Gym Group eyes £31m of investor funding for 40 new sites July 1, 2021 The UK’s second-largest gym chain, Gym Group, aims to raise £31m from investors to fund an expansion with 40 new branches. The low-cost gym operator said it plans to open the new sites over the next 18 months as it continues its rapid rollout programme. It said the impact of Covid-19 on the commercial property [...]
Juventus turn to share issue in bid to plug €400m hole caused by Covid and collapse of European Super League project July 1, 2021 Juventus hope to raise €400m via a share issue to compensate for heavy losses during the pandemic and the stalling of plans for a European Super League. The Turin football club, current home to superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, said it expected losses for the 2019-2022 period to reach €320m. Juventus were one of the driving forces [...]
English rugby scraps relegation until 2024 but chiefs insist Premiership is not being ringfenced June 29, 2021 English rugby chiefs have scrapped relegation from the Premiership until 2024 as part of wide-ranging reforms to the game. The pausing of relegation and expansion of the Premiership to 14 teams is designed to stem the losses suffered by most clubs and exacerbated by the pandemic, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said. But the RFU [...]
How Germany are using data science at Euro 2020 and why it won’t help them in a penalty shoot-out against England June 28, 2021 It’s hard to tell whether Pascal Bauer is being modest about his own work or afraid of giving too much away when he talks about Germany’s Euro 2020 showdown with England. As a senior data scientist for German football federation (DFB), he has an important role in preparing the team for matches like tomorrow’s last-16 [...]
Net profits: Andy Murray on life as an entrepreneur and investor, his new sports drink venture and why he’ll focus more on business after tennis June 25, 2021 Sportswear entrepreneur Tom Beahon can remember one of his first meetings with Andy Murray, at the 2019 Australian Open. “Andy was in his hotel room, watching a Djokovic match, making notes on which side of the service box Novak was serving to just in case he played him in that tournament,” recalls Beahon, whose company, [...]
Exclusive: Report ranks England among the worst teams left at Euro 2020 – but last-16 opponents Germany have been one of the best June 25, 2021 England are one of the worst performing teams left in Euro 2020, according to data analysis shared with City A.M. Gareth Southgate’s side, who face Germany in the second round on Tuesday, rank 16th out of 24 teams based on performance in the group stage. England have a lower rating than Turkey, Poland and Slovakia, [...]
Euros 2020: BBC receives thousands of complaints over airing Christian Eriksen collapse June 24, 2021 The BBC has received over 6400 complaints for its coverage of Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsing during the Euro 2020 match against Finland earlier this month. Eriksen received CPR on the field in Copenhagen after suffering a cardiac arrest and collapsing as he chased the ball. Doctors resuscitated the footballer on the pitch with a [...]
Liverpool shareholders RedBird Capital set to buy stake in Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals June 24, 2021 RedBird Capital Partners, a shareholder in Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, is buying a stake in Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket franchise Rajasthan Royals, according to reports. New York-based RedBird is buying 15 per cent of the Royals in a deal that values the team at $250m, says the FT. The transaction continues the trends [...]
AxisStars: Former Man Utd and France footballer Louis Saha on cleaning up the industry and ‘keeping sharks at bay’ with his app business June 23, 2021 Louis Saha enjoyed a glittering football career but he was far from an instant success. A promising teenager, he struggled at first at humble Metz, scored just once in a loan spell at Newcastle United, and dropped down a division to sign for Fulham in the hope of kick-starting his career. Saha proved a success [...]
Spanish football clubs buck trend and make profit despite Covid-19 June 22, 2021 Spanish football clubs bucked the trend by making a collective profit last season despite the impact of Covid-19. LaLiga, which encompasses the top two divisions of men’s football in Spain, reported a profit of €77m for 2019-20. Revenue grew 3.6 per cent year on year to just over €5bn, although net debt grew from €2.6bn [...]