The season finale economy: Why we undervalue the Premier League May 24, 2026 With one round of Premier League fixtures remaining, the season finale is not approaching, it is here. Title races (usually) tighten, relegation battles become existential, and the casual viewer becomes a committed one. For fans, it is the most emotionally charged period of the year. For brands, it should be one of the most valuable [...]
Starmer urges TNT Sports to air Champions League final for free May 23, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has urged the broadcaster of the Champions League final to air the game for free next Saturday. The Prime Minister is attempting to prevent this year becoming the first in the Champion’s Leagues 34-year history in which the final is not free to watch for British fans. The match will be streamed [...]
Pep Guardiola to stay on CFG payroll after quitting Manchester City May 22, 2026 Pep Guardiola is to continue working for City Football Group despite confirming his departure as manager of its flagship club, Manchester City. Guardiola will take charge of his final match on Sunday, having become the most successful manager in City history during a 10-year spell that gleaned six Premier League titles. The former Barcelona and [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
DR Congo: Fears Fifa World Cup could be Ebola superspreader event May 20, 2026 The Democratic Republic of Congo’s participation in the Fifa World Cup is under threat after an Ebola outbreak led to a US travel ban on the African nation. Health reports suggest there are over 500 suspected cases of the contagious disease in the DRC, with over 125 deaths. It is not yet being classed as [...]
Uefa warns Kang and London City Lionesses over multi-club rules May 20, 2026 Uefa has warned Michele Kang and other investors that women’s football will not be granted an exception to its rules on multi-club ownership. It means US billionaire Kang may have to sell or place into a blind trust either French side OL Lyonnes or London City Lionesses if they both qualify for European competition in [...]
Uefa probes Brighton and Hearts connection under Tony Bloom ownership May 20, 2026 Uefa is scrutinising the relationship between Hearts and Brighton and Hove Albion, with both clubs connected to Tony Bloom on course to qualify for Europe. Brighton owner Bloom holds a 29 per cent stake in Hearts – deliberately below the 30 per cent threshold Uefa prohibits owners from holding in more than one club in [...]
MP calls on government to mandate for free-to-air Champions League final May 19, 2026 MPs have called on the government to ensure the Champions League is on free-to-air television in the future after the three European football finals went behind a HBO paywall. The Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League will feature three Premier League clubs – Arsenal, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace respectively – but will [...]
