Blavatnik investment in Dazn tops $7bn despite Surj stake sale October 8, 2025 Billionaire Sir Leonard Blavatnik has now invested more than $7bn into sports streaming platform Dazn, having injected an extra $600m in 2024. While revenues increased by more than $300m to over $3bn and losses narrowed from $1.4bn to $936m, according to the accounts filed with Companies House for the year ending 31 December 2024, the [...]
Britain and US win race to launch first Ryder Cup of padel October 8, 2025 First came the America’s Cup in sailing, then golf’s Ryder and Solheim Cups, and more recently the Laver Cup in tennis – now padel has its own transatlantic team competition, the Anglo American Padel Cup, and its inaugural edition begins in London this week. The competition features some of the leading players from two emerging [...]
Ronaldo becomes first $1bn footballer after new Al-Nassr deal October 8, 2025 Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first billionaire footballer after his reported $400m Al-Nassr contract extension earlier this year. The 40-year-old Portuguese – who has enjoyed spells at the likes of Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus – is currently plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League with top-of-the-table Al-Nassr. And his bumper [...]
Football clubs concerned as EFL set to axe its rogue owners test October 8, 2025 The EFL is planning to hand over sole responsibility for assessing the suitability of potential owners to the Independent Football Regulator (IFR), raising concerns among some clubs over whether the new government-backed body has the resources and expertise to make such judgements effectively. The Premier League, in contrast, will continue to operate its own Owners’ [...]
London hailed as global capital for women’s sport as 1.4m visit October 8, 2025 London has been hailed as a global epicentre for women’s sport after the Red Roses, Queen’s Club, the Lionesses and athletics all contributed to 1.4m fans attending events in the capital. Nearly 82,000 fans packed in to Allianz Stadium in Twickenham last month to watch England beat Canada to win a first Women’s Rugby World [...]
Exclusive: NRL investment talks welcome but must be open, Leeds Rhinos chief October 7, 2025 Frank discussions over Australia’s NRL potentially buying a stake in English rugby league should be welcomed, a key Super League boss has told City AM. Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington says calls from Peter V’landys, chair of Australia’s governing body, to look at investment should be heard as part of a wider discussion between [...]
Exclusive: Everton bidder Manoukian launches athlete neobank Stadion October 7, 2025 It was in the early summer of 2024, when Everton were in the eye of a storm caused by the disintegration of their prospective owners, 777 Partners, that Vatche Manoukian’s name suddenly hit the headlines. The London-based Armenian, a former finance lawyer turned investor, emerged as a potential saviour to the cash-strapped Merseyside football club [...]
Former FCA and EY bigwig named football regulator chief executive October 7, 2025 Former FCA and EY bigwig Richard Monks has been named chief executive of the Independent Football Regulator. The appointment of the former Big Four partner comes after confirmation of media rights advisor David Kogan being named chairman. Monks is the first executive appointment made by the Independent Football Regulator after the Football Governance Bill passed [...]
Stokes and Archer in $4.5m raise for Indian medical treatment firm October 7, 2025 England cricketers Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer have taken part of a $4.5m raise for a company that will offer UK patients medical treatments in India. The duo will join India’s KL Rahul through their 4Cast vehicle, as well as lead investor Nexus Venture Partners, in investing in The Medical Travel Company, which claims to [...]
Exclusive: Welsh Fire co-owner wants Hundred to be T20 within two years October 7, 2025 The Indian-American co-owner of The Hundred franchise Welsh Fire, Sanjay Govil, wants the competition to drop its unique format and become a T20 league within two years. The 100-ball format has come under pressure following the sale of stakes in all eight Hundred franchises to overseas investors, some of whom are keen to bring the [...]