Curse of Kepa returns to haunt Chelsea in Carabao Cup final defeat February 27, 2022 Future Chelsea managers could be forgiven for keeping Kepa Arrizabalaga well away from Carabao Cup finals. In 2019, the Spanish stopper refused to be substituted and could not prevent the Blues losing to Manchester City on penalties. Today at Wembley he was sent on solely for the shootout after a 0-0 draw, only to let [...]
Sport is guilty of shutting its eyes to Russia’s geopolitical ambitions February 27, 2022 Roman Abramovich’s near 20-year ownership of Premier League club Chelsea has been shrouded in mystery and therefore subject to constant scrutiny and speculation. Indeed, until the weekend, it remained unclear why he is there and what he is seeking to achieve. The oligarch has denied having direct links with Vladimir Putin but has been seen [...]
Chelsea facing calls to clarify Roman Abramovich role February 27, 2022 Chelsea are facing calls to publicly clarify Roman Abramovich’s role after he said he had handed the club’s “stewardship and care” to trustees of its charitable foundation. Ministers have been urged to seize billionaire Abramovich’s assets on the basis of his links to the Russian state in the wake of the country’s invasion of Ukraine. [...]
‘No more words, it’s time to act’: Poland refuses to play Russia in World Cup play-off game February 26, 2022 Poland have said it will not play its 2022 World Cup play-off game with Russia in Moscow on March 24 following its invasion of Ukraine. “In light of the escalation of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, the Polish national team is not going to play a match against Russian Republic,” President of the Polish [...]
Carabao Cup has enough fizz to make business sense despite what its critics say February 25, 2022 The Carabao Cup, which concludes on Sunday when Chelsea play Liverpool at Wembley, is perennially fending off calls for its demise and remains the butt of many a joke. Its future beyond 2024 remains uncertain, when an expanded Champions League is set to tighten the squeeze on English football’s secondary domestic cup competition. And it [...]
Uefa calls meeting to move Champions League final from Russia February 24, 2022 European football’s governing body Uefa has called an extraordinary meeting for tomorrow morning when it is expected to strip Russia of the Champions League final. St Petersburg had been due to stage the biggest game in club football on 28 May but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine this week has seen pressure on Uefa to move [...]
Southampton FC launches its own Bitcoin Hunt as English football dabbles in crypto February 23, 2022 Southampton Football Club has teamed up with Sportsbet.io to launch its first ever Bitcoin Hunt competition. Launching ahead of the game on Friday, it will give Southampton fans the chance to win a Bitcoin, which has this year been worth between £25,000, with a current price of £28,600. The competition is also set to extend [...]
Jury out on Crystal Palace gamble ahead of reunion with Hodgson February 22, 2022 Crystal Palace face Roy Hodgson’s Watford tomorrow in a match that serves as a reminder of both their recent past and the significant gamble they have made on their future. After almost four unadventurous but reliable years under Hodgson, last summer Palace traded in the former England manager for a decidedly sexier brand of football [...]
No plans to move Champions League final from Russia, says Uefa February 22, 2022 European football chiefs Uefa say there are no plans to move the Champions League final from St Petersburg despite Russia invading Ukraine. The final of club football’s most prestigious competition is due to take place at the Gazprom Arena in the Russian city on 22 May. “Uefa is constantly and closely monitoring the situation,” the [...]
Trap door opens for more clubs in Premier League relegation battle February 20, 2022 Harry Kane’s virtuoso display at the Etihad Stadium and its effect on the title race might have grabbed the headlines but this was also a hugely significant weekend in the Premier League relegation battle. Watford and Burnley both won for the first time in three months to reignite their chances of climbing out of the [...]