Football chanting to lead to cocaine tests by police February 17, 2025 Football fans arrested for pitch invasions or tragedy chanting face cocaine tests by police as part of a Home Office crackdown on drug use at matches. The government has announced the plans as it steps up efforts to tackle the “root causes of reoffending and reduce criminal behaviour”. The 2023-24 football season saw 344 arrests [...]
Saudi Arabia’s Surj Sports Investment confirms stake in Dazn February 17, 2025 Saudi Arabia’s Surj Sports Investment has confirmed that it has taken a minority stake in streaming platform Dazn and entered into a joint venture aimed at showing more events taking place in the kingdom. The announcement confirms long-running rumours of Saudi investment in Dazn and despite the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), of which Surj [...]
Sinner’s three-month ban looks like ‘favouritism’, says Brit Broady February 17, 2025 World No1 Jannik Sinner’s three-month ban from tennis for anti-doping violations smacks of “favouritism towards the better players”, says British Davis Cup star Liam Broady. Sinner reached a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) at the weekend over his two positive tests last year, resulting in a ban that will expire in May shortly [...]
Fan pressure tells as Liverpool freeze ticket prices for next season February 17, 2025 Premier League leaders Liverpool have bowed to supporter pressure and frozen ticket prices for next season. The decision to increase prices by two per cent this term sparked fan protests and accusations of greed being aimed at the club’s US owners, Fenway Sports Group. But there will be no repeat for the 2025-26 campaign after [...]
Trump to fix PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger ‘very soon this year’, says Woods February 17, 2025 Tiger Woods expects talks between the PGA Tour and Donald Trump to mend the rift in men’s professional golf “very soon this year”. Since returning to office last month, President Trump has already met with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott with a view to unblocking the impasse over a proposed [...]
Trump order could see spike in Wimbledon and Formula 1 bribes February 16, 2025 Bribes, including tickets to Wimbledon and Formula 1, could spike this year after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will halt the prosecution of firms accused of bribery abroad. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) has been in place since 1977 and has stringently looked down on firms using bribes on government [...]
Sponsors All Blacks could chase after falling out with Man United part-owners Ineos February 15, 2025 Last week it was revealed that rugby giants New Zealand, including the famous All Blacks, were suing sponsors and Manchester United part-owners Ineos. The chemicals firm, co-owned by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, stands accused of breaching its sponsorship agreement by failing to pay an installment of a £27m, six-year deal, that was signed in [...]
Hundred: Who are winners and losers from £1bn cricket sale? February 14, 2025 When a collective £975m valuation was placed on the Hundred this month many were surprised a competition in its infancy could fetch such a number. But the franchise competition through, largely, eight 49 per cent stakes being sold by the England and Wales Cricket Board, has exceeded expectations – around £700m was seen as a [...]
Manchester Originals investors ‘happy’ despite missing out on London Spirit February 14, 2025 The owner of Indian Premier League side Lucknow Super Giants, RPSG Group, says it is “extremely happy” to have bought a stake in the Hundred franchise Manchester Originals despite initially bidding for Lord’s-based London Spirit. RPSG was gazumped in the auction of a 49 per cent stake in London Spirit by a consortium of Silicon [...]
Arsenal injury crisis is down to overworked players, says Arteta February 14, 2025 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has sounded the alarm over player workload, saying his team’s injury crisis is “a consequence” of increasing demands on footballers. Arteta said he was training his squad “less than ever” in a bid to balance a schedule that can require European football’s top stars to play 60-70 games a season. His [...]