World’s biggest padel club: Rowland eyes mega project after taking racket sport public November 5, 2025 British entrepreneur Jonathan Rowland has stepped up plans to build the world’s biggest padel venue by creating the first listed investment vehicle focused on niche racket sports. Rowland today announced a deal to use Aquis-listed VVV Sports to acquire his R3 Sport, which operates tournaments, manages players, and has retail and distribution partnerships in padel. [...]
Abramovich hits out at UK government over frozen £2.3bn Chelsea proceeds November 5, 2025 Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has criticised the government over moves that have “paralysed” his £2.3bn windfall from the sale of the Premier League club. Following the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian billionaire sold the Stamford Bridge club to a consortium fronted by American Todd Boehly, with the proceeds placed in a frozen bank account [...]
International rugby player charged over alleged £70,000 crypto theft November 5, 2025 An international rugby player has been charged with fraud over an alleged crypto theft worth £70,000. Former NRL rugby league star Trent Merrin was arrested this week and charged with dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception. The seven-time Australia international and former Dragons and State of Origin forward, 36, stands accused of stealing from [...]
Chelsea star Raheem Sterling’s fashion brand 1692 struck off after £1m losses November 5, 2025 England and Chelsea footballer Raheem Sterling’s fashion business, 1692, has been struck off after losing more than £1m in two years. Sterling co-founded the brand in May 2021, at the height of his on-field success with Manchester City and the national team. But 1692 Fashion Limited racked up losses of £675,000 in its first year [...]
UFC chaos as president White meets FBI over suspicious betting allegations November 5, 2025 UFC has been shrouded in chaos and mystery after fighting league president Dana White had to meet with the FBI over alleged suspicious betting. The concerns relate to a fight on the UFC Vegas 110 card between Isaac Dulgarian and Yadier del Valle on Saturday. The featherweight Dulgarian was beaten in the first round despite [...]
Exclusive: Leicester Tigers and DCMS face scrutiny over £6m Covid loan renegotiation November 5, 2025 Leicester Tigers and DCMS are facing questions after they altered the repayment terms of the club’s £6m Covid-19 loan to interest-only until 2028. The change, which only emerged in the Prem Rugby club’s most recent financial accounts, casts further doubt on DCMS’s chances of recouping its £474m lending to sporting and cultural bodies – raising [...]
Fifa casts net as Budweiser Uefa talks throw World Cup contract into doubt November 5, 2025 Fifa has begun exploratory talks with other alcohol companies as a contingency measure in case long-term partner AB InBev, maker of Budweiser, opts against extending its contract as the world governing body’s official beer supplier after next year’s World Cup. AB InBev’s flagship brand Budweiser has been the official World Cup beer since the 1986 [...]
British basketball at war: GBBL proposes peace deal to BBF and SLB November 4, 2025 The chief executive of the Great Britain Basketball League (GBBL) has moved to make peace with the existing clubs and the sport’s governing body following the 12-month civil war that has resulted in the men’s national team being suspended from international competition. In a letter sent to the interim chair of the British Basketball Federation [...]
Sabalenka to face Kyrgios in Battle of the Sexes in Dubai November 4, 2025 The United Arab Emirates will host a “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios this year. Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena will stage the first such match since 1992 when world No1 Sabalenka faces Australian Kyrgios, who reached a career-high 13th in 2016. “I have a lot of respect for Nick and [...]
Hundred: Northern Superchargers to become Sunrisers Leeds November 4, 2025 The Northern Superchargers Hundred franchise is set to be known as Sunrisers Leeds from the 2026 season, new documents reveal. A complete 100 per cent stake in the Headingley-based cricket team was sold by the England and Wales Cricket Board and Yorkshire County Cricket Club to Indian conglomerate the Sun Group for around £100m. The [...]