SCUDAMORE QUITS PREMIER LEAGUE
RICHARD SCUDAMORE shocked 20 clubs and his Premier League staff yesterday by announcing he will quit as executive chairman in December after 20 years at the helm. An emotional Scudamore announced he was going after the first day of the PL summer meeting and received a standing ovation. Scudamore, the most influential figure in English football, knows he is leaving at the right time, having completed another domestic TV rights deal and brokered a peace formula over the distribution of overseas money. The canny Scudamore realised life would only become more difficult for him when the Big Six clubs started fighting for a heftier share of the TV pot last year. He has found a solution this time, but the top clubs want to dictate PL business rather than let Scudamore call the tune, as he has done for two decades. Scudamore and his advisers take the credit for maximising global interest in the Premier League with ever-increasing TV deals. Scudamore (below) will be a hard act to follow and certainly there is no one at the Premier League capable of taking over. He said: ‘It’s an absolute privilege to have been allowed to enjoy this role for so long. It is too much fun to be called a job. ‘I am sure (the PL’s broadcast partners) will forgive me for singling out Sky for special recognition. Back in 1992 they were the catalyst for the start of the Premier League journey and have backed us all the way since.’ Scudamore, who will be 60 next year and suffered a heart scare in 2014, intends to spend more time with his family, but will not retire. He will not be short of offers.
BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker caused plenty of controversy when he hosted the World Cup draw having previously been an arch critic of FIFA.
However, it has since emerged that Lineker gave his believed £50,000 fee to charity and refused all opportunities to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin while in Moscow.
Lineker also wore an LGBT wristband in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, who face major challenges in Russia, during the draw, albeit under his shirtcuff.
The former England striker had been keen to take up FIFA’s offer because of the broadcasting challenge of having a global audience and because of the major part the World Cup played in his own playing career. He was top scorer in 1986 and reached the semi-final with England in 1990. FORMER Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, who had a court of appeal overturn his £85,000 libel award over newspaper allegations of matchfixing, made his comeback at the age of 60 yesterday for Matabeleland against the Chagos Islands in the CONIFA World Football Cup for territories not recognised by FIFA. Coincidentally, the tournament, staged in London, is sponsored by bookmakers Paddy Power.
WIMBLEDON and Twickenham are using the same confrontational tactics to maximise their corporate hospitality earnings. Both have signed long-term hospitality deals with Keith Prowse that will give the Compass Group-owned firm a monopoly position at the All England Club and rugby’s headquarters that will likely put small hospitality traders out of business. Wimbledon’s £100m five-year contract starts in 2019, while Twickenham have a joint venture with Prowse for their East Stand hospitality facilities, starting with the autumn internationals.