; India warms to The Hundred; NFL’s paint job April 23, 2021 It’s been a busy week for shifts in power at the top of sports organisations, splitting with old partners and signing megabucks new deals. Away from European football’s attempt to eat itself, Matchroom announced that founder Barry Hearn would be stepping down after 40 years at the helm. Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn is succeeding [...]
European Super League: LaLiga chief Javier Tebas won’t ‘cut people’s heads off’ over Real Madrid and Barcelona breakaway attempt April 22, 2021 The head of the Spanish football league, Javier Tebas, has played down calls to sanction the 12 clubs who tried to launch a breakaway European Super League. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and six English clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool abandoned the project this week. LaLiga chief Tebas said the project was now dead and [...]
European Super League criticised for ‘unilaterally deciding future of women’s football’ without consultation April 22, 2021 Campaign group Women in Football has criticised the lack of consultation with the women’s game over the short-lived European Super League breakaway. Plans for the European Super League, the biggest shake-up in club football in living memory, stated that a corresponding women’s competition would follow but did not go into further details. The project unravelled [...]
Premiership Rugby chief executive Darren Childs to quit and become advisor to shareholder CVC Capital Partners April 21, 2021 Premiership Rugby chief executive Darren Childs is to step down and become an advisor to CVC Capital Partners, which owns a minority stake in England’s top division. Childs, who only took up the role two years ago, will leave in the next few weeks, Premiership Rugby said. Predecessor Mark McCafferty also went on to advise [...]
Arsenal and Liverpool say sorry for plotting European Super League but clubs’ defence of motivations shows wildly unpopular project is far from dead April 21, 2021 The English clubs among the “dirty dozen” behind plans for a European Super League have begun attempts to repair the damage caused by the failed breakaway. But while Arsenal and Liverpool apologised to supporters, they and the other English clubs to pull out – Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur – stopped short [...]
Swift disintegration of European Super League leaves it looking like nothing more than an elaborate power play that backfired spectacularly April 20, 2021 We were told by the clubs – the so-called “dirty dozen” – that the European Super League was a done deal. That it was definitely happening. That it was more than just another power play. The fact that it took less than 48 hours from that announcement for Chelsea to back out, and other dominoes [...]
Manchester United and Juventus shares rise on European Super League announcement April 19, 2021 Shares in Manchester United (MANU) and Juventus (JUVE) rose on Monday following the announcement of plans for a European Super League. Both clubs were confirmed on Sunday night as one of 12 founder members of the breakaway competition, which could replace the Champions League as soon as next year. Shares in United were up more [...]
Tottenham Hotspur sack Jose Mourinho after 17 months – and just days before cup final April 19, 2021 Tottenham Hotspur have sacked manager Jose Mourinho, the club has confirmed. The move comes less than a week before the Carabao Cup final and just 17 months after his appointment. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said: “Jose and his coaching staff have been with us through some of our most challenging times as a club. “Jose [...]
European Super League: Who is in it? How will it work? Why is it happening? And can it be stopped? April 19, 2021 Twelve clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and six English teams, have confirmed they are planning to launch a breakaway European Super League. If it goes ahead, the move would represent the most significant change to club football in living memory. But what will the new competition look like? Which teams will be involved? And [...]