Martyn Ziegler

1 week ago | thetimes.com | Martyn Ziegler

A separate inquiry into alleged irregular transfer payments during Chelsea’s previous ownership may have delayed the outcome of the Premier League’s investigation into the matter. It is understood that the FA is carrying out its own inquiries into payments to agents and officials via offshore entities. The transfers included the signings of Eden Hazard, Willian and Samuel Eto’o, though there is no suggestion any of the players were aware of the payments.

1 week ago | thetimes.com | Martyn Ziegler

David Beckham will be awarded a knighthood next week after years of appeals from fans for the former England and Manchester United footballer to receive Britain’s highest honour. Beckham’s knighthood will be announced in the King’s birthday honours list and will mean that the former England captain’s wife, Victoria, will be known as Lady Beckham. Beckham, capped 115 times for the national team, has long been tipped to be knighted, but has remained an OBE — an honour he received in 2003.

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Martyn Ziegler

With less than ten days to go before the start of its new Club World Cup tournament in the USA, Fifa has slashed the cost of tickets to less than a sixth of their original price for the opening match to try to fill tens of thousands of empty seats. The game between Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Egyptian side Al Ahly on June 14 initially had the cheapest tickets priced at $349 after the draw in December.

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Martyn Ziegler

The Premier League has failed in its bid to prevent clubs selling assets to sister companies in order to comply with its Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). A proposal to close the loophole that has allowed Chelsea to register a “profit” from selling hotels, and their own women’s team, to a sister company did not even go to a vote at the Premier League’s annual meeting, which took place near Harrogate.

2 weeks ago | thetimes.com | Martyn Ziegler

Crystal Palace’s Europa League place could hinge on whether Uefa decides to allow the French club Lyon to take part in the competition next season. Uefa’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) disqualified Lyon — owned by the Palace shareholder John Textor — from European competitions in December but allowed them to continue after the club met certain demands. Manchester United eliminated them from the Europa League at the quarter-final stage.