Southampton ‘Spygate’ expulsion ‘severe’, admits commission member May 22, 2026 One of the members of the independent panel that kicked Southampton out of the Championship play-off final for spying says the punishment was “severe” but “necessary”. The unprecedented decision was upheld by the panel on Wednesday following a fast-tracked disciplinary process triggered when Middlesbrough spotted a Southampton staff member filming their training session ahead of [...]
Cowes Week announces Horner-linked North Sails as title sponsor May 22, 2026 The Cowes Week sailing regatta has this morning announced the Christian Horner-linked North Sails as title partner. The Isle of Wight racing week, taking place in August, will now be sponsored by the sailmaker backed by Oakley Capital, which this week appointed former Red Bull Racing team principal as an advisor. Cowes Week is the [...]
Enhanced Games on metaphorical trial: is the risk worth it for partners? May 22, 2026 The Enhanced Games wants to sell itself as the future: faster, louder, richer and finally honest about the drugs elite sport has spent decades pretending do not exist. This weekend it lands in Las Vegas with a simple proposition. Let athletes use performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision, put big prize money on the table, stream [...]
Bilbao, Amsterdam, Milan: Where should Champions Cup rugby go next? May 22, 2026 The best thing about the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup finals weekend is its location: Bilbao. It is not the first time the two premier continental fixtures have ventured to El Botxo – the San Mames Stadium hosted Leinster’s victory over Racing 92 in 2018 and Cardiff’s Challenge Cup win over Gloucester a [...]
Championship play-off final: Hull or Middlesbrough stand to gain £200m May 21, 2026 Hull City and Middlesbrough will be fighting for a £200m revenue windfall this weekend in the Championship play-off final, according to Deloitte. The Tigers and Boro head to Wembley Stadium on Saturday after a week marred by Southampton’s “Skygate” looking for a spot in next season’s Premier League. And Big Four firm Deloitte’s Sports Business [...]
Former Red Bull boss Horner lands job at private equity fund targeting sport May 21, 2026 Former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has become an advisor to private equity firm Oakley Capital on premium sport investments. The Brit left Red Bull last year after 20 years at the Formula 1 team and has been exploring a return to the sport through ownership. He reportedly teamed up with MSP Sports [...]
Southampton sponsors could sue over £170m Spygate verdict May 21, 2026 Southampton could face legal action from sponsors for reputational damage after they were kicked out of the Championship play-off final over “Spygate”, lawyers have warned. An arbitration panel dismissed Southampton’s appeal against their expulsion from the £170m Wembley showdown after the club admitted multiple counts of spying on opponents. Leading sports lawyers believe the Saints [...]
Enhanced Games isn’t sport but a product placement exercise May 21, 2026 The Killers are an odd choice of band to wrap this weekend’s Enhanced Games. I’ve no idea about lead singer Brandon Flowers’ attitude to the permissibility of performance enhancing drugs in sport, but the name of his beat combo jars with an enterprise testing scientific and medical boundaries. It won’t be spinach that the 50 [...]
Britain’s fastest man Zharnel Hughes backs home Olympics bid May 21, 2026 Britain’s fastest man Zharnel Hughes has backed a plan to bring the Olympics back to the UK in the 2040s. The government is exploring a potential pathway towards an Olympics in the North of England in what would be the first version of the event in Britain since London 2012 over a decade ago. Anguilla-born [...]
Golf ‘faces questions over financial viability’ following LIV setback May 21, 2026 LIV Golf’s struggles raise questions about the long-term viability of the sport, according to a new independent report on the business of golf. The breakaway tour’s huge financial incentives disrupted golf and forced the PGA Tour to raise its prize money but LIV now faces an uncertain future after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced [...]