Saudi football diplomacy: ‘In owning a club, there’s fast-track public relations that operates in sports’
The wish is for Saudi to become a tourist destination, hosting elite events such as boxing, golf and esports. It all forms part of Saudi Vision 2030, a government programme designed by MBS to diversify the economy before natural resources – and the world’s dependency on them – expire. A thriving entertainment sector to suit the needs of its young population is also high on the agenda.
Premier League owners: In buying English football clubs Abu Dhabi and its brands have become part of UK image
Manchester City’s was a takeover that pushed us towards the very modern term of “sportswashing” but it has yielded more than just reputational improvements in a part of the world where Amnesty International says freedom of expression is unduly restricted.
Kenya’s President Ruto quashes three mega-dollar tenders controversially awarded to Adani Group
Adani Energy Solutions in October signed a 30-year, $736 million public-private partnership deal with the Kenya Electrical Transmission Company. A court suspended the contract in the same month after questions were raised about the transparency of the controversial deal.
Squad rebuild: Man City manager signs contract extension that keeps him at Etihad up to 2026
With director of football Txiki Begiristain departing at the end of the season, to be replaced by Hugo Viana, Guardiola’s renewal will help to steady the ship at a time when there will be an inevitable period of change. But, crucially, nowhere near as much as there could have been.
Medical privacy: Why in women’s football it’s often tricky to explain absence of pregnant players
Medical privacy is certainly one compelling argument to justify a manager hiding the reason for a player’s absence. Mark Robins, shortly before his departure from Coventry City, even cited data protection laws as a reason for him not being able to answer team news questions, although that may have been tongue-in-cheek.
Why faking player injuries is now part of managers’ mind-games, tactics to win matches
Managers are rarely so open about their approach but sometimes the mask slips. Earlier this season, Leicester City manager Steve Cooper insisted he had not lied in a Friday afternoon press conference about the fitness of striker Jamie Vardy, who he ruled out of a game three days later against Tottenham.
Attack on Israeli players in Amsterdam prompts Paris to deploy 4,000 security officers for France-Israel match
Israel’s National Security Council, in a statement on Sunday, warned citizens abroad to avoid sports and cultural events, specifically the match in Paris, and be careful of violent attacks “under the pretence of demonstrations.”
Brentford is English Premier League’s great entertainers that have mastered the art buffoonery too
It’s not all positive. They can also entertain with buffoonery, such as Sepp van den Berg inexplicably looking backwards into his own half, not seeing Bournemouth striker Evanilson and playing the ball to the Brazilian for him to make it 1-0 in the first half. They are fallible defensively, but hey, it just adds to their charm.
Manchester City’s poor run has raised concerns about club manager Pep Guardiola’s future: Is he leaving or staying?
Sources also believe that Pep Guardiola would be more likely to stay if Manchester City were found guilty and did receive a harsh punishment; as he has said, he wants the best for the club in every aspect, whether that comes to how much they spend on players or whether he considers himself to ever become a burden. By the same token, he would not want to leave them in a vulnerable position if they were, for argument’s sake, relegated or docked points.
Sporting Lisbon serves Guardiola only the third time a team he manages has conceded four goals
Tonight was only the third time a team managed by Pep Guardiola has conceded four goals in a UEFA Champions League match, along with a 4-0 defeat against Real Madrid with Bayern Munich in April 2014 and 4-0 defeat to Barcelona with Man City in October 2016.
