AHEAD OF THE GAME: Man City fans in Abu Dhabi face NOT being able to watch Treble defence in blow to owners… while Wilfried Zaha and Stormzy take control of club without any money changing hands
- Negotiations between BeIN Sport and telecoms operator DU grinded to a halt
- The deal for DU to take on BEIN’s rights package is now unlikely to be renewed
- DU want a reduction from BeIN, who suspect the demand is politically motivated
Manchester City’s owners are facing the embarrassing position of their fans in Abu Dhabi being unable to watch their Treble defence next season after the collapse of negotiations between the regional TV rights-holders BeIN Sport and the United Arab Emirates’ telecoms operator, DU.
The deal for DU to take BeIN’s rights packages, which includes the Premier League, Champions League and the ATP and WTA tennis tours, expires this weekend and appears unlikely to be renewed.
DU are understood to be seeking a 50 per cent reduction from BeIN, who suspect the demands are politically motivated and a legacy of the UAE’s four-year blockade of Qatar. In another sign of the lingering tension Saudi Arabia have been blocking BeIN’s transmissions since the start of last year’s World Cup.
Manchester City’s owners are facing fans in Abu Dhabi not being able to watch them play
City won the Treble last season and will look to defend their trophies in all three competitions
Zaha steps in to save club
Wilfried Zaha and Stormzy have acquired control of AFC Croydon Athletic without any money changing hands.
The Combined Counties League club, who play in the ninth tier of English football, were facing the threat of going out of business until agreeing a deal this week with the Crystal Palace forward and award-winning rapper, who both grew up close to Croydon’s Mayfield Stadium in south London.
Croydon Council were also involved in brokering the deal that has effectively saved the club, with Zaha, Stormzy and former Palace kit-man Danny Young committed to investing significantly in to save what the trio described as their home-town club.
Wilfried Zaha has acquired control of AFC Croydon Athletic without money changing hands
Rapper Stormzy is also part of the three-man group that has stepped in to save the club
Doncaster’s season ticket boost
Former Doncaster Rovers owner John Ryan is auctioning off memorabilia collected during his life in football, including an England shirt signed by Wayne Rooney, to raise funds to buy season-tickets for fans of the League Two club.
Ryan has committed to buying 100 season tickets at the Eco-Power Stadium for cash-strapped supporters in South Yorkshire, many of whom have been badly hit by the rapid growth of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.
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