Lionel Messi accepts 50 per cent pay cut to stay at Barcelona – but will still earn £59m a year July 15, 2021 Lionel Messi has ended speculation over his future by agreeing a 50 per cent pay cut to stay at Barcelona. The Argentinian superstar, 34, has been a free agent since his €138m (£118m)-a year contract expired last month. Messi had discussed a two-year extension but will instead sign for five years on a lower wage, [...]
What Amazon is doing with French football rights and the clues it offers to its plans for the Premier League July 14, 2021 Amazon is yet to make its widely anticipated big move for Premier League football rights, being content so far to buy up handfuls of live games and bundle them with its Prime Video subscription. But it is a different story in France, where the e-commerce behemoth is embarking on its first season as the main [...]
Uefa confirms investigation into crowd chaos at Euro 2020 final, denting UK and Ireland bid to stage 2030 World Cup July 13, 2021 European football chiefs have confirmed they are investigating the crowd chaos at the Euro 2020 final on Sunday. Some fans without tickets managed to gain entry by overwhelming stewards, while mobile phone video footage showed fights inside Wembley, where England lost to Italy on penalties. Governing body Uefa has now confirmed a probe into the [...]
England stars Sterling, Walker and Maguire named in Euro 2020 team of the tournament – but no place for top scorers Ronaldo and Schick July 13, 2021 Three England players have been named in the official Euro 2020 team of the tournament. Raheem Sterling, Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire were all selected by governing body Uefa’s technical observers. Sterling scored three goals and proved a constant attacking threat on England’s run to the final, where they lost on penalties to Italy. Walker [...]
Qatar pokes fun at English critics of World Cup bid after Euro 2020 final crowd trouble at Wembley July 13, 2021 Media in Qatar have used the crowd chaos at the Euro 2020 final to lampoon English critics of their appointment as World Cup hosts. British journalists and commentators have been among the most vocal critics of the decision to award the tiny desert state next year’s World Cup. A Qatari newspaper has been quick to [...]
England footballer Tyrone Mings slams Priti Patel over racism response July 13, 2021 England footballer Tyrone Mings has launched a blistering attack on Priti Patel over her response to racist abuse after the home secretary previously described taking the knee as “gesture politics”. Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jordan Sancho have been subjected to racist hate on social media after they missed penalties in the Euro 2020 final [...]
They may not have won Euro 2020 but Gareth Southgate and his England colleagues pulled off one of their most important victories long ago July 12, 2021 England may not have ended 55 years of hurt but reaching the Euro 2020 final was a further step in the right direction. There are many things you can attribute Gareth Southgate’s achievements as England manager to, from a willingness to change formation and a winning team, to putting his faith in youth or even [...]
The brands that won Euro 2020, from Volkswagen’s tiny ball-carrying car to Bud Light ‘box heads’ and ITV super-pundit Emma Hayes July 12, 2021 Italy were deserved winners of Euro 2020, which will be remembered as one of the best football tournaments all of time. Off the field brands have had their own competition for the hearts and wallets of consumers. Here are my thoughts on who emerged as the winners. EE EE is a long-standing sponsor of the [...]
Prime Minister condemns racist abuse of three young lions July 12, 2021 Boris Johnson has condemned the racist abuse of England players on social media following the European Championship final defeat to Italy last night, saying those responsible should be ashamed of themselves. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all failed from the spot and swiftly their social media pages were flooded with racist abuse. The [...]
England suffer cruel ending to Euro 2020 on night of new penalty heartache and missed opportunity July 12, 2021 Gareth Southgate has healed so many of the England team’s wounds from tournaments past only to see them suffer one of their most painful yet. On a night when the nation hoped it might see England cap a hugely encouraging Euro 2020 by winning a first major trophy for 55 years, they instead had to [...]