Goals on demand: Why we’ll get an Uber for sports in 2017 December 23, 2016 We’ve all been spoilt by Uber, admit it. We now expect to get whatever we want from the touch of a button. Not several clicks, but one single touch. With fingerprints unlocking screens and the rise of voice control like Siri, even that touch will soon be one too much and next year, instant gratification [...]
The FA’s background checks for new coaches are necessary – but don’t expect them to rid organisation of scandal December 22, 2016 Now the blushes have subsided following Sam Allardyce's brief reign as England manager, brought to an end after just 67 days when he was recorded having "inappropriate" conversations about third-party ownership rules, the Football Association will appoint external companies to carry out background checks on all prospective employees. Forensic questionnaires that dig into applicants' private [...]
Crystal Palace sack manager Alan Pardew after dismal 2016 December 22, 2016 Alan Pardew has been sacked by Crystal Palace with the South London club hovering just one place and one point above the relegation zone. The former Charlton, Southampton and Newcastle manager took the Eagles to their first FA Cup final in 21 years last May, but has overseen a dramatic slump in the club's league form in [...]
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis: Gunners will bounce back from Everton and Manchester City defeats to challenge for title December 22, 2016 Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis believes the Gunners will be in the title race right to the end, despite slipping nine points behind league leaders Chelsea last weekend. After slipping to consecutive 2-1 defeats at Everton and Manchester City, Arsene Wenger's men have fallen to fourth, just one point above local rivals Tottenham. But writing to shareholders in [...]
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho tempted by China’s riches but wants long-term Old Trafford stay December 21, 2016 Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho admits he is tempted by the riches on offer in Chinese football but insists he wants to remain in the Old Trafford hotseat for the foreseeable future. Contrary to speculation, former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan manager Mourinho is adamant the club have not offered him fresh terms, although [...]
Meet Tom Vernon, the former Manchester United scout and founder of Africa’s top football academy out to turn the sport on its head December 21, 2016 There is something extraordinary about the union between FC Nordsjaelland, an unremarkable Danish first division football club to the north-west of Copenhagen, and the Right To Dream academy in Ghana. It is not just because the club, from the modest 19,000-person town of Farum, is some 5,000 miles away from Right To Dream’s football-oriented residential [...]
Millwall v Charlton: The South London derby overshadowed by fans’ fighting for their future off the pitch December 21, 2016 In different circumstances, Charlton’s meeting with Millwall at The Den tonight could be a Sky Sports blockbuster capable of capturing the capital’s attention. The “South London showdown” could sit alongside the “Mersey Monday” with the broadcaster’s branding makeover. It sees two clubs who are producers of England internationals, can boast of a combined 28 seasons spent in [...]
Real Madrid free to sign players next summer after transfer ban is halved December 20, 2016 Real Madrid will be free to sign new players next summer after their transfer ban was halved following an appeal. Fifa had initially banned the club from all transfer activity for two windows starting last summer, for violating rules on signing players 18 or younger. The ban was pushed back to cover this January and next summer after Real [...]
Fifa fines in full: England pay £35,350 for poppy display, but who else got fined by football’s governing body? December 20, 2016 Fifa has raised £1.4m in fines from national football associations in 2016, including £35,350 from England for displaying poppies during November's World Cup qualifiers. Football's governing body has issued punishments for infractions varying from delayed kick-offs, homophobic chants, pitch invasions by dogs and not providing players for post-match interviews. England's Football Association (FA) has appealed against [...]
Exclusive: West Ham transfer boost as club signs up forex and payments provider TransferMate December 20, 2016 West Ham will today announce a deal with global payments company TransferMate that the club believes will give them a significant advantage when buying and selling players. The multi-year agreement sees TransferMate become West Ham’s exclusive foreign currency provider, meaning the club can expect to benefit from better exchange rates and lower bank fees in [...]