Chelsea match given go-ahead by Premier League despite Abramovich sanctions March 10, 2022 The Premier League has said Chelsea can face Norwich City as planned this evening despite the sanctioning of Roman Abramovich. Uncertainty surrounds the future of the club after Abramovich had his assets frozen by the UK government over his alleged links to Russia and its prime minister Vladimir Putin. “Following the UK Government’s announcement that [...]
Explained: What Roman Abramovich sanctions mean for Chelsea sale, matches and transfers March 10, 2022 The future of Chelsea FC has been plunged into uncertainty after owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government today. Abramovich has had his assets frozen because of his links to Russia and its prime minister Vladimir Putin, and that has major ramifications for the Premier League club’s operations and his plan to sell [...]
Saudi Arabia’s PIF and Amanda Staveley should have waited to buy Chelsea instead March 10, 2022 I can’t help thinking that Amanda Staveley and her consortium have bought the wrong football club. Had they waited just five months they could have had Chelsea FC rather than Newcastle United. A mooted £3bn price tag may be 10 times the price paid for the Magpies, but still well within the means of Saudi [...]
Calls to boycott Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Pizza Hut and McDonald’s over refusal to quit Russia March 8, 2022 Major international food and drink brands including Coca-Cola, McDonalds, PepsiCo and Pizza Hut have refused to close outlets in Russia – leading to calls for boycotts from campaigners. Companies have faced mounting calls to quit selling their products in Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, as other major international brands such as Apple and Netflix [...]
Premier League suspend broadcast deal in Russia over Ukraine invasion March 8, 2022 The Premier League has today suspended its broadcast deal with Russian broadcast partner Okko Sport over the country’s invasion of Ukraine. The organisation will also donate £1m to support the Ukrainian people. This comes days after Chinese state broadcasters refused to show parts of Premier League games where there would be organised displays of solidarity [...]
Premier League talking points: De Bruyne, Saka and the top four March 7, 2022 It was a Sunday afternoon of football which proved the worth of individual performances in high-pressure matches, and a Sunday which piled pressure on a Watford side down in the dreaded relegation places as the number of games remaining slowly dwindled. Here are the talking points from yesterday’s Premier League action. Manchester is blue For [...]
Explainer: Why have Championship rugby clubs been denied promotion? March 4, 2022 “Disappointed, dismayed and disheartened,” is how Championship rugby leaders Doncaster Knights reacted to news this week that they will not be promoted even if they win the league. The Knights were joined by Ealing Trailfinders in being denied entry to the Premiership, English rugby’s top division, for failing to meet a series of off-field criteria. [...]
Ollie Phillips: Corker of a weekend ahead of us in the Premiership March 4, 2022 While an absence of promotion and relegation in Premiership Rugby may be the talking point within the sport, it’s hard to deny that the lack of jeopardy has produced some cracking rugby this season. With Saracens in second on 54 points and Northampton in ninth on 42, it’s incredibly tight for the three play-off places [...]
From Abramovich to the Saudis: Football clubs have become the laundry for muddy reputations March 4, 2022 In 2003, Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea Football Club. In the years thereafter, a perennial underachiever became one of the most successful clubs in English football, a five-times Premier League champion and twice winner of the Champions League, the pinnacle of European football. Today, they are the reigning European and world club champions. Results on the [...]
Bookie bounce back for Ladbrokes owner Entain drives industry confidence March 3, 2022 Entain has enjoyed a revival in profits and revenues as pandemic restrictions ease, and its US venture takes off.