Chelsea’s annual loss tops £145m despite increased turnover December 30, 2021 Chelsea FC have announced an annual loss of £145.6m after tax in the year leading to 30 June 2021. The club, owned by Roman Abramovich since 2003, did however increase its turnover to £416.8m – up from £387.8m. Chelsea are currently third in the Premier League and are reigning European Champions, having beaten Manchester City [...]
Leicester Tigers under investigation for potential salary cap breach December 28, 2021 Current Premiership table topers Leicester Tigers are under investigation for a potential breach of the regulated salary cap. The inquiry is said to relate to Worldwide Image Management (WIM), historic image rights payments and links to the east Midlands club. The investigation is understood to be under the watch of Andrew Rogers, the league’s salary [...]
Best of 2021: Why Saudi Arabia bought Newcastle United December 27, 2021 In this article, originally published in October, sports business expert Professor Simon Chadwick explains the strategic background to the takeover of Newcastle United by a consortium headed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – and why it about much more than football. After years of speculation, prevarication and consternation, Saudi Arabia has at last sealed [...]
Sports law year in review 2021: Were our predictions right? December 26, 2021 In December 2020, while others may have been preparing for muted New Year’s Eve celebrations in light of the new coronavirus variant, we were busy making sports law predictions for the year ahead for City A.M. In summary, we predicted a rise in data-related disputes on the back of Project Red Card, the further growth [...]
Best of 2021: Forest Green owner Dale Vince on saving the planet, one match at a time December 26, 2021 In this interview from March 2021, pioneering eco-entrepreneur Dale Vince discusses the rise of the football club he owns, Forest Green Rovers, the world’s first vegan and carbon-neutral team, who play on an organic pitch in kits made of recycled coffee beans. With a large green Union Jack behind him and a casually dishevelled appearance, [...]
Best of 2021: Why did Exeter start the Premiership Rugby season without a main sponsor? December 25, 2021 When this Premiership Rugby season began in September, Exeter’s opening match saw them face Leicester Tigers without a main sponsor. Here Matt Hardy took at look as to why that could have been using industry commentators and experts. Since the article’s original publish date, on September 25, Exeter Chiefs have found a main sponsor – [...]
Best of 2021: Lewes FC, the football club of the future? December 25, 2021 In this article from March 2021, Frank Dalleres speaks to Maggie Murphy, general manager and now CEO of Lewes FC about the club’s pioneering stance on equal pay, how a purpose-led approach can attract commercial partners, and bold plans for the future. They take pride in doing things differently at Lewes FC, the small football [...]
Best of 2021: How Drive to Survive and esports helped save Formula 1 December 24, 2021 In this article, originally published in March 2021 to mark the start of what would prove to be a landmark season, Frank Dalleres looks at how Formula 1’s owner Liberty Media helped shake off its male, pale and stale image and won a whole new generation of fans, including in some crucial territories. It feels [...]
Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick suggests scrapping Carabao Cup December 23, 2021 Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick has suggested that English football should scrap the Carabao Cup to ease the burden on players. Concerns about player welfare have been heightened by a raft of Covid-19 postponements, which will mean fixture congestion – and an intensified workload – in the coming weeks. “England is the only league in [...]
Watch: Anti-vaxxers attempt to ‘serve papers’ on football hero Alan Shearer, only to end up at wrong house December 23, 2021 A group of anti-vaccination activists tried to “serve papers” on footballer Alan Shearer today, but ended up dropping the files off at the wrong house. The former England captain and Newcastle United hero last week urged people to get the booster in a video promoted by the Premier League. In the clip, Shearer said: “We [...]