English clubs warned over Saudi Pro League transfer amid Fifa probe January 7, 2025 English clubs have been warned to think twice before selling players to Saudi Pro League teams after Welsh champions The New Saints lodged a complaint with Fifa over unpaid fees. The ambitious competition has spent heavily in recent transfer windows on luring big-name talent such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Neymar to the Middle [...]
Reeves employer NIC tax plans raise wind-up fears for football clubs January 7, 2025 A total of 24 professional football clubs are in arrears to HMRC over PAYE debt, with experts fearing that number could rise due to Rachel Reeves’s budget. Clubs including Championship side Reading and National League Southend United are among those who received winding-up petitions from HMRC in 2024. But business experts have warned that changes [...]
Springboks face new bid for stake by Leeds United private equity investors Ackerley Sports Group January 6, 2025 The world champion Springboks could sell off a stake of their commercial rights company to investors in Leeds United as South African rugby looks for a stronger financial footing. Seattle-based firm Ackerley Sports Group LLC is reportedly set to revive plans to invest in the 2023 Rugby World Cup winners after an initial bid foundered [...]
Independent Football Regulator hires head of legal from CMA January 6, 2025 The incoming football regulator has appointed a head of legal as it steps up plans to begin its work in earnest in 2025. David Riley this week left his role as legal director of the Competition and Markets Authority to take up a role with the football body, where he will head up the legal [...]
England legend backs radical shake-up of Test cricket January 6, 2025 If approved, the change would mean England playing Test series against Australia and India twice every three years.
Sport sponsorship: Best deals, who’s investing and 2025 growth January 5, 2025 As 2025 kicks off, the sports sponsorship landscape is brimming with opportunity. New trends are emerging and the environment is ripe for seasoned sponsors to make bold investments promoting new brand offerings. With Premier League clubs preparing for life after gambling sponsors and athlete-driven media platforms gaining traction, the industry is undergoing a transformation that [...]
Hamilton world title or Fury vs Joshua? The betting trends set to dominate 2025 January 4, 2025 Millions of Brits love a little betting flutter now and again, and sport is where the majority of our punts go. Government reports state that “the provisional 2024 to 2025 year-to-date [April to September] total for betting and gaming receipts is £1,78bn, which is £102m (6 per cent) higher than the same period during the [...]
Lions will smash Aussies and England will win World Cup in 2025 January 3, 2025 Happy New Year one and all! The upcoming 12 months are going to be filled with brilliant rugby moments but the Lions and England Women top the billing for me. Because 2025 has a lot going on, but the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in July and the Women’s Rugby World Cup headline [...]
Littler seven sets from PDC World Championship victory January 3, 2025 Luke Littler says it will be the “stuff dreams are made of” if he can create history by becoming the youngest-ever world champion. The 17-year-old booked his place in a second successive World Championship final at Alexandra Palace by beating Stephen Bunting in the last four to set up a blockbusting clash with Michael van [...]
Unlocking assets and promoting inclusivity: Sports finance in 2025 January 3, 2025 Sports finance is poised to continue a profound and exciting transformation in 2025, writes DLA Piper’s Charlotte Lewis-Williams. In the post-pandemic era, one of the central characteristics around sports finance has been its rapid evolution towards implementation of diversified strategies. Innovative tactics, a greater focus on community engagement, unconventional ownership structures, the rise of alternative [...]