Can Italy’s challenger European rugby project win them a World Cup? January 14, 2025 Rugby authorities in Italy have reportedly submitted plans for a new European rugby competition. But can it be viable, and is the World Cup the end goal? The new president of Italy’s rugby federation, Andrea Duodo, caused a little bit of a stir recently when he confirmed that new proposals for a European club rugby [...]
CMA launches probe into Google search dominance under new regime January 14, 2025 Google has been placed under investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to assess whether its search and advertising services deliver fair results within the UK. In a statement today, the watchdog announced the launch of its first “strategic market status designation investigation” under a new Strategic Market Status (SMS) regime, which was rolled [...]
It’s hard to see how City Minister survives the week January 14, 2025 Will Tulip Siddiq still be the City minister by the end of this week? It’s an important question, for a number of reasons. Siddiq’s fate matters a great deal to Keir Starmer and the government, because nobody wants to lose an anti-corruption minister to a corruption scandal. It matters to the wider Labour party because [...]
Industry slams Labour government plans for ticket reform January 11, 2025 Leading industry voices have slammed government plans to change the secondary ticketing market in sport, describing proposals as “draconian”. The government on Friday announced plans to tackle touts and potentially further regulate the secondary market following instances of extreme dynamic pricing relating to the sale of Oasis tickets. Measures could include a cap and a [...]
Government announces post-Oasis ticket resale clampdown January 10, 2025 The government has said it will intervene to tackle ticket touts after a recent wave of frustration around inflated resale prices. As part of the government’s broader Plan for Change, a public consultation has been announced to stop exploitative practices in the ticket resale market and to improve transparency for fans. The announcement comes after [...]
MP seeks referral for Vodafone to covid corruption commissioner January 9, 2025 Tory MP Sir John Hayes has called for Vodafone to be referred to the Covid Corruption Commissioner over allegations listed in a multi-million-pound lawsuit
UK stock funds suffer worst year on record as investors pull nearly £10bn January 8, 2025 UK-focused stock funds suffered their worst year on record last year as investors yanked nearly £10bn from the market, new figures have shown. While equity vehicles globally raked in a record £27.2bn through 2024, UK funds haemorrhaged some £9.6bn in their most sluggish year ever relative to the performance of the wider market, according to [...]
Ahead of the Game: India want rule change to World Test Championship January 8, 2025 India are pushing for an overhaul of the International Cricket Council’s points system for the World Test Championship after missing out on the final for the first time. Australia’s 3-1 Test series win over Rohit Sharma’s side secured their place in the final against South Africa at Lord’s this summer, condemning India to third in [...]
Go further to revive the City of London, voters tell Starmer and Reeves January 8, 2025 Keir Starmer’s government must do more to support the City of London after a bruising year in which fresh IPOs have fallen off a cliff and scores of firms have been picked off by private buyers, a survey of voters has suggested. According to the first of a new monthly City AM/Freshwater Strategy poll, more [...]
Independent Football Regulator hires head of legal from CMA January 6, 2025 The incoming football regulator has appointed a head of legal as it steps up plans to begin its work in earnest in 2025. David Riley this week left his role as legal director of the Competition and Markets Authority to take up a role with the football body, where he will head up the legal [...]