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” [...]
Government ‘must not delay’ over Abramovich’s £2.5bn Chelsea funds, Tories say March 18, 2026 Shadow chancellor Mel Stride has insisted the government “must not delay taking further action” against Roman Abramovich to unlock £2.5bn held after his sale of Chelsea. The Russian was forced to offload the Premier League club in 2022 after Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, with the proceeds of the sale to a consortium led by [...]
Chelsea punishment ‘extremely lenient’, says club’s former exec Purslow March 18, 2026 Former Chelsea executive Christian Purslow has labelled the club’s punishment from the Premier League for making undisclosed payments totalling £47.5m “extremely lenient and favourable”. Chelsea escaped with a £10.75m fine and suspended transfer ban after the club’s current owners self-reported offences they said they had discovered in an audit of the previous ownership of Roman [...]
Senegal to fight ‘iniquitous and unprecedented’ Afcon decision at CAS March 18, 2026 Senegal’s football association has vowed to launch a legal challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the decision to strip it of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and hand the title to Morocco. Two months after Senegal beat the hosts 1-0 in a controversial final, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced [...]
British summer of sport tipped to spark £400m spending spree March 18, 2026 A blockbuster British summer of sport, including the 2026 World Cup, could see up to £400m flow through the economy, according to new modelling. Deep runs in the tournament for home nations and successful medal hauls for GB’s athletics team at major championships are projected by Novuna to trigger an upturn in consumer confidence of [...]
Lozowski: Showdown Saracens match at Tottenham good for Prem Rugby March 17, 2026 England’s Prem Rugby takes an almighty leap of faith later this month, staging three of its five Round 12 fixtures at stadiums more than double the home team’s usual arenas. On Saturday 28 March, Gloucester Rugby take on Leicester Tigers at Aston VIlla’s Villa Park and Bristol Bears host Harlequins at Wales’s Principality Stadium. But [...]
Football regulator told: Give well-run clubs a bigger slice of game’s billions March 17, 2026 The Independent Football Regulator has been urged to mandate a new deal between the Premier League and English Football League that funnels more money to well-run clubs. The IFR this week published a new consultation on the club licensing regime it will implement from next year, which will give it the power to suspend a [...]
Lidl owner Schwarz Group scores landmark Uefa partnership March 17, 2026 Uefa, European football’s governing body, has announced its first organisation-wide sponsorship deal with the parent company of discount retailer Lidl. Schwarz Group has become Uefa’s corporate strategic partner in an agreement that encompasses competition sponsorship, grassroots initiatives and recycling efforts. Lidl, already a partner of Uefa’s Europa League and Conference League as well as women’s [...]
2026 World Cup: Iran asks Fifa to move games from US to Mexico March 17, 2026 Iran has asked Fifa to move its 2026 World Cup games from the US to Mexico as the wrangling over the war-torn country’s participation continues. The Iranian embassy in Mexico posted a statement on social media saying that talks were ongoing over the possible solution after President Trump suggested that it may not be safe [...]
High risk club owners facing triple ultimatum from football regulator March 17, 2026 English club owners will be required to inject funds, reduce debt or slash outgoings if they are deemed to be “high-risk” by the Independent Football Regulator. Under new licensing proposals published today, clubs will have to demonstrate that they have the financial resources to withstand major shocks such as relegation or withdrawal of owner funding [...]