Three charts that show the chasm between Manchester United and Brighton’s spending April 22, 2023 Manchester United’s vast financial advantage over Brighton is illustrated by analysis of both clubs’ spending over the last decade as they prepare to meet in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final. When Manchester United last met Brighton and Hove Albion at Wembley Stadium in the 1983 FA Cup final replay, it was already a financial mismatch. Although [...]
Premier League ‘shutting the door on those below’ by ‘distorting competition’ April 19, 2023 MPs have accused the Premier League of “shutting the door on those below” with the parachute payments system of financial redistribution to relegated football clubs. Julian Knight, chairman of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport select committee, urged England’s leading clubs to find a “fairer solution” that doesn’t have a “distorting effect on competition”. [...]
IN PICTURES: See Manchester City’s plans for £300m upgrade to Etihad Stadium April 18, 2023 Premier League champions Manchester City have formally submitted a planning application for a £300m upgrade of their Etihad Stadium that would take capacity to more than 60,000. The improvements are centred on the North Stand, which is to get a new, enlarged upper tier and will connect to a new complex featuring a hotel, club [...]
Leeds, Chelsea, Crystal Palace: Why have so many clubs chosen short-term managers? April 17, 2023 When Javi Gracia made a surprise return to the Premier League in February he signed a contract with Leeds United which the club described as “flexible”. In reality, it meant a short-term deal guaranteed only until the end of the season, when it could be extended if all parties agreed. Since then, five more clubs [...]
English football wants a piece of the American pie – but it’s not MLS April 15, 2023 From Todd Boehly’s private-equity-backed consortium at Premier League giants Chelsea to former Disney CEO Michael Eisner at Portsmouth in the third tier down to Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney at non-league Wrexham, the flow of football investment between the United States and Britain is well established. But it is not all one-way. Increasingly, [...]
Premier League names date for ban on front-of-shirt gambling advertising April 14, 2023 Premier League clubs have agreed to remove gambling advertising from the front of their match shirts, it has been announced. Teams voluntarily adopted the change, which will be phased over the next year so that no team has a betting brand on the front of their kit by the 2024-25 season. The move is designed [...]
PM Rishi Sunak lays out plans for biggest sporting event ever hosted by UK and Ireland April 12, 2023 Euro 2028 will be “the biggest sporting event our islands have ever jointly staged”, says Prime Minster Rishi Sunak, after the UK and Ireland confirmed details of their bid to stage the international football tournament. England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland today formally submitted their proposal to governing body Uefa, which [...]
Manchester United sale: Glazers risk aggravating buyers with third round of bids April 11, 2023 Manchester United owners the Glazer family have risked aggravating would-be buyers by taking their sale of the club to a third round of bidding. More than two weeks after the deadline for second offers, bankers the Raine Group finally broke their silence to bidders – only to inform them that the Glazers want another round [...]
Lampard named Chelsea manager two years after Blues sacked him April 6, 2023 Frank Lampard has been named as Chelsea’s interim manager for the remainder of the season. The former Chelsea midfielder will take charge of the Blues following the sacking of Graham Potter on Sunday. Potter’s former assistant Bruno Saltor was in charge for the side’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool on Tuesday. Lampard at the helm Lampard [...]
Ed Warner: Fear of losing to the Poms may get Australian sport its extra A$2bn April 6, 2023 As an English sports fan it’s always fun when others cite your nation as their greatest rivals when they wouldn’t make your own top three. Cricket aside, such is the case with Australia. Last week a cry from Australia’s sporting hierarchy for more financial backing from politicians caught my eye. The need to beat the [...]
