Football mourns Pope Francis' passing as Kogan set to lead new regulator
The Backslash / News Roundup / U+002A_4
Welcome to the fourth edition of The Backslash, a news roundup on the business of sport and the antithesis to the parent newsletter, The Asterisk*.
Top Picks
Football world pays tribute to Pope Francis
Clubs around the world paid their respects to Pope Francis, who passed away on 21 April, shortly after Easter.
The head of the Catholic Church was a passionate football fan and often welcomed players, coaches, and teams to the Vatican.
Real Madrid issued a Comunicado Oficial, while Lionel Messi thanked the Pope for "making the world a better place." In Argentina, the Holy Father’s hometown club, San Lorenzo, paid tribute to its honorary member. Supporters held a memorial mass in Buenos Aires to honour his legacy.
The Italian football league postponed all matches scheduled for 21 April, and Italy’s Women’s Six Nations match against Wales has also been rescheduled as the country prepares for the Pope’s funeral.
UEFA, along with other leagues, has announced it will hold a moment of silence in memory of His Holiness before kick-off in this week’s Youth League and Women’s Champions League semi-finals, as well as the men’s club competition semi-finals from 29 April to 1 May.
Kogan set to lead Football Regulator as Shadow Body grows
Sports media rights executive David Kogan is set to become chair of English football's new independent regulator.
If confirmed, Kogan would take on one of the most influential roles in the game, with a mandate to help resolve the long-running dispute between the Premier League and the EFL over parachute payments and financial redistribution.
Meanwhile, the Shadow Football Regulator is building its team, with several Manchester-based roles currently being advertised (links available at the bottom of this roundup).
From the Parent Co. (The Asterisk*)
From an 800-word story to a three-part series (maybe four)? In Formula One, that’s what’s called a triple-header.
I reached out to Dr. Damion Sturm, a motorsport expert and Senior Lecturer in Sport Management at Massey University in New Zealand, to dive deeper into Max Verstappen's role in Formula One. This comes after my conversation with Dr. Mark Howell, a NASCAR historian and writer, about Denny Hamlin’s influence in the sport.
Formula One has seen various eras of driver dominance, and Verstappen's reign comes during a time of unprecedented growth for the sport. While his dominant streak may have alienated some fans, his character has kept the sport compelling. The Dutch driver brings a level of unpredictability and drama that the sport sometimes lacks.
Described by Dr. Sturm as a "throwback to the 'pure racer'," Verstappen isn’t entirely comfortable with F1’s current direction. This anti-establishment stance, paired with his "bad boy" image, places him in a similar light to Hamlin, both of them challenging the norms in their respective motorsports.
Checkered Reputations: Part Two - Verstappen’s ruthless pursuit keeps fans engaged
Anyone but the Dutchman in car number one, that was the sentiment among fans heading into 2024. After all, Max Verstappen had smoked the grid the year before.
The Backslash Briefing
Business of Sport_/Environment
McLaren, FIA launch F1 sustainability handbook
McLaren, Deloitte UK, and the FIA have announced the Circularity Handbook to improve sustainable practices in the development and manufacture of a Formula 1 car. “Over time, the goal is for the Handbook to be adopted across motorsport,” said Formula One.London Marathon wins Evergreen certification
London Marathon Events became the first mass participation organiser in the world to be awarded the prestigious Evergreen level certification from the Council for Responsible Sport (CRS). Michelle Sandquist, Certification Director for the Council for Responsible Sport, said: “London Marathon Events has set a new global benchmark for what it means to lead with purpose. Earning Evergreen certification is not only a recognition of the depth and integrity of their sustainability efforts, it’s a statement that positive social and environmental impact can and should be central to event operations. Their work exemplifies what’s possible when innovation, accountability, and community are at the core of event planning.”
Business of Sport_/Finance
Sarofim joins Everton ownership group
American billionaire Christopher Sarofim has joined Everton’s ownership group as a new investor. Sarofim, who is also a minority shareholder in the Houston Texans NFL franchise, will provide the Toffees with access to broader sources of funding.
DAZN ends Ligue 1 TV deal
Ligue 1’s TV deal with media partner DAZN will end after just one season. According to The Financial Times, DAZN is reportedly losing money and has struggled to attract enough subscribers. The company has accused clubs of failing to provide access to players, thereby reducing the product's appeal, and of not doing enough to combat piracy.
Velocity Capital invests in Unique Sports
Private equity firm Velocity Capital Management has invested in Unique Sports Group, a UK-based talent agency that represents over 350 footballers across the Premier League, Bundesliga, and Serie A. Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon is among the clients of Unique Sports.
Business of Sport_/Strategy
Aston Villa expands Villa Park seats
Aston Villa has announced plans to refurbish and expand seat capacity in the iconic North Stand at Villa Park. The redevelopment will increase the number of seats available in the North Stand to over 12,000, increasing Villa Park’s total capacity to over 50,000 in 2027.Wilson appointed FIA deputy president
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has nominated leading rally team boss Malcolm Wilson as his new Deputy President for Sport, according to The Race.GM to build powertrains for Cadillac F1
The FIA has approved the US company General Motors Performance Power Units to build powertrains for the Cadillac Formula 1 team, which is set to become the 11th team on the grid.Oxford United backs new stadium plan
Oxford United supporters have backed plans to move to a new stadium. A planning meeting will be held on 5 June to review the club’s new stadium proposal.Formula E extends ExCeL London deal
Formula E has announced the extension of its contract with ExCeL London until at least 2026. It remains the only FIA-sanctioned World Championship motorsport to race in the heart of London and is also the world’s first and only indoor-outdoor race track.
Business of Sport_/Commercial
McLaren ends deal with Castore
McLaren Racing has cut short its deal with British apparel company Castore and partner with Puma in 2026.Chelsea partners with Ticketmaster
Chelsea has announced a multi-year partnership with Ticketmaster. “Our goal is to make ticketing as simple as possible for fans,” said Chris Gratton, managing director at Ticketmaster Sport. “We can’t wait to kick off this partnership and ensure every supporter gets a ticketing experience worthy of the Blues.”Channel 5 to broadcast FIFA Cup
Channel 5 will broadcast 23 of the 63 FIFA Club World Cup matches in the UK this summer. The remaining games will be available exclusively for free on the DAZN app.
Business of Sport_/Governance
A-League introduces $3m salary cap
The A-League, Australia’s men's professional league is introducing a $3m salary cap to ensure long-term sustainability of the league. The Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has rejected the proposal, warning that it could limit the potential to attract top players.
Business of Sport_/Culture
Spanish fans watch Harborough Town game
100 Spanish fans turned up to watch seventh-tier English side Harborough Town play St Ives Town. A Spanish YouTube channel, La Media Inglesa (LMI), focused on English football, has been offering its followers trips to experience English football.AI used to recruit football players
Club’s like Liverpool and Brighton have used data analysis to recruit incredible players. The Guardian has revealed that teams are now using AI to psychologically profile players!London Marathon leaves X
The London Marathon will no longer use X (formerly Twitter) after event director Hugh Brasher accused the Elon Musk-led social media platform of becoming a 'gutter'.Abramovich to speak on Chelsea sale
Chelsea’s former Russian owner, Roman Abramovich, will address the sale of the London club in a book set to be released this summer, according to the BBC.
Business of Sport_/She Leads
A special segment to elevate coverage of women and adjacent developments in sport.
F1 Academy announces Netflix documentary date
F1 Academy has announced that F1: The Academy, a documentary series produced by Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine, will launch globally on Netflix on 28 May. The series will feature seven episodes and is executively-produced by Managing Director Susie Wolff alongside Ian Holmes and Isabelle Stewart.Two Circles secures women’s sponsorship deal
Sports agency Two Circles has been appointed as the exclusive sponsorship agency for the Barclays Women's Super League and Barclays Women's Championship by Women's Professional Leagues (WPLL). The deal will see all 24 clubs across both divisions get a sleeve sponsor.CAF offers football coaching to prisoners
Female prisoners in Africa are working to turn their lives around through football. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is offering inmates coaching courses, with 26 women and five police officers participating in the programme last year.Manchester United Women join World Sevens
Manchester United Women will participate in the inaugural World Sevens Football, a seven-a-side tournament, in Portugal from 21 to 23 May. Collette Roche, Chief Operating Officer, said: 'We want Manchester United to be at the forefront of growth and innovation in women’s football, and that includes experimenting with new formats such as World Sevens Football, alongside the traditional 11-a-side game.'
The Business End: Video of the Week
Former US Soccer coach Bruce Arena recently criticised Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino’s role as head of the national team, suggesting that a non-American who doesn’t fully understand US soccer culture shouldn't be in charge.
Sure, Pochettino doesn’t have a trophy-laden CV, but very few would question his credentials as a top-level coach. And let’s be real, the US Men’s National Team, arguably working with its strongest-ever squad, has been underperforming for years, long before Pochettino arrived.
So who’s to blame? The manager or the players?
I’ve seen a similar situation brew at Manchester United over the years. It’s reached a point where the team’s current level has become the culture. The style of play, the mindset, the hierarchy... it all reeks of poor management from top to bottom.
The ESPN panel in the video breaks down Arena’s criticism brilliantly. Yes, the US may have lost to Panama and Canada, but both teams had foreign coaches. So does the US Soccer Federation really need someone who understands the inner workings of American soccer culture? You’d think they already have that structure in place.
The US has the funds, the infrastructure, and the luxury to bring in the best talent to meet specific goals. England has done something similar. Despite having its own ‘golden generation,’ trophies have remained elusive. That’s why they turned to German mastermind Thomas Tuchel.
Arena’s comments definitely plant the seed for an interesting story, maybe one day on The Asterisk.
Get in the Action!
Can’t get on the field but want to influence its operations? Here are roles available at sports clubs and organisations.
FIFA World Cup 26™ is looking for a Senior Legal Counsel.
FIFA World Cup 26™ is recruiting a Specialist, Recruitment.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Shadow Football Regulator) seeks a Head of HR.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Shadow Football Regulator) is looking for a Lawyer.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Shadow Football Regulator) is hiring a Senior Communications & Engagement Advisor.
Manchester United is seeking a First Team Physiotherapist.
NFL is hiring a Director of Partnerships in Germany.
Atlanta Hawks is seeking a Director of Environmental Services.
FIA is hiring a Sport Sustainability Coordinator.
Williams Racing is looking for a Marketing Manager, Gaming.
Carolina Panthers is offering a Marketing Intern position.