Southampton ‘Spygate’ expulsion ‘severe’, admits commission member May 22, 2026 One of the members of the independent panel that kicked Southampton out of the Championship play-off final for spying says the punishment was “severe” but “necessary”. The unprecedented decision was upheld by the panel on Wednesday following a fast-tracked disciplinary process triggered when Middlesbrough spotted a Southampton staff member filming their training session ahead of [...]
The Live Moment Effect: Genius Sports and MediaScience Study Finds Specific Moments in Live Sports Can Double Unaided Brand Recall May 21, 2026 New research shows that brands aligned with emotionally heightened moments in live sports can improve ad effectiveness
Championship play-off final: Hull or Middlesbrough stand to gain £200m May 21, 2026 Hull City and Middlesbrough will be fighting for a £200m revenue windfall this weekend in the Championship play-off final, according to Deloitte. The Tigers and Boro head to Wembley Stadium on Saturday after a week marred by Southampton’s “Skygate” looking for a spot in next season’s Premier League. And Big Four firm Deloitte’s Sports Business [...]
No, London’s economy hasn’t lost its lustre. Here’s why May 21, 2026 The FT has once again remembered to write about London, the city in which the paper was founded and where the lion’s share of its staff, and its readership, is based. Though it turns out the pink’un hasn’t many nice things to say. London’s economy has lost its lustre, the paper writes. Among the evidence [...]
Southampton sponsors could sue over £170m Spygate verdict May 21, 2026 Southampton could face legal action from sponsors for reputational damage after they were kicked out of the Championship play-off final over “Spygate”, lawyers have warned. An arbitration panel dismissed Southampton’s appeal against their expulsion from the £170m Wembley showdown after the club admitted multiple counts of spying on opponents. Leading sports lawyers believe the Saints [...]
Wes Streeting urges Labour to help youth ‘as an emergency’ May 20, 2026 Wes Streeting has called on the government to support young people “as an emergency” in a resignation speech that accused Sir Keir Starmer of leading a losing battle against Reform UK. Streeting said he supported Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ economic agenda before the Iran war broke out and upended policy-making, though he suggested the Labour leadership [...]
Uefa probes Brighton and Hearts connection under Tony Bloom ownership May 20, 2026 Uefa is scrutinising the relationship between Hearts and Brighton and Hove Albion, with both clubs connected to Tony Bloom on course to qualify for Europe. Brighton owner Bloom holds a 29 per cent stake in Hearts – deliberately below the 30 per cent threshold Uefa prohibits owners from holding in more than one club in [...]
MP calls on government to mandate for free-to-air Champions League final May 19, 2026 MPs have called on the government to ensure the Champions League is on free-to-air television in the future after the three European football finals went behind a HBO paywall. The Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League will feature three Premier League clubs – Arsenal, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace respectively – but will [...]
Premier League streaming platform to cost less than half what UK fans pay May 19, 2026 The Premier League has released pricing for its first ever streaming platform, which will show every single game next season when it launches in Singapore. Premier League + will be available via a dedicated app, with access priced at S$16 (£9.31) for 24 hours, S$44 (£25.62) for a monthly rolling contract, and S$399 (£232.39) for [...]
Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn on darts in US, Bruin Capital, Saudi and Dana White May 19, 2026 Matchroom Sport chair Eddie Hearn on wooing Bruin Capital, darts breaking America, Saudi Arabian money, AJ-Fury and getting back at Dana White. A night at the darts might not seem the obvious place to clinch a billion-pound deal but that’s where Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn invited Bruin Capital to show the US firm why it [...]