TALK has resurfaced about the possibility of the Premier League, among other leagues, playing games in the United States in the future. FIFA and Relevant Sports have reached a settlement over the latter’s claim that the governing body was “closing the doors of the United States to international soccer”. This rekindles the idea of leagues such as La Liga and the Premier exporting their matches to the US. The benefits of taking the Premier to America is really only beneficial for US broadcasters and sponsors and has very limited upside for the clubs. It also distorts the structure of the Premier, indeed any league, which is based on teams playing each other home and away. Effectively, the Premier would be prostituting itself to a country that has a set of sports that reject the idea of meritocracy. With so many US owners in English football, the culture of the game is clearly under threat.
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Republic of Ireland full back Joe Kinnear has died aged 77. Kinnear, who was a member of the Tottenham side that won the FA Cup in 1967, the Football League Cup in 1971 and 1973 and the first UEFA Cup in 1972, had been suffering from dementia. A very decent player, he was discovered at St. Albans City and spent a decade at White Hart Lane, leaving in 1975 for Brighton. He later enjoyed a very eclectic managerial career that included Nepal, India and Wimbledon, as well as a stint at Newcastle. He was capped 26 times by Ireland.
Veteran Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final as his side, Al-Nassr were beaten 2-1 by Al-Hilal. Ronaldo, who turned 39 in February, was dismissed after swinging his elbow twice into the chest of Ali Al Bulayhi. After receiving the red card, Ronaldo appeared to raise his fist at the referee and then, as he walked off, sarcastically applauded the decision. CR7 will end the season without a trophy as Al-Nassr are out of the running for the big prizes and way off the leaders in the Saudi Pro League.
Fulham made a pre-tax loss of £ 26.1 million in 2022-23 despite revenues rising by 110%. Income totalled £ 182.3 million, with all streams rising. The club’s broadcasting and central rewards amounting to £ 144.4 million, matchday rising to £ 15.2 million and commercial up from £ 13.9 million to £ 22.6 million. Fulham’s wage bill increased by almost 50% to £ 139.1 million, representing 76.2% of income. In 2021-22, wages were £ 90.4 million, which consumed 126.3% of earnings. Fulham are very dependent on their owner, Shahid Khan, who has invested £ 660 million in the club. Fulham spent a further £ 32.6 million on the new Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage in 2022-23.
GAME OF THE PEOPLE 