Real Madrid decision sounds death knell for European Super League February 11, 2026 Real Madrid have become the final club to abandon the ailing European Super League project in a move that effectively kills off any prospect of a breakaway football competition in the foreseeable future. It follows talks between Real Madrid, governing body Uefa and influential umbrella group European Football Clubs leading to an “agreement of principles”, [...]
CVC’s Global Sport Group to announce deal with Gordon Brown-linked Pimco February 11, 2026 CVC Capital Partners’ new sporting arm Global Sport Group is set to announce a deal with Gordon Brown-associated asset management group Pimco. The deal will see the firm which manages around $2 trillion in assets heavily involved in debt financing, according to Sky News’ Mark Kleinman. The senior debt financing is set to be worth [...]
Thomas Frank sacked: Tottenham count cost of £6.7m compensation payout February 11, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur have sacked manager Thomas Frank less than eight months after paying £6.7m in compensation to poach him from Premier League rivals Brentford. Frank’s departure comes after Spurs lost 2-1 at home to Newcastle on Tuesday night, a result that left them just two places and five points above the relegation zone. The compensation [...]
Mandelson’s Global Counsel has been rocked by its links to Epstein. Will it survive? February 10, 2026 Global Counsel – the lobbying shop co-founded by Peter Mandelson – was once a swashbuckling force in London’s world-leading public affairs sector. But after the extent of its links to Jeffrey Epstein were revealed by the US Department of Justice email release, clients have been severing ties and its chief executive has quit. Ali Lyon [...]
Luke Littler attracts Meta to darts with Oakley glasses partnership February 9, 2026 Tech giant Meta has entered the darts market by joining world champion Luke Littler’s ever-growing stable of partners. The deal saw Littler don a pair of Oakley Meta glasses to record his throws in a practice session filmed for social media. It sees Oakley and Meta join Xbox, fast fashion brand Boohoo, Target Darts, KP [...]
Leicester City’s points deduction shows the tail doesn’t always wag the dog February 6, 2026 The Premier League’s victory over Leicester City shows that clubs can’t lose money with impunity, but is it one battle in a much bigger war, writes Aaryaman Banerji. Every ruling tells a story. And so it is that English football has become something of an anthology. This week’s verdict by a three-man independent commission, finding that Leicester City had breached EFL Profit and [...]
Premier League Predictions: Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United march on, but Liverpool is beaten February 5, 2026 Arsenal’s grip on the Premier League leadership tightened last weekend, and there is a growing sense that this could finally be the Gunners’ year. Week 25 could have significant ramifications in the title race with the closest challengers, Manchester City and Aston Villa, facing difficult away games. Here, we analyse all of the weekend fixtures [...]
‘Look out for rich individuals’: The deep ties between Mandelson lobbying firm and Epstein February 5, 2026 As one of London’s many eminent lobbying and advisory outfits, Peter Mandelson’s Global Counsel is well versed in what it takes to manage a reputation. Set up by the former deputy Prime Minister and Labour spin doctor Benjamin Wegg-Prosser from the embers of Labour’s 2010 general election loss, it has worked on some of the [...]
Is Guinness Bristol City deal a sign of football shirt sponsorships to come? February 4, 2026 Looming exit of betting companies from football front-of-shirt sponsorship opens the door for more consumer brands like Guinness to return, writes Matthew Fletcher-Jones. Having made the often-regrettable decision to support Tottenham Hotspur in the 1980s, I’m still pleased to see any corner shop selling Holsten Pils – the club’s shirt sponsor throughout my youth. Chelsea [...]
Guardiola calls out Premier League clubs for not winning trophies February 3, 2026 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has called out big Premier League clubs for not winning trophies despite spending more over the last five years. After the January transfer window closed on Monday – which saw the 20 Premier League clubs spend around £400m – City’s net spend over the past five years sat at £396m [...]