Roger Federer’s historic seventh Wimbledon title was watched by a peak TV audience of 17million.
Coverage started at 12.55, peaking at 6.14pm with 17.1 million viewers and a 67.9% share. This is more than the Euro 2012 final shown the previous week which peaked at 13.6 million.
The show did an average of 21.7 adults TVRs which equates to 10.6 million viewers with a 59.6% share; in Scotland the show had 25.2 adult TVRs with 986,000 viewers and a 67.7% share.
Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp and Sheffield Wednesday chairman Milan Mandaric have been found not guilty of both counts of tax evasion.
Jurors agreed with Redknapp’s denials that he avoided tax on any payments over £189,000 found in a Monaco account.
His acquittal alongside co-defendant Mandaric calls a close on a five-year £8 million police investigation which did not yield a single conviction.
Mandaric and former Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie were also cleared of £600,000 tax evasion claims at a previous trial, it can be reported for the first time.
Redknapp and Mandaric hugged as the jury cleared them of all counts.
Redknapp was at times moved to the verge of tears as the Crown alleged that he told a pack of lies in an attempt to get off the hook.
But jurors accepted Redknapp and Mandaric’s evidence that the Monaco account in the name of Redknapp’s dog, Rosie, was nothing to do with footballing matters.
The two-week trial at London’s Southwark Crown Court threatened to derail Redknapp’s progress at the pinnacle of his 30-year managerial career.
Having led Spurs through their most successful period in the Premier League era, the Londoner was tipped as the outstanding favourite to replace Fabio Capello as England manager this summer.
The verdicts mark the end of an exhaustive inquiry into football corruption by tax authorities and City of London Police.
Police began pursuing Redknapp in 2006 after he admitted having the Monaco account as he was questioned by the Quest inquiry into Premier League bungs.
The transactions took place as the pair squabbled over a transfer bonus Redknapp was due for the £3 million profit the club made on the sale of England striker Peter Crouch.
But the jury accepted Redknapp’s claim that he knew he was “morally but not legally” entitled to the cash.
A recorded telephone conversation between News of the World reporter Rob Beasley and the pair in 2009 was a pivotal element in the Crown’s case.
Redknapp telling Mr Beasley it was money for transfer bonuses was “the most compelling and important evidence”, prosecutor John Black QC said.
But defence barrister John Kelsey-Fry QC said the Sunday tabloid’s evidence was “primarily despicable”.
“I do not shrink from suggesting to you it is repugnant to all our basic instincts of fairness in the criminal justice process,” he said.
The case served up high courtroom drama over two weeks as one of the biggest names in English football appeared in the dock and gave an impassioned display in the witness box.
Redknapp attacked a detective for “staring” and shouted at prosecutor Mr Black: “You think I put my hand on the bible and told lies? That’s an insult, Mr Black, that’s an insult.”
Redknapp said he was “a fantastic football manager, not a hard-headed businessman” and had always paid too much taxes.
He also revealed that he had squandered millions in bad investments and had the writing ability of a two-year-old.
Serbian Mandaric, an entrepreneur behind a multibillion-dollar business empire, claimed he had paid £100 million in taxes during his time in football, adding: “Did I suddenly go crazy?”
Redknapp, of Poole, Dorset, first flew out to Monaco – a tax haven – in April 2002 to set up the account.
He did not tell investigators about Rosie 47 as tax officials investigated a £300,000 payment he received over Rio Ferdinand’s record-breaking transfer between West Ham United and Leeds.
But he voluntarily gave details of the Monaco account as he was questioned by the Quest inquiry.
Mandaric and Redknapp embraced in the dock as the verdicts were read out after five hours of deliberations.
Having lost the contract to fierce competitors IEC in Sports for 2010-13, The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has decided to revive its partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for distribution of major event media rights in Europe and Africa from 2014-17. The deal will cover all IAAF World Athletic Series competitions, including the World Athletics Championships in Beijing and London.
EBU President Jean-Paul Philippot said: “I am very pleased of the IAAF decision to become partner of the EBU again. It shows that the traditional strengths of the EBU combined with a new tailor-made servicing concept are more than ever strong assets for a sport federation like the IAAF. We are convinced this will enable the further development and promotion of athletics.”
Having lost out to commercial broadcaster Channel 4 for the rights to the 2011 and 2013 World Championships, EBU member the BBC announced that it had acquired rights for the 2015 and 2017 World Athletics Championship. BBC Sport director Barbara said: “We’re delighted the Championships are returning to the BBC. The 2017 Championships, taking place at the Olympic Stadium will be a huge moment for UK athletics, helping to deliver the Olympic legacy, and we’re thrilled to be bringing the event to our audiences.”
The London 2012 organising committee (Locog) will hit their target of completing the process of taking payment for Paralympic tickets by the end of October it has confirmed.
Ballots have now been completed across 117 price categories in 80 sessions. On 18 October, Locog will begin taking payments from Visa cards and cashing cheques and postal orders.
It is anticipated that more than 100,000 people will be allocated approximately 800,000 tickets to the Paralympic Games, meaning nine out of 10 applicants are likely to receive some or all of the tickets they applied for.
Locog CEO Paul Deighton said: ‘We were thrilled by the response to Paralympic Games tickets and since the application process closed our teams have been working hard to run the required ballots, ready to begin the process of taking payments and allocating tickets. We are on track to complete payments by the end of the month ready to inform people what tickets they have by 18 November.’
The application process for London 2012 Paralympic Games tickets ran between 9–26 September and saw unprecedented interest, with 116,000 people making applications for over 1.1 million tickets.
The remaining Paralympic Games tickets will go on sale on a first come, first served basis later this year
Following the news that the The International Cycling Union (UCI ) has asked the Spanish National Cycling Federation (RFEC) to open disciplinary hearings against Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, RFEC chief Juan Carlos Castaño has told Spanish sports daily Marca that he hopes the proceedings against Contador “go well” and has indicated that cycling’s governing body in Spain will treat the rider’s case like any other it may receive.
The rider’s press officer Jacinto Vidarte has expressed hope that he’ll be able to defend the charges.
Vidarte told Spanish media that the situation is “normal and what we expected”, explaining that the rider’s representatives will “submit all documents which show that [Contador’s case] was a clear case of food contamination.”
Contador has maintained that the presence of banned stimulant Clenbuterol in an anti-doping test sample obtained on the second rest day of this year’s Tour de France in Pau was the result of eating contaminated meat, hence the miniscule amount of substance in his system.
Upon further analysis in a German laboratory it was later discovered that Contador’s blood also contained minute levels of plasticisers found in blood bags, indicating the possible use of blood doping.
“The Federation’s official version is that it is a normal process as with any other records. It will analyse all the documentation that we have forwarded to the UCI and the Competition Committee will begin examining the process as usual,” Castaño explained.
“If the Committee decides to continue with the process, then we will contact the rider to open the file so that the athlete can present their arguments and documentation that may be necessary for his defense. We will contrast that with what the UCI has given us and thus expose the athlete, [after which we] will proceed to make a decision of record.”
Castaño added that the maximum time to process this case is three months and stated: “I would like [the case] to come out well, but now the Competition Committee has to study this and solve it the way it considers fair.”
The ISAF World Match Racing Tour (WMRT), sailing’s premier global match racing tour, has opened the bidding process for cities, regions and countries from around the globe to enter the race for the right to host a stage of sailing’s leading world series.
Recognised by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with special event status, WMRT is a professionally managed tour currently consisting of nine events worldwide. The Tour culminates in the crowning of a World Champion.
The bidding process, which will be managed by venue acquisition consultancy Regatta International, will see six new venues selected to join the Tour from the 2012-2013 seasons. The new venues will win the right to hold a World Championship stage, each lasting for 5 days.
Commenting on the opening of the bidding process, WMRT CEO Jim O’Toole commented, “The World Match Racing Tour is a well proven marketing platform for destinations wishing to showcase their facilities, infrastructure and organisational capacities, increase their international tourism profile and attract inward investment.”
“We are currently undergoing an intense period of expansion and are looking forward to partnering with venues who share our ambition. We have already fielded strong levels of interest from potential venues and by opening up the bidding process we’ll be requiring bidding venues to meet certain criteria.”
Regatta International’s Director Terry Newby said, “The World Match Racing Tour is already one of sailing’s most respected brands with outstanding events around the world. The opportunity to work with interested parties to develop the series to 15 stages by 2013 is a hugely exciting prospect.
The Scottish Premier League (SPL) looks set to expand following a meeting designed to improve Scottish football.
The current 12 clubs on Wednesday held the latest in a series of meetings designed to improve Scottish football.
Chief executive Neil Doncaster stressed that no format or system had yet been decided upon at the Hampden gathering.
But he told BBC: “The 12-team format is something that people perceive has possibly seen its best.”
Talks have been taking place for weeks between concerned chairmen, asthma who privately admit that drastic action is needed to give the top flight a boost.
And, if the majority get their way, the new-look SPL will welcome two new teams and become a division of 14 and will also include one automatic relegation spot, with the second bottom side facing a play-off involving the top three from the second tier.
“I am absolutely delighted at the contributions that are being made some big thinkers in Scottish football,” Doncaster told BBC Scotland.
“They are coming to the party, they are wanting to make a contribution and they want to help with the process of reaching a consensus.”
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has revealed he has lost Nike as a sponsor following his brawl with Daniel Cormier at a press conference.
During a Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing in Las Vegas, shop Jones, generic who brawled with Cormier during an Aug. 4 media event in the city, confirmed the loss of the sponsorship.
Jones, who appeared before the commission prior to Cormier’s hearing, mentioned the lost sponsorship when commissioners first asked him what he felt was an appropriate punishment. He said he was already feeling ramifications due to the loss of a deal.
“It was Nike,” Jones said.
Ofir Ventura, a lawyer for Jones, didn’t want to disclose the exact amount of the Nike deal but said it was “over six figures” per year.
“It’s pretty damaging if you really consider it,” said Ventura, who said he’s worked with Jones during the past four years.
Ventura also suggested the brawl cost the MMA star another six figure sponsorship deal but the potential sponsor was not named.
Nike became a sponsor of Jones in 2012.
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Squash Canada has unveiled the logo for the Women’s World Team Squash Championship 2014.
The World Squash Federation (WSF) championship will take place from 1-6 December at White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake in the Canadian province of Ontario.
The biennial Championship will feature the top female players on the planet representing their nations. Teams from every continent will participate and the Championship will serve as the Official Test Event for the 2015 Pan Am Games. The 2012 Championship, played in France, was won by Egypt and they will be seeking to repeat in the 2014 edition.
The 2014 Championship logo is a pictogram of a maple leaf comprised of 31 silhouettes of the leading female squash professionals from around the world. These silhouettes are based on the photography of Steve Cubbins of SquashSite and include such international luminaries as Malaysia’s world No1 Nicol David, England’s new world champion Laura Massaro, and Egyptian Raneem El Welily, all of whom are expected to be participating.
Squash Canada Executive Director Danny Da Costa said: “The Women’s World Team Squash Championship logo symbolizes national pride and illustrates female competitive excellence, which is the essence of the World Team Championship.”
Robert and Michael, of Pacey + Pacey Design of Vancouver, BC, designed the event logo: Their client list includes many squash associations and clubs including NY Squash, PSA, Squash BC and Squash Canada. Robert Pacey, an avid Canadian squash player, is the founder of Squash Republic.
WSF Chief Executive Officer Andrew Shelley added: “Championship logos are necessary, but can be very creative too – and this one is! These Canadian-hosted championships are going to raise the bar in many elements, and their event identity has just provided another example of the vitality and innovation that Squash Canada are bringing to the table.”
Rising golf prospect Xiyu Lin has signed a management and marketing representation deal with sports media agency, ed IMG.
Xiyu Lin (Janet Lin) is China’s second ranked player, behind fellow IMG Golf client, Major winner Shanshan Feng. Lin is the youngest player to win her Ladies European Tour card and came through the 2013 LPGA Qualifying School finishing in tied ninth position to claim her full card for the 2014 season. She is only the second Chinese golfer to hold her full LPGA card, once again following in the footsteps of the trail-blazing Shanshan Feng.
Record-breaking Xiyu Lin is a member of the China National Golf team and is the youngest winner on the China LPGA Tour, having already won three times.
Xiyu explained, “I am very excited to be joining IMG and am very much looking forward to the year ahead. I chose IMG because they manage so many of the players I admire – especially Shanshan Feng. I am very confident that they will be able to look after all of my on and off course interests as I compete all around the world.”
Guy Kinnings, Global Head of Golf, IMG, added, “We are delighted that Xiyu has chosen IMG as her management company. She is a very exciting young golfer with enormous potential and as IMG’s golf business in China continues to flourish, I believe we are extremely well placed to ensure all her professional and personal needs are met, both in China and by our global golf team.”
Xiyu Lin will be managed by Will Wei, Head of IMG China Golf.