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The Sun
24-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Football's changed beyond belief since my first game 26 years ago – cling onto fact there's still people kicking a ball
AS CRYSTAL PALACE prepare a complex legal case against demotion from the Europa League, it makes you think. If not, it should do. That within two months of the only genuinely heart-warming moment from a forgettable Premier League season, the one feel-good factor from 12 months of humdrum routine has been blown to smithereens. 8 8 8 Palace won their first trophy in 120 years back in May by upsetting moneyed Manchester City in the FA Cup final — and anyone with an ounce of romance rejoiced. Yet in less time than it takes for VAR to check for your average offside, the joy has been cut short. Because the growing trend for multi-ownership and the pursuit of power among the world's richest has put football second — again. With Eagles shareholder John Textor also having financial interests in Europa-League bound Lyon, rules have been broken, say Uefa. Two clubs under the influence of the same bloke can't compete in the same competition. And fair enough. So, Palace's defiant chairman, Steve Parish, now must lead the desperate fightback via the Court of Arbitration for Sport. What was once a little-known legal body based in a mansion in Switzerland is now becoming as big a name as Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland. And that Nottingham Forest could not wait to grass up Palace in the hope of nicking their Europa League spot is football 2025 in a nutshell. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 8 Lawyers and business tycoons have replaced centre-forwards and centrefolds as the main players at the heart of our national sport. Let's rewind to July 1999 and compare notes. The only reason I suggest this date is because that's when I started on staff at SunSport. Crystal Palace legend Geoff Thomas slams Uefa for denying them a Europa League place After bluffing my way through it for 26 years, this will be my last column before leaving so it's as good a point in time as any. Back then, on the cusp of the new millennium, Alan Shearer was widely reported as the Premier League's top earner on £34K a week at Newcastle. Roughly 100 times the average wage of the day. Shearer's £1.76million a year is dwarfed by the estimated £18.2m annually Mo Salah will trouser under his new Liverpool contract. Average wages in the UK for last year were roughly £37,000 per year. You don't have to be Carol Vorderman to work out that the gap has widened considerably. In the summer of '99, Manchester United were celebrating victory in the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup. The only treble the fans can enjoy these days is a stiff one in the boozer after the latest abject collapse on the pitch at a fallen giant. But at least that's football related. 8 8 So much of what masquerades as our favourite sport has nothing to do with shirts, shorts and shin pads. And back when Tony Blair was still regarded as a half-decent PM, there was no VAR to kill the spontaneous release that is a goal being scored. In 1999, the beleaguered boss of the referees' union did not have to appear regularly on TV to desperately fight the corner of members. In 1999, not every defeat was considered a national disaster by over-hyped figures in the game. In 1999, clubs were not selling their own hotels back to themselves to get round spending rules. Spending rules brought in to stop nation states hoovering up our best teams at the expense of fair competition. In 1999, there were 17 managers of British and Irish descent working in the Prem. Today it's five. In 1999, the biggest transfer of the summer was Nicolas Anelka's exit from Arsenal to Real Madrid. The £22.5m was considered big money. Most pertinent of all, in 1999 Premier League grounds were alive. They were not stop-offs for foreign tourists sitting in silent bewilderment while clutching bags of overpriced tat from club shops. The game hasn't gone these past 26 years but it's going. Somewhere in the middle of all the legal battles, foreign takeovers, stakeholders, rights holders, influencers, extortionate ticket prices, popcorn, VAR, play-acting and social media tripe, there are still people kicking footballs. Cling on to that. CAPTAINCY IS IN LEVI'S GENES FAREWELL NOTE TO CHELSEA: Levi Colwill must be your next captain. During the Club World Cup, the defender grew in stature so much off the pitch and is emerging as a superb ambassador for a club that can struggle for positive PR. From discussing his secret LEGO passion, to bold declarations that Chelsea can win the title this season, this young man has the kind of character they have been aching for at Stamford Bridge since the departures of John Terry and Antonio Rudiger. When Reece James calls it a day wearing the armband, Colwill must take over. JUAN-NIL LOSS BARCELONA is 920 miles from London. Marcus Rashford seems to think it is a world away. By refusing to answer any questions in English at his unveiling by the Spanish giants he has already scored a little own goal. You can pretend it's to ingratiate himself with the Catalan locals but nobody over here is really fooled. Rashford might think he has been harshly treated by the English media but I have never met a reporter who doesn't wish him all the very best and wants him to do well for his club and for England, more importantly. And more importantly than anything to do with football, his campaign for free school meals is a standout moment as a human being. 8 It's worth remembering that his move to Barcelona from Manchester United is only a season-long loan and that this time next year he may be back. There'll be questions then — and no hiding place behind the lingo.
The Irish Sun
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘We are so back' – Arsenal fans in meltdown after learning club's transfer plan for Eberechi Eze
CRYSTAL PALACE forward Eberechi Eze has emerged as a key target for Arsenal this transfer window - but the Gunners will not stop at just one addition to their attack. Advertisement 2 Arsenal have expressed an interest in Eberechi Eze Credit: PA 2 Arsenal's interest in Eze is separate to the club's pursuit of a winger and a striker Credit: Getty The Gunners are expected to announce the arrivals of But now they have directed attention towards attacking reinforcements. Meanwhile, Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL It emerged last week that Arsenal chiefs are yet to make contact with Eze has a release clause worth £60million plus add-ons in his contract, but Arsenal would look to negotiate for a slightly lower fee. Advertisement Most read in Football Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates It has also been revealed that interest in Fans of the Gunners have been sent into a frenzy as a result, with one person taking to X to write: "We are so back." Christian Norgaard to Arsenal LATEST | Transfers Exposed Another said: "Imagine if Berta gives actually delivers an AM along with LW & ST." Advertisement A third commented: "This would be an epic signing for Arsenal." While a fourth wrote: "My club is finally acting like the big club it is, now go get Gyokeres, Rodrygo, and Eze." Arsenal kick off their Premier League campaign with a trip to Old Trafford on August 17 to face ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the latest rumours from the Emirates Advertisement
Scottish Sun
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘We are so back' – Arsenal fans in meltdown after learning club's transfer plan for Eberechi Eze
EZE DOES IT 'We are so back' – Arsenal fans in meltdown after learning club's transfer plan for Eberechi Eze Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CRYSTAL PALACE forward Eberechi Eze has emerged as a key target for Arsenal this transfer window - but the Gunners will not stop at just one addition to their attack. Mikel Arteta is looking to bolster his squad following three consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Arsenal have expressed an interest in Eberechi Eze Credit: PA 2 Arsenal's interest in Eze is separate to the club's pursuit of a winger and a striker Credit: Getty The Gunners are expected to announce the arrivals of Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga in the coming days, with Christian Norgaard also set to join from Brentford. But now they have directed attention towards attacking reinforcements. Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are understood to be two priority targets for the No9 position. Meanwhile, Real Madrid ace Rodrygo has also been linked. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Deutsche MarC Bayern 'consider shock Rashford move' as Man Utd's asking price revealed It emerged last week that Eze was another name being discussed by the Arsenal hierarchy. The Athletic has reported that he is high on the club's wishlist. Arsenal chiefs are yet to make contact with Crystal Palace over a potential deal, but they are giving "serious consideration" to the idea of moving for him. Eze has a release clause worth £60million plus add-ons in his contract, but Arsenal would look to negotiate for a slightly lower fee. Join SUN CLUB for the Arsenal Files every Friday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from The Emirates It has also been revealed that interest in Eze is separate to the club's pursuit of a winger and a striker. Fans of the Gunners have been sent into a frenzy as a result, with one person taking to X to write: "We are so back." Christian Norgaard to Arsenal LATEST | Transfers Exposed Another said: "Imagine if Berta gives actually delivers an AM along with LW & ST." A third commented: "This would be an epic signing for Arsenal." While a fourth wrote: "My club is finally acting like the big club it is, now go get Gyokeres, Rodrygo, and Eze." Arsenal kick off their Premier League campaign with a trip to Old Trafford on August 17 to face Manchester United. ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the latest rumours from the Emirates
Scottish Sun
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Crystal Palace line up £27million double raid on Middlesbrough including move for England U21 hero
CRYSTAL PALACE are eyeing Middlesbrough's £15million-rated star Hayden Hackney. And Palace could be eyeing a £27m double swoop on the Riverside. 2 Crystal Palace eye Middlesbrough ace Hayden Hackney after starring for England 2 Palace also target Middlesbrough ace Rav van den Berg after the Under-21 European Championship That is after also running the rule over his Dutch team-mate Rav van den Berg at the Under-21 European Championship. Midfielder Hackney, 23, was part of England's triumphant Under-21 squad. Premier League clubs, including Tottenham, have been watching his displays for his hometown team for over a year. Stuttgart are keen and Porto had a £9m bid rejected for him on January's deadline day. Hackney, who came through Middlesbrough's academy, has already proved he can cut the mustard against the big boys in his standout displays against both Chelsea and Aston Villa in the cups last season. New Boro boss Rob Edwards would love to keep their prized asset. But Edwards knows any cash generated from a big sale would help him fund his own transfer splurge. He first caught the eye of Palace's former sporting director Dougie Freedman. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS And SunSport has learned that he has remained on the Eagles' radar despite the Scot no longer being at Selhurst Park. The South London club's scouts have been spotted at several matches throughout the Under-21 Euros, where Hackney featured four times for England in the run-up to the final. Harvey Elliott's classy three-word message to Harry Kane's 'heir' overheard on live TV after England beat Germany U21s Meanwhile, we revealed this week that Palace's talent spotters had also been monitoring £12m-rated Van den Berg out in Slovakia.
The Irish Sun
30-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Crystal Palace line up £27million double raid on Middlesbrough including move for England U21 hero
CRYSTAL PALACE are eyeing Middlesbrough's £15million-rated star Hayden Hackney. And 2 Crystal Palace eye Middlesbrough ace Hayden Hackney after starring for England 2 Palace also target Middlesbrough ace Rav van den Berg after the Under-21 European Championship That is after also running the rule over his Dutch team-mate Rav van den Berg at the Midfielder Hackney, 23, was part of Premier League clubs, including Stuttgart are keen and Read More on Football Hackney, who came through New Boro boss Rob Edwards would love to keep their prized asset. But Edwards knows any cash generated from a big sale would help him fund his own transfer splurge. He first caught the eye of Palace's former sporting director Dougie Freedman. Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS And SunSport has learned that he has remained on the Eagles' radar despite the Scot no longer being at Selhurst Park. The South London club's scouts have been spotted at several matches throughout the Under-21 Euros, where Hackney featured four times for England in the run-up to the final. Harvey Elliott's classy three-word message to Harry Kane's 'heir' overheard on live TV after England beat Germany U21s Meanwhile, we revealed this week that Palace's talent spotters had also been monitoring £12m-rated Van den Berg out in Slovakia.
