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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Tyson Fury trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder – and $30m payday – set to be postponed until October July 9, 2021 The third fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, which was set to earn the British boxer at least $30m, is set to be postponed. The BBC and ESPN reported that Fury tested positive for Covid-19 this week, forcing the fight scheduled for 24 July in Las Vegas to be shelved. It is likely to [...]
Arsenal to follow rivals Tottenham by featuring in Amazon All or Nothing behind-the-scenes documentary July 9, 2021 Arsenal are to become the latest club to get the Amazon documentary treatment after agreeing to let cameras follow them next season. The Gunners are the third Premier League team to feature in the All Or Nothing series, after north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and current champions Manchester Cit. “Arsenal is a historic club going [...]
Wimbledon prize money 2021: What tennis stars can earn at the All England Lawn Tennis Club July 9, 2021 The crowds may be back for 2021 but there is something missing from Wimbledon: prize money, or a large chunk of it. This year, the total prize money fund at the All England Lawn Tennis Club is £35m, an eight per cent reduction. For those competing in the men’s and women’s finals this weekend, the [...]
Spectators banned from Tokyo 2020 Olympics as Japan announces tougher measures to halt rise of Covid cases July 8, 2021 The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which start later this month, will take place without any spectators, officials have confirmed. Tokyo is to be placed back into a state of emergency from Monday – 11 days before the delayed Games are due to begin – until 22 August. “I am sorry to those who purchased tickets and [...]