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Matt Slater

@mjslater.bsky.social
9.8K followers 1.1K following 578 posts

I cover the business/politics of football & other global sports for The Athletic. In other words, I mainly do bad news. 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/mat…

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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 20h
If Man City lose their appeal, their case will hit the IFR’s desk. Hard. The watchdog will have some extraordinarily tough decisions to make. But they are entirely the IFR’s to make. If there’s any interference from govt, IFR chair David Kogan is off. www.nytimes.com/athletic/768...
nytimes.com
Football regulator chair says he will resign if there is political pressure in Manchester City case (Gift Article)
David Kogan said that "our independence is absolute and my independence is absolute."
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 20h
The State of the Game or The Game: The State of it? The Independent Football Regulator’s draft report on English football’s debts, inequities, losses & risks is good on the issues but short on solutions. Perhaps they’ll come in the final version. 🤷‍♂️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/768...
nytimes.com
Regulator gives damning verdict on football’s finances: What you need to know from 244-page report (Gift Article)
The report describes an industry that is increasingly unequal, hooked on debt and owner top-ups, and incapable of controlling costs.
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
After years of stalemate, mounting criticism & growing political pressure, Richard Masters is close to fixing one of the PL’s biggest problems. No, that one. This is the financial settlement with the EFL. They’re now just the price of a decent goalkeeper apart. www.nytimes.com/athletic/768...
nytimes.com
Premier League close to agreeing solidarity package with EFL after years of stop-start talks (Gift Article)
The EFL has told the Premier League it will accept the so-called New Deal for Football if the latter ups its latest offer by £27m.
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
I like Burnham, so I want to give him the benefit of the doubt over his initial reaction to the Man City ruling. However it plays out, he shouldn’t be weighing in on matters that may reach the IFR. Publishing his interactions with club officials is a welcome step. www.nytimes.com/athletic/768...
nytimes.com
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham promises to publish details of Manchester City-related meetings (Gift Article)
Burnham also defended his previous comments on the UAE investment in Manchester.
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Don Garber was the star turn at a sports biz summit in London this week. The outgoing MLS boss discussed the league’s sketchy start, 2001 reboot, signing a “foundational” Beckham & “transformational” Messi, flipping the calendar, the Apple deal & World Cup legacy. www.nytimes.com/athletic/767...
nytimes.com
Don Garber on the World Cup legacy, Lionel Messi and MLS’ future: ‘We’re sitting at the head table now’ (Gift Article)
MLS commissioner Garber reflects as he prepares to leave a league unrecognisable from the one he joined in 1999 as a "non-soccer guy".
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Don Garber was the star turn at a sports biz summit in London this week. The outgoing MLS boss discussed the league’s sketchy start, 2001 reboot, signing a “foundational” Beckham & “transformational” Messi, flipping the calendar, the Apple deal & World Cup legacy. www.nytimes.com/athletic/767...
nytimes.com
Don Garber on the World Cup legacy, Lionel Messi and MLS’ future: ‘We’re sitting at the head table now’ (Gift Article)
MLS commissioner Garber reflects as he prepares to leave a league unrecognisable from the one he joined in 1999 as a "non-soccer guy".
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
🎙️ And here’s the video version, complete with directions to Somerset House and the Royal Courts of Justice, and Adam’s “fall” wardrobe. youtu.be/1p0JBWpsh3w?...
youtu.be
How do we view Klopp and FSG's Liverpool legacies now?
YouTube video by The Athletic FC Podcast
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
🎙️ This week: - Should we reassess FSG’s time at LFC or Brendan Rodgers’? - What makes a good owner anyway? - Klopp v Guardiola (plus a great Sarri story) - How HUGE is Sunday’s game? - PL v City, class action or club-on-club chaos? W/ “The Thursday Club” regulars Adam, Kate & Rob pod.fo/e/69ae9e
pod.fo
The Athletic FC Podcast: Does Man City’s ruling change FSG’s Liverpool legacy?
Liverpool went toe to toe with Manchester City during a period when City have now been found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules. So does this change how we should view Jurgen ...
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Gateshead FC @gatesheadfc.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Gateshead Football Club can confirm that a sale agreement has been reached in principle with American based private investment company, Flacks Group, subject to Independent Football Regulator approval. Full statement 👉 ow.ly/sFIj50ZWnkL
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
And Aleksander Ceferin…at Uefa. Four more years, four more years etc etc www.nytimes.com/athletic/767...
nytimes.com
Aleksander Ceferin to stand for unprecedented fourth and final term as UEFA president (Gift Article)
The 58-year-old, who has ruled out a run against Infantino as FIFA president, had previously said in 2024 that he would not seek re-election
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
As is Victor Montagliani…at Concacaf. www.nytimes.com/athletic/767...
nytimes.com
Victor Montagliani set to run for Concacaf re-election, ruling out Gianni Infantino challenge (Gift Article)
The Canadian, 61, serves as a vice president at FIFA and was widely viewed as a potential candidate to run against Infantino.
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Just in case you hadn’t got the memo, here are three stories to underline what has seemed inevitable for a few weeks now. Gianni Infantino is getting another term. www.nytimes.com/athletic/766...
nytimes.com
Ramon Vega: Ex-Tottenham defender says he will run against Gianni Infantino for FIFA presidency (Gift Article)
The 55-year-old former defender is the first person to announce a run against embattled incumbent Infantino ahead of next year's election.
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
If you fancy joining the first bidding contest for a Summer Olympics since 2017, you’ve got until November to get your bid in. Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, S Africa, S Korea & Turkey are already in. The vote is in mid-2029. Lots of IOC dialogue in meantime. www.nytimes.com/athletic/766...
nytimes.com
IOC sets deadline for 2036 Olympics bids, details three-year host selection process (Gift Article)
The IOC will give interested nations until the end of this month to declare their interest. A host city will be chosen by vote in 2029.
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
📽️ And here’s the video, which has already been watched by a staggering 127,000 people. Wow. We’re very grateful for your time, support & kind messages. youtu.be/LgBcr1qAgco?...
youtu.be
How much bigger could the Man City scandal actually get?
YouTube video by The Athletic FC Podcast
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
🎙️Day 7 in the Big Bother studio & we tried to answer as many Man City v PL questions as we could in 50mins. Shams defined, impact on players, Burnham’s conflicts, City’s definition of “irrefutable”, VAR & the appeal. W/ the usual “Thursday Club”, Kate, Rob & Adam. pod.fo/e/677c50
pod.fo
The Athletic FC Podcast: How much bigger could the Man City scandal get?
Manchester City and the Premier League have gone to war since The Athletic first revealed they had been found guilty of virtually all the charges facing them last week.We’ve discussed the respons...
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The Leyton Orientear @leytonorientear.com · 02/10/2026
No site secured, no planning permission, and no funding: so David Gandler needs to create a sense of momentum around his plans for a new stadium and campus Free to read! This one is public service journalism, after all… #LOFC
leytonorientear.counterpress.media
Orient’s owner seeking more than £2 billion to fund his campus vision • Leyton Orientear • Leyton Orient FC independent news
David Gandler was certainly busy on his most recent visit to London. But how much progress has he made with his plan, and what does this mean for Leyton Orient?
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The fact the Treasury select committee chair has asked HMRC to investigate potential tax evasion at Man City shouldn’t be a surprise. The surprise should be that HMRC hasn’t already started an investigation. The grounds for one have been in public domain since 2018. www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...
nytimes.com
UK authorities urged to investigate Manchester City ‘tax implications’ following guilty verdict on Premier League charges (Gift Article)
The Premier League confirmed an independent commission had found City guilty of major financial breaches in a statement on Tuesday.
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The Totally Football Show @totallyshow.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
🚨THURSDAY POD!🚨 @acjimbo.bsky.social, @tomwfootball.bsky.social, Tim Spiers, @liamtwomey.bsky.social & @mjslater.bsky.social have some things to discuss 🎙️ ⚖️ What next for Man City & the Premier League? 🇵🇹 Cristiano walks out! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Gordon's alive www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhRv...
youtube.com
What next for Man City? What next for Ronaldo?
YouTube video by The Totally Football Show
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Semafor @semafor.com · 30/09/2026
Visitors to the US are on track to drop by almost two million year-on-year. “We’re the only major country in the world losing visitation,” the head of the US Travel Association said. “It’s mind-boggling.” www.semafor.com/article/09/2...
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Chris Waugh @chrisdhwaugh.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
⚫ Retains all key elements of previous badge ✅ ⚪ Spot the difference? Subtle but important changes 👀🤔 ⚫ 791 days - feat. "tension" 😬 ⚪ How & why this badge 🔍 ⚫ 2/3s majority of fans 🗳️ 👀🛡️ #NUFC confirm their new club crest - & it's a revision of the previous one:
nytimes.com
Why are Newcastle ‘evolving’ their club crest? (Gift Article)
After a 791-day consultation and design process, Newcastle have unveiled a new crest that is strikingly similar to the old one
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Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Manchester City cheated Premier League rules, the Commission found. Did it also cheat HMRC? We've examined the decision and leaked Mancini documents. We think City likely failed to pay £12m in tax. There should be a criminal investigation. Thread:
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Martin Calladine @uglygame.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
"There appear to be good grounds for a criminal investigation of the circumstances under which a sham arrangement was put in place and tax was not paid when it should have been." taxpolicy.org.uk/2026/10/01/m...
taxpolicy.org.uk
Did Manchester City cheat HMRC out of £12m?
Manchester City’s sham consultancy raises questions about £12m in unpaid UK tax. We examine the evidence - and the case for a criminal investigation.
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
📽️ And here’s the motion picture, shot on location in Copenhagen, London & Manchester. youtu.be/Pvb4HuPTTM8?...
youtu.be
Explaining Man City's £900m 'sham' finances
YouTube video by The Athletic FC Podcast
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
🎙️ A pod about the player-release payments to clubs from the Nations League & European Football Clubs’ governance reforms. Nah, only kidding. It’s about Man City, Soriano, the sham deals, what next…all the good stuff. pod.fo/e/66ed5f
pod.fo
The Athletic FC Podcast: Explaining Man City's £900m 'sham' finances
Manchester City have been found guilty of artificially inflating their revenues and reducing costs via "sham payments" in the verdict reached by an independent regulatory commission investigating t...
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
In Copenhagen yesterday, the NBA’s top salesman told a room full of Euro soccer chiefs that Euro basketball can make some of them lots of cash, but will need their fans, talent & a bigger slice of the market. The bit about “lots of cash” went down well. www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...
nytimes.com
NBA nearing agreements with European soccer powers for new continental league: Sources (Gift Article)
NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum attended the European Football Clubs annual conference Tuesday in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
A story about a decent speech that nobody will remember because the time for speeches on this subject is past. And, even if that wasn’t the case, it was overshadowed by a far bigger story. I liked the Hans Christian Anderson motif, though. www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...
nytimes.com
Aleksander Ceferin reinforces calls for FIFA president change: ‘It is time to say enough’ (Gift Article)
Relations between Ceferin and Gianni Infantino — and the organisations they run — have become increasingly fraught over recent months.
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
📽️ We let the work experience lad present the Man City pod… www.youtube.com/live/TOgBSGd...
youtube.com
REACTION: Man City found guilty of 114 charges, with David Ornstein
YouTube video by The Athletic FC Podcast
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
📽️ And for those who like to watch these things (at normal speed?), here’s the YT version of our Chelsea chat. youtu.be/ll83TzUzOGs?...
youtu.be
Is the Chelsea 'project' stuck?
YouTube video by The Athletic FC Podcast
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
🎙️ The second is an emergency pod on the end of the liability phase in the PL v Man City saga, and the beginning of…chaos. With @david-ornstein.bsky.social & Sam Lee pod.fo/e/654953
pod.fo
The Athletic FC Podcast: EMERGENCY POD: Man City found guilty of 114 charges, with David Ornstein
Manchester City have been found guilty on almost all of the charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.In this emergency podcast, senior news reporter Matt Slater ...
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
🎙️ If you’re looking for a podcast this weekend, here are a couple from the last few days. First up, is a good chinwag about Chelsea, Boehly, Walter, Clearlake, enterprise value & unimpeded views of St Paul’s. With Rob Green, Kate Mason & @liamtwomey.bsky.social pod.fo/e/64ea9c
pod.fo
The Athletic FC Podcast: Is the Chelsea 'project' stuck?
Clearlake Capital have taken “full control” of Chelsea, purchasing Todd Boehly’s minority stake.Kate Mason is joined by Matt Slater, Liam Twomey and Rob Green to get into why Boehly’s four ...
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Can a baseball-mad country like Japan ever fall for cricket? Could a cricket-mad country ever fall for baseball? Is one a bridge to the other or a wall? Monday’s Japan-India T20 is a huge moment for Japanese cricket but can that moment become a movement? www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...
nytimes.com
Japan has always loved baseball. Is it now falling for cricket? (Gift Article)
An historic game with India, a cricketing superpower, is the latest move to bring the sport to a whole new audience
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
📽️ And here is some free video content, which is much more than the Unify League has ever delivered. youtu.be/fo78Jc20mHE?...
youtu.be
What If... the European Super League never failed?
YouTube video by The Athletic FC Podcast
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
🎙️The latest in our series of sporting counterfactuals: what would have happened if the breakaway European Super League hadn’t imploded within 48 hours? Lawsuits, cross-border leagues, phoenix clubs…boredom? With @dankilpatrick.bsky.social & Emma Paton. pod.fo/e/6322cf
pod.fo
The Athletic FC Podcast: What If... the Super League had happened?
On this week's episode of What If, we're diving into the 2021 European Super League project, which collapsed within a matter of days.Host Emma Paton is joined by Matt Slater and Dan Kilpatrick to s...
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Can a baseball-mad country like Japan ever fall for cricket? Could a cricket-mad country ever fall for baseball? Is one a bridge to the other or a wall? Monday’s Japan-India T20 is a huge moment for Japanese cricket but can that moment become a movement? www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...
nytimes.com
Japan has always loved baseball. Is it now falling for cricket? (Gift Article)
An historic game with India, a cricketing superpower, is the latest move to bring the sport to a whole new audience
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
It would be easier to list the English clubs that haven’t just been bought, attracted new investment or are on the market - our game has never been so For Sale. But why? To answer that question I asked 9 (nine!) experts. Their replies were full, frank & fascinating. www.nytimes.com/athletic/757...
nytimes.com
Why are so many English football clubs on the market? (Gift Article)
The Athletic asked 10 football finance experts, from both sides of the Atlantic, why so many clubs are looking for investment or up for sale
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
📽️ And for those who like to put faces to names/voices… youtu.be/MaQS5e31EtI?...
youtu.be
Why does JJ Gabriel want to leave Man United?
YouTube video by The Athletic FC Podcast
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
🎙️ We probably fail to answer why JJ Gabriel wants to leave Man Utd but we have a good go at why this has blown up, what Man U could have done about it & what it says about the PL’s battle for young talent. W/ @adamcrafton.bsky.social, @andymitten.bsky.social, Kate Mason & Rob Green pod.fo/e/62410c
pod.fo
The Athletic FC Podcast: Why does JJ Gabriel want to leave Man United?
Manchester United's 15-year-old academy prospect JJ Gabriel has outlined his desire to leave.To discuss why and how this situation has developed Kate Mason is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton ...
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
It would be easier to list the English clubs that haven’t just been bought, attracted new investment or are on the market - our game has never been so For Sale. But why? To answer that question I asked 9 (nine!) experts. Their replies were full, frank & fascinating. www.nytimes.com/athletic/757...
nytimes.com
Why are so many English football clubs on the market? (Gift Article)
The Athletic asked 10 football finance experts, from both sides of the Atlantic, why so many clubs are looking for investment or up for sale
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
After a bumpy year for the French hosts of the 2030 Winter Olympics, the IOC has signed off on the venues plan. Ice hockey in Lyon, skiing in Courchevel, luge in La Plagne, speed skating in….the Netherlands. www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...
nytimes.com
Alps 2030 Olympic venues confirmed, with hockey in Lyon, speedskating in the Netherlands (Gift Article)
Lyon will host most of the ice sports, mountain sports will be spread across famed French resort towns, and there's one big outlier.
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Colour me shocked but it turns out the Championship is still allergic to breaking even & parachute payments are bad for the division’s competitive balance. If only we had an independent regulator who might be able to do something about these intractable problems…oh! www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...
nytimes.com
Championship clubs ‘spending unsustainably’ to keep pace with parachute payments, report finds (Gift Article)
The report details a league which "cannot control is wage bill" and is "spending unsustainability".
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
📽️ And here’s the motion picture version…shot on four locations! youtu.be/oWES_pgBsrY?...
youtu.be
Has the Champions League become the Super League?
YouTube video by The Athletic FC Podcast
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
🎙️ A pod of two halves. First bit is on the return of the Champions League: it’s a commercial & media hit but is it a bit predictable? And part two is on what Sunday’s Manchester derby has to do with the UK’s plan for economic growth, with ex-Man City CEO Garry Cook & the usual cast. pod.fo/e/5f767a
pod.fo
The Athletic FC Podcast: Champions League boom + Garry Cook on Manchesterism
As the Champions League returns, a number of big match-ups have played out including Real Madrid taking on Inter Milan and Liverpool facing Atletico Madrid, but where is the jeopardy?Kate Mason is ...
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Brad Friedel, American soccer’s greatest export to English football, is part of the US group trying to buy EFL strugglers Shrewsbury Town. www.nytimes.com/athletic/758...
nytimes.com
Former USMNT goalkeeper Brad Friedel part of proposed takeover of Shrewsbury Town (Gift Article)
Miami-based businessman Scott Davidson is leading the consortium, with Friedel lined up to become a director.
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
📽️ And here’s the motion picture version…shot on four locations! youtu.be/oWES_pgBsrY?...
youtu.be
Has the Champions League become the Super League?
YouTube video by The Athletic FC Podcast
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
🎙️ A pod of two halves. First bit is on the return of the Champions League: it’s a commercial & media hit but is it a bit predictable? And part two is on what Sunday’s Manchester derby has to do with the UK’s plan for economic growth, with ex-Man City CEO Garry Cook & the usual cast. pod.fo/e/5f767a
pod.fo
The Athletic FC Podcast: Champions League boom + Garry Cook on Manchesterism
As the Champions League returns, a number of big match-ups have played out including Real Madrid taking on Inter Milan and Liverpool facing Atletico Madrid, but where is the jeopardy?Kate Mason is ...
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
New PISA data out England is now top ten in all three areas (reading, maths, science) and the second highest performing country outside of east Asia (after Estonia). This is a huge public policy success.
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Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 09/09/2026
Good morning, New York. While you were sleeping, this exclusive was the most-read story ft.trib.al/nUXHRzY
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 09/09/2026
The global price of oil reached $100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since July as tensions in the Middle East escalated. That’s nearly 40 percent higher than on the eve of the war in Iran.
nyti.ms
Oil Hits $100 a Barrel as Turmoil Intensifies in Middle East
The cost of crude has risen 40 percent since the start of the war in Iran, pushing up the price of gasoline, diesel and other refined fuels.
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Chelsea have got lots right recently but nearly scored a PR own goal of Biblical proportions last month when they sent an aggressive cease-and-desist to a local software firm. Common sense prevailed but the tale highlights what happens when brands meet geography. www.nytimes.com/athletic/754...
nytimes.com
Chelsea vs Chelsea: What happened when the club took on a software firm over their trademark? (Gift Article)
Football club Chelsea argued local software firm Chelsea AI Ventures' name was "highly similar" to theirs - and wanted changes made
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Matt Slater @mjslater.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Bosh! Are big bucks coming for the Big Bash? Will it be MI Melbourne, Hobart Super Giants & Perth Tech Bros? www.nytimes.com/athletic/757...
nytimes.com
Cricket Australia green lights private investment in the Big Bash League (Gift Article)
Bids have been invited for the Melbourne Renegades in what could pave the way for IPL franchises to buy into Australia's T20 domestic league
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