London brawling: Why the city has become a combat sports capital again May 15, 2023 Wrestling and MMA have followed boxing in staging huge shows in London this summer, cementing the city’s reputation as a leading destination for combat sports’ biggest events. An earthquake hit the world of professional wrestling earlier this month and its epicentre was London. All Elite Wrestling, formed to compete with the all-conquering World Wrestling Entertainment, [...]
Women’s FA Cup final prize money and how it compares to men’s FA Cup May 13, 2023 The winners of the Women’s FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester United on Sunday are in line to receive record sums thanks to a major boost to prize money. There is £100,000 on offer to whichever team lifts the trophy at Wembley, where Chelsea will be looking to triumph for a third year in [...]
Unilever to sponsor Fifa Women’s World Cup after loss of Visit Saudi May 12, 2023 Unilever has entered into a sponsorship partnership with the Fifa Women’s World Cup which sees the global football tournament begin to replace the severed deal between the competition and Visit Saudi. Football’s governing body Fifa confirmed in March that the Saudi Arabian tourism board would no longer sponsor the major women’s event after a backlash [...]
Chelsea respond to supporters’ warning with season ticket price decision May 11, 2023 Chelsea have bucked the Premier League trend and announced a freeze on their cheapest general admission season ticket prices for next season. The majority of teams in English football’s top division, including Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, have hiked their prices for the 2023-24 campaign. But Chelsea chiefs have decided to maintain their [...]
24 places and Tulsa: Why Westwood, Poulter and LIV Golf’s Brits need an upturn in form May 11, 2023 Since LIV Golf launched last year, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood have rarely been out of the headlines for long. Sure, commissioner and CEO Greg Norman has been LIV’s most prominent spokesperson and Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson its two most high-profile signings but, after that, the British pair have been the focus of much [...]
IPL’s Mumbai Indians could deny England access to Jofra Archer, reports May 11, 2023 England may need to ask Mumbai Indians for access to star bowler Jofra Archer should he sign a year-round contract with the IPL franchise. According to reports by the Daily Mail, the 28-year-old pacer could sign a multi-million-pound deal with the Mumbai Indians in a move that would see the England and Wales Cricket Board [...]
Basketball: How BBL finals show there’s appetite for Britain’s ‘NBA’ May 11, 2023 Tickets are sold out and have long been difficult to find but on Sunday the hottest event in British basketball takes place at the O2. The iconic venue is set to host the men’s and women’s finals of the British Basketball League (BBL), where the London Lions will be looking to become the first side [...]
Ed Warner: Taking part is all well and good, but compelling sport is about winning May 11, 2023 “The important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part.” Really, Baron? That’s so 19th century! I’d love to hear the thoughts of a time-travelling Pierre de Coubertin in the Stade de France at Paris 2024, or perhaps in the stands at a Premier League football match, or ringside at a heavyweight [...]
Back-to-back Jacksonville Jaguars games pave way for London NFL franchise May 10, 2023 The NFL is stepping up preparations for a possible London franchise by handing the Jacksonville Jaguars a historic double-header in the capital later this year. The Jags, who have staged a game in London every year since 2013, will become the first NFL team to play two fixtures in consecutive weeks outside the United States. [...]
Qatari bidder Sheikh Jassim rules out Manchester United move for Lionel Messi May 10, 2023 Manchester United will not make any attempt to sign Lionel Messi on a free transfer this summer if Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani buys the club. Messi, 35, is due to leave Paris Saint-Germain next month when his contract with the Qatar-owned French champions expires. His availability has sparked a €1bn scramble for his [...]