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 [...]
Sheffield Wednesday: Football regulator already in talks over new club owners March 16, 2026 The Independent Football Regulator has already begun holding talks over specific prospective buyers of English clubs, including Sheffield Wednesday. The IFR will assume responsibility from the English Football League (EFL) for vetting club owners and directors from May so have asked for any takeovers and board appointments currently under discussion to be flagged by the [...]
Chelsea hit with £11m fine and Premier League transfer ban March 16, 2026 Chelsea have been slapped with a £11m fine and a transfer ban for breaching Premier League rules under their previous ownership. An investigation into the London club found “undisclosed payments by third parties associated with the club were made to players, unregistered agents and other third parties” between 2011 and 2018, when the club was [...]
Carabao Cup: Energy drink’s lager set for UK after deal extension March 16, 2026 Energy drink Carabao has extended its sponsorship of the League Cup through until the end of the decade in a deal that will see the UK launch of Carabao Lager. Manchester City and Arsenal clash in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley with the match’s title sponsor agreeing a further two-year deal with the EFL [...]
Why World Cup hydration breaks will push traditional ads to the subs bench March 15, 2026 Hydration breaks at the World Cup could usher in major changes to advertising during live sport, writes Jonathan Haines. As broadcasters prepare for the 2026 World Cup, an unexpected talking point has emerged. The tournament will feature mid-half hydration breaks, introduced to protect players from the searing heat predicted this summer in North America. But [...]