Media & Advertising Serie A seeks Abu Dhabi deals on TV rights, Italian Super Cup Italy’s top football league Serie A is in talks over a broadcast deal with state-backed Abu Dhabi Media and on a separate agreement to host its Super Cup in the Emirate. Home to AC Milan, Juventus and other top clubs, Serie A is looking at ways to catch up with major European leagues such as […] June 3, 2022
Business of Sport PGA Tour renews threat of ‘disciplinary action’ The PGA Tour on Wednesday reiterated a warning to members who choose to compete on the LIV Golf Invitational Series and said those who do feature on the Saudi-funded breakaway circuit would be “subject to disciplinary action”. The field for the inaugural LIV Golf event — to be held June 9-11 at Centurion Club outside […] June 2, 2022
Business of Sport Canadian bank terminates sponsor deals over Saudi-backed rival golf tour Royal Bank of Canada said on Wednesday it decided to terminate sponsor agreements with Dustin Johnson and Graeme McDowell after the former major champions decided to play in the opening event of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series next week. World number 13 Johnson was both the highest-ranked and most surprising golfer named to the […] June 2, 2022
Business of Sport Formula One appoints Shaila-Ann Rao as new interim head Shaila-Ann Rao, who was previously a special advisor to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, took over as interim head of Formula One at the governing FIA on Wednesday in place of departed Peter Bayer. The Paris-based FIA, which voted in Emirati Mohammed Ben Sulayem as president last December to succeed departing Frenchman Jean Todt, thanked […] June 2, 2022
Business of Sport Dustin Johnson to headline this month’s Saudi-backed golf tour in London Garcia and Westwood also included in the 48-man field Mickelson could still make it as six spots still open PGA Tour’s Canadian Open ‘disappointed’ with Johnson’s decision Former world number one Dustin Johnson and past major champion Sergio Garcia were listed among competitors for the opening LIV Golf Invitational Series event in a field released […] June 1, 2022
Business of Sport FIFA: ‘We have not lied about Qatar emissions’ FIFA has rejected a report that claims Qatar 2022 will rely on “flimsy” offsets to meet its pledge to host the first carbon-neutral World Cup. The report, compiled by climate advocacy group Carbon Market Watch, alleges that Qatar, the world’s largest producer of natural gas, is omitting some greenhouse gas emissions from its calculations and […] May 31, 2022
Business of Sport Roman era ends as Abramovich completes sale of Chelsea FC Roman Abramovich has completed the sale of Chelsea FC to an investment group led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, the Premier League club said on Monday. The consortium, which won the bid to acquire the London side earlier this month, received approval from the Premier League and the British government last week. A final […] May 30, 2022
Business of Sport Bahrain’s Investcorp ends talks for AC Milan buyout Investcorp and US fund Elliott have ended talks over the buyout of Italian soccer champions AC Milan, a top executive of the Bahrain-domiciled asset manager said. Reuters last week reported that Investcorp had put on hold its plans to purchase the club, which is owned by Elliott, clearing the way for US investment firm RedBird […] May 27, 2022
Business of Sport Some still can’t accept Qatar hosting World Cup, says emir Qatar’s ruler, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, has told Davos the Middle East has suffered discrimination for decades, in a speech addressing critics of the emirate hosting the World Cup. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, the emir said there were still those who were unable to “accept the idea that an […] May 24, 2022
Business of Sport The cost of being champions: Manchester City’s $2bn investment Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City won its fourth English Premier League title in five years yesterday, netting £44 million ($54.4 million) for finishing top. That figure pales into insignificance against the estimated $2 billion total investment made by Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Mansour following his takeover of the club in 2008. But the business acumen that […] May 23, 2022
Business of Sport Could the Gulf become an Olympics contender? The Middle East is hosting top sporting events from the FIFA World Cup to Formula 1. Now it could have its sights on the ultimate prize May 20, 2022
Business of Sport Qatar, Turkey won’t replace cancelled Russian Grand Prix Formula One’s 2022 season will be reduced to 22 races after the sport said on Wednesday it would not be replacing the cancelled Russian Grand Prix on Sept. 25 despite interest from other countries. Formula One had scheduled a record 23 rounds this year but the race in Sochi was called off in February and […] May 19, 2022
Business of Sport Golfer Dustin Johnson ‘excited to see’ Saudi-backed rival tour next month Dustin Johnson’s loyalty is currently with the PGA Tour but the twice major winner said on Wednesday that he is excited to see what the upstart LIV World Golf Invitational Series could do for the sport. For the moment the Saudi-backed venture has proven only disruptive as it attempts to poach players from the established […] May 19, 2022
Business of Sport Jack Nicklaus rejects $100m to be face of Saudi-backed golf tour American golf legend Jack Nicklaus turned down $100 million to become the face of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series, which debuts in London next month and is tipped as a controversial new rival to the PGA Tour, it was reported this week. “I was offered something in excess of $100 million by the Saudis,” […] May 18, 2022
Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 Qiddiya: A sports and arts revolution Marketed as the kingdom’s capital of entertainment, sports and the arts, Qiddiya is beginning to take shape 45 minutes’ drive south-west of Riyadh. First announced in 2017 as part of Vision 2030, Qiddiya has a dual economic and social purpose – to contribute to the advancement of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and to open up […] May 18, 2022
Business of Sport Japan edges ahead of Saudi and Qatar to host Asian Cup The Japan Football Association (JFA) has been informally approached about the possibility of replacing China as hosts of next year’s Asian Cup, Chairman Kozo Tashima told Nikkan Sports. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced last Saturday that China had pulled out of hosting the 24-team continental championship, citing the COVID-19 situation in the country. “We […] May 18, 2022
Analysis Business of Sport Qatar may tackle Asian Cup as replacement host for China The 2023 Asian Cup could be shifting west to the Gulf, where new infrastructure has made the region a magnet for international tournaments, after China withdrew as host. China had planned to hold the Asian Cup across 10 cities in June-July next year, but has dropped the 24-team tournament because of “exceptional circumstances caused by […] May 17, 2022
Business of Sport Newcastle United strip to be Saudi Arabia green Newcastle United’s away kit for next season will be green and white, to reflect the club’s new owners from Saudi Arabia. Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund, bought an 80 percent stake in the football club for £305 million last October. And to attract more supporters from the region the players will wear […] May 13, 2022
Business of Sport Qatar looks to Iran for World Cup support Qatar’s emir is planning to use his visit to Tehran tomorrow to discuss ways Iran can help with the staging of the FIFA World Cup, including increasing flights between the two countries. “Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will travel to Iran tomorrow to follow up on recent agreements and expand bilateral ties, notably cooperation […] May 11, 2022
Business of Sport PGA Tour bans golfers from taking part in Saudi-backed event The PGA Tour on Tuesday rejected requests from players for authorisation to play the first Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series event in London next month. The new series, which offers the promise of super-sized prize money, is set to begin June 9 and would conflict with the RBC Canadian Open, a PGA Tour official told […] May 11, 2022
Business of Sport Abu Dhabi nets its first NBA games The Atlanta Hawks and 2021 NBA champions the Milwaukee Bucks will play preseason games at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in October May 10, 2022
Analysis Business of Sport Qatar scores as World Cup host but may not net long-term goals Tucked behind Doha’s $300-million Lusail Boulevard, where construction workers are toiling to transform desert into a Champs-Elysees-inspired commercial thoroughfare before the 2022 soccer World Cup, sits a sole convenience store. With the main stadium, four skyscrapers and apartments designed for some 200,000 people all in Lusail, its manager Younes waits somewhat anxiously behind his till, […] May 5, 2022
