Justin King: Big business must do more to support grassroots sport August 23, 2021 Observing the wonder of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, it underlined my belief that big business must do more to support grassroots sport. As we enjoy this fantastic summer of sport, it’s important to remember that our sporting stars all started at a grassroots club somewhere. While only a select few make it to elite [...]
Why a salary cap and luxury tax are unlikely to succeed where Financial Fair Play failed and make European football more competitive August 21, 2021 It feels symbolic that two of the biggest football transfers of the summer should precede the death knell for Financial Fair Play, the rules designed to rein in spending that now look set to be replaced with a salary cap and luxury tax. Paris Saint-Germain’s signing of Lionel Messi and Manchester City’s Premier League record [...]
Super-spikes are damaging credibility of athletics and need to be regulated, says Olympic men’s 400m hurdles champion Karsten Warholm August 19, 2021 Olympic 400m hurdles champion Karsten Warholm says so-called “super-spikes” are damaging the credibility of athletics. Warholm called on World Athletics to regulate the new generation of carbon-technology running shoes credited with producing faster times. The Norwegian smashed his own world record in winning an astonishingly fast men’s 400m hurdles final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics [...]
UK’s biggest pub chain Stonegate to promote Spanish football after agreeing deal with LaLiga to show its matches in 100 pubs August 18, 2021 The UK’s biggest pub group, Stonegate, has struck a deal with Spanish football league LaLiga to show and promote its matches. Stonegate will showcase the LaLigaTV channel, which broadcasts all live games and recently announced Gary Lineker as a presenter, in almost 100 key pubs including its London-based Sports Bar and Grill chain. The move [...]
England striker Tammy Abraham joins Roma from Chelsea in record breaking transfer for an English player moving overseas August 17, 2021 Tammy Abraham has left Chelsea for Roma in a €40m (£34.1m) transfer that makes him the most expensive English player ever signed by an overseas club. England centre-forward Abraham has signed a five-year contract with the Italian team, where he will be reunited with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. The fee of £34.1m eclipses the [...]
Barcelona president Joan Laporta reveals debts at crisis club have grown to £1.15bn following Lionel Messi departure August 16, 2021 Barcelona, once hailed as the model for all football clubs to follow, are now £1.15bn (€1.35bn) in debt, according to their president Joan Laporta. The five-time European champions’ financial crisis was highlighted last week by their inability to afford a new contract for Lionel Messi, their greatest ever player. Laporta said Barcelona’s wage bill exceeded [...]
Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City among Super League rebels to return to European Club Association August 16, 2021 Nine of the rebel football clubs who agreed to join a breakaway European Super League – including six Premier League sides – have rejoined the European Club Association (ECA). The teams renounced their memberships of the influential group, which represents more than 200 of Europe’s leading clubs, as part of their decision to join the [...]
Russia planning 2036 Olympic bid as St Petersburg emerges as rival to London August 16, 2021 London will face opposition from Russia if it pursues a bid to host the Olympic Games in 2036. Russia has confirmed it is preparing a bid for the Games, with St Petersburg its leading candidate. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan pledged to explore staging the Olympics again, following the success of London 2012, in the [...]
UEFA close to €6bn aid package for European football clubs August 13, 2021 UEFA is reportedly close to signing off on a rescue package worth up to €6bn (£5.1bn) to help European football teams recover from the pandemic. The funding is part of a proposed three-part strategy by the governing body, to be outlined in the coming weeks, aimed at helping clubs following stadium closures and a sharp [...]