The AP Interview: Olympics boss vows Paris Games will be safe, says no resignations planned in probe
Tony Estanguet won gold medals for canoeing in the 2000, 2004 and 2012 Olympic Games
2023-06-29 11:25
Shortening of internet gambling future stuns Atlantic City casinos
Atlantic City’s casinos are trying to understand why New Jersey lawmakers plan to drastically shorten the length of time that internet gambling can be conducted in the state
2023-06-29 04:48
UEFA to prevent clubs spreading cost of transfers with lengthy contracts
Chelsea and other European clubs will no longer be able to spread a transfer fee across more than five years of a player’s initial contract after UEFA closed a loophole in its regulations. The Blues have signed a number of players on lengthy deals over the last two transfer windows, including handing eight-and-a-half-year contracts to Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk in January. The transfer fees are then spread evenly over the course of that contract, meaning the longer it is, the smaller the annual payments recorded on the club’s accounts. For instance, a £100million fee would be amortised at £20million a year with a five-year contract, but at only £12.5m a year if a deal was eight years. There is still nothing in the rules – which come into force from July 1 – preventing a club from spreading the cost by extending a contract, but for amortisation purposes that extension itself could not be for more than five years either. Clubs can still sign players to longer contracts if their national associations allow it, but the cost of the transfer fee must be amortised over the first five years unless the contract is extended. UEFA said the new regulations would not apply to deals already done, but would “ensure equal treatment of all clubs and improve financial sustainability”. European football’s governing body has also moved to prevent clubs colluding to inflate the value of players for accounting purposes. This follows the capital gains scandal involving clubs in Italy, which led to the entire Juventus board resigning in November last year. Clubs must assess whether a transaction counts as a straight swap, in which case it must be accounted for in line with international standards. International Accounting Standard (IAS) 38 states that if it is not possible to calculate the fair value of a player, profit on a sale cannot be recognised. UEFA confirmed Lisbon’s Jose Alvalade Stadium would host the 2025 Women’s Champions League final, and announced plans for a minimum standards framework for women’s national teams to ensure equality of player welfare standards and travel and training conditions. UEFA said the detail would be announced in due course. The 2024 and 2025 Europa Conference League finals are set to be staged in Athens and Wroclaw in Poland respectively. The Athens venue is a new arena, so will be assessed during AEK Athens’ European competition matches and Greece’s Euro qualifiers before being confirmed officially in December. Europe’s third-tier men’s club competition will be rebranded as the UEFA Conference League from 2024-25, dropping the word ‘Europa’ from its title following research among fans and commercial partners to further distinguish it from the Europa League. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Jonny Bairstow steals the show at Lord’s – Wednesday’s sporting social Everton to consult with fans about potential midseason stadium switch in 2024-25 Josh Tongue enjoys taste of Ashes but Australia in control at Lord’s
2023-06-29 00:49
United Airlines CEO blames FAA as storms trigger more flight cancellations
United Airlines Chief Executive Scott Kirby has blamed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after severe storms led to
2023-06-28 07:16
Manchester United expecting record annual revenue as takeover saga continues
Manchester United have projected record annual revenue of up to £640million in the current financial year as the takeover saga surrounding the club rumbles on. United’s owners, the Glazer family, are weighing up offers for the club from Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the founder of chemicals firm Ineos. The Glazers first indicated they could sell by initiating a strategic review last November but the bidding process has dragged on. Reports have suggested Sheikh Jassim’s bid – which is for 100 per cent of the club – is now the most likely to be accepted. Sources close to the Qatari bid have indicated their eagerness to close the deal, with the summer transfer window now open. Supporters staged fresh protests against the Glazers at Old Trafford on Tuesday as the club launched the kit for next season. Revenue guidance for the current financial year was raised to a record £630m to £640m in the third quarter financial results for the period ending March 31, 2023, which were released on Tuesday. This is driven by record match attendance and matchday revenues. Ticket sales for the 2022-23 season surpassed the previous record set in 2016-17, with 2.4m sold. Global memberships also hit 360,000, which United said was the largest paid membership programme in world sport. Revenue for the third quarter was up 11 per cent on the same period last year. Broadcasting revenue was slightly down on the corresponding period due to the club being in the Europa League rather than the Champions League, but was partially offset by the club’s performance in domestic cup competitions. Cash and cash equivalents are at £73.7m, down from £95.8m in the same period last year, reflecting the investment that has been made in the team. However, the figure is £31m higher than in the second quarter, boosted by money coming in from sponsorship and ticket sales. Summer recruitment will not be affected by the results, according to sources close to the club, with enough cash available to enable United boss Erik ten Hag to invest in the team. The limiting factor is understood to be the requirement to stay within financial sustainability rules.
2023-06-27 20:27
Gary Neville to be guest on Dragons’ Den panel
Gary Neville will join the cast of the BBC programme Dragons’ Den when the series returns to screens next year. The former Manchester United and England defender will appear as a guest on the panel alongside fashion and retail entrepreneur Emma Grede. In addition to his regular role as a Sky Sports pundit, Neville has built a portfolio of business interests including a hotel and other property developments since his retirement from football. Neville said: “I am excited to join the Dragons, and to meet the entrepreneurs brave enough to face us in the Den. “I hope my personal journey shows that you can take the experiences you’ve had in one part of your career and use them to do something entirely different and make it a success.” Neville and Grede will sit alongside the regular panel of Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett, running the rule over entrepreneurs seeking investment in their business ideas.
2023-06-27 16:24
JD Sports says still on track despite North American slowdown
By Sarah Young LONDON (Reuters) -JD Sports Fashion said there had been some softening in trade in its North American
2023-06-27 16:21
Players returning from LIV Golf is part of Saudis' agreement with PGA Tour
Now that the PGA Tour and European tour have a deal with the Saudis, one step is deciding how players can return from LIV Golf if they so choose
2023-06-27 10:52
Renault Sells €200 Million Stake in Formula 1 Unit to Investors
RedBird Capital Partners and Otro Capital are leading an investor group buying 24% of Renault SA’s Formula 1
2023-06-26 13:53
Haruki Murakami pleads for keeping Tokyo park and baseball stadium that inspired his writing
Author Haruki Murakami says he's strongly opposed to the redevelopment of a Tokyo park district that would remove his favorite jogging path and tear down the baseball stadium where he was inspired to become a novelist
2023-06-26 13:27
BIS warns world economy at critical juncture in inflation fight
By Marc Jones LONDON The world's central bank umbrella body, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), called on
2023-06-25 17:26
NFL owners plan to meet July 20 and potentially vote to approve the Commanders sale, AP source says
A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that NFL owners are set to meet July 20 to consider and potentially vote to approve the sale of the Washington Commanders
2023-06-23 23:51