EC urged to stop Fifa’s ‘aggressive and exploitative’ World Cup ticket prices March 24, 2026 The European Commission has been urged to intervene over Fifa’s “aggressive and exploitative” ticket sale policies for this summer’s World Cup. Prices at the tournament provoked widespread outcry when they were revealed last year, with the cheapest tickets for the final initially costing £3,000 and now listed for much more. Consumer rights group Euroconsumers and [...]
Scandal rocks Czech football on eve of Republic of Ireland World Cup play-off March 24, 2026 Czech football has reportedly been rocked by the biggest match-fixing scandal in its history on the eve of the national team’s World Cup play-off with the Republic of Ireland. Following a three-year investigation involving Interpol, Europol and Uefa, dawn raids are said to have taken place this morning targeting almost 50 players, officials, clubs and [...]
Coe urged to stand for London Mayor in move that could hit Manchester United March 24, 2026 Lord Coe has been urged to challenge Sadiq Khan in the race to be London Mayor in a move that could cast doubt on his ability to help Manchester United build their new stadium. Two-time Olympic champion and former Tory MP Coe is the current president of World Athletics, but is being urged to take [...]
2026 Community Shield moved from Wembley to Cardiff over concert clash March 23, 2026 Next season’s Community Shield has been moved from Wembley to Cardiff’s Principality Stadium to accommodate a non-football event for the first time. The traditional curtain-raiser to the new campaign between the winners of the Premier League and the FA Cup has been scheduled to take place on Sunday 16 August – later than usual due [...]
Ligue 1+: French football league losing hundreds of millions to piracy March 23, 2026 French football chiefs say they have lost hundreds of millions of euros to illegal streaming of Ligue 1 matches in the latest blow to the value of their media rights. Despite the competition being broadcast legally on Ligue 1+, the league’s own streaming platform, and pay TV network BeIn Sports, research found that 59 per [...]
Clubs like Chelsea won’t be able to hide from regulator scrutiny March 22, 2026 English football is a global entertainment and cultural powerhouse, contributing more than £9bn annually to the UK economy. Matches are broadcast to hundreds of millions worldwide, with clubs operating not just as teams but as global brands. But with that status comes increased scrutiny of how clubs are run. Under the new Independent Football Regulator [...]
Villa, Forest and Palace net £30m from Europa and Conference League runs March 20, 2026 Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace set to rake in over £30m in on-field prize money after winning in Europe on Thursday. After a disappointing week for Premier League teams in the Champions League, the Thursday night crew saw dramatic wins as three sides progressed to the quarter-finals of their respective competitions – and [...]
Carabao Cup: Arsenal and Manchester City tailgaters to be deemed criminals March 20, 2026 Arsenal and Manchester City fans will be deemed criminals this weekend should they enter the Carabao Cup final without a football match ticket, the Home Office has announced. The move, introduced by crime and policing minister Sarah Jones, comes into force today and will cover all of football, and is part of a wider response [...]
Streaming surpasses free-to-air TV in key European markets, research shows March 19, 2026 Streaming has already surpassed linear television in key European markets, new research released this week shows. Fans now consume a larger share of sport via digital platforms than free-to-air television in Italy and Spain, with Iberian audiences watching around 40 per cent more of their sport through streaming services, according to Altman Solon’s Global Sports [...]
Football missing bank-grade infrastructure as regulator powers grow March 19, 2026 English football is entering a new era: the Premier League has just handed Chelsea a record fine for hidden payments, while the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) is starting to flex its intentions to improve financial soundness and resilience across the pyramid. The latest licensing proposals go further, allowing the regulator to categorise clubs as “high‑risk” [...]