EFL Clubs Demand Bigger Share of Premier League’s £1.8bn Deal as Football Funding Battle Intensifies

Championship clubs have held discussions at the English Football League (EFL) headquarters over the Premier League’s proposed financial redistribution package, with the lower divisions seeking a larger share of the money.

The meeting took place in Paddington on Thursday, bringing together Championship representatives to examine the offer, which would distribute an additional £1.8 billion over 10 years. Although no final agreement was reached, the EFL believes negotiations may be progressing in its favour ahead of the Independent Football Regulator’s State of the Game report, due on Tuesday.

The EFL wants the money divided with 75 per cent going to the Championship, 15 per cent to League One and 10 per cent to League Two. That would replace the existing 80-12-8 distribution model.

EFL Meeting Produces Awkward Moments Behind the Scenes

Despite the detailed discussions and financial data presented at the summit, the gathering also produced a few lighter moments.

One representative from a northern club arrived more than an hour late after mistakenly boarding a train heading to Glasgow instead of London.

There was also an uncomfortable exchange involving the Football Association (FA). One official, apparently unaware that people attending remotely could still hear him, criticised the governing body’s handling of Southampton manager Tonda Eckert’s punishment in the Spygate controversy.

Eckert received a suspended ban for his involvement in the affair. Although some attendees were understood to share the official’s frustration, Southampton representatives who heard the remarks reportedly took note of the criticism.

LA 2028 Olympics Face Questions Over International Ticket Sales

Ticket sales for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games are reportedly progressing strongly overall, but concerns have emerged about the level of demand from outside the United States.

According to insiders, fewer than five per cent of tickets sold so far have gone to buyers based overseas, a figure understood to have raised concerns within the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Some may point to US President Donald Trump’s border policies as a possible deterrent for international visitors. However, the willingness of football supporters to travel to the United States for this year’s FIFA World Cup suggests that other factors could be involved.

Industry experts have reportedly highlighted a lack of effective publicity and promotion across Europe and other international markets. Without greater efforts to attract overseas visitors, the Games risk drawing a disproportionately domestic audience.

St George’s Park Revamp to Include Padel Courts

The Football Association’s planned redevelopment of St George’s Park will include new padel courts, adding another recreational option at England’s national football centre.

The improvements were announced last week, with the sport attracting interest from England manager Thomas Tuchel and several members of the current squad.

Padel, which combines elements of tennis and squash, has grown in popularity and is increasingly being embraced by professional footballers as a leisure activity.

DAZN Rejects Refund Requests After NFL Broadcast Failure

DAZN has faced criticism from American football fans after a major technical failure interrupted its coverage of the Buffalo Bills’ meeting with the New England Patriots last weekend.

Subscribers who paid £180 for a season pass had watched more than three hours of the game when the broadcast suddenly went blank with less than a minute remaining.

New England were leading 29-26 at the time, leaving the match finely poised as viewers awaited the decisive conclusion. However, the picture failed to return, meaning customers missed the closing moments of the contest.

The Patriots ultimately defeated Buffalo, but affected DAZN subscribers were unable to watch the finish live through the service.

The broadcaster subsequently declined refund requests, telling dissatisfied customers that a refund was not appropriate given the nature and duration of the disruption. The response prompted further anger among viewers who had paid for access to the full game.

FIFA Governance Under Scrutiny Ahead of Council Meeting

Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, co-founder and global chief executive of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA), is preparing to monitor FIFA’s Council closely as questions about the organisation’s governance continue.

De Medeiros, who previously led the European Professional Football Leagues, has raised concerns in his latest Integrity Line blog about FIFA’s approach to assessing its own structures.

He argues that an internal working group cannot independently guarantee that the governing body’s system of leadership and accountability is fit for purpose, particularly while president Gianni Infantino faces scrutiny.

The sports governance expert contends that electing a president does not, by itself, establish whether the wider organisation is properly structured or accountable.

He warns that FIFA risks further damaging its credibility and distancing football supporters if it fails to subject its governance arrangements to meaningful independent examination.

Daily Mail’s Inside Sport Column Comes to an End

The latest instalment marks the end of the Inside Sport column in the Daily Mail after more than 25 years of coverage of the personalities, controversies and behind-the-scenes developments shaping sport.

The column’s history stretches back to 2001, when Charles Sale launched Sports Agenda. Sale, remembered for his distinctive style and willingness to challenge prominent figures, helped establish the column as a regular feature of the newspaper’s sports coverage.

His influence remained evident in a recent exchange ahead of a book-launch event for former Ipswich Town and FA executive David Sheepshanks. The event was due to take place in central London and was also expected to attract a former chairman of a club that had played in the Premier League.

Sale enquired about the former chairman’s age and whether he remained physically capable of responding to criticism, recalling the confrontational reputation he had developed during his career as a journalist.

The departing columnist paid tribute to Sale’s legacy, describing it as a privilege to follow in his footsteps, even while contributing only one day a week compared with Sale’s demanding six-day schedule.

The conclusion of the column brings a long-running chapter of Daily Mail sports journalism to a close.