Business of Sport
The show that takes you behind the scenes with the industry's biggest owners, operators and athletes. It's the game you don't see!
Episodes
THE BREAKDOWN: The Fall of Nike, Sydney Sweeney, & Infantino Consolidates his Power (E37)
In a week that has seen a bucket load of big sporting events and an equal amount of controversy, you won't be surprised to find out there is some heat in this show. The Ultimate Athletics Championships and Solheim Cup both delivered some serious entertainment over the weekend, emphasising the strength of women’s golf and proof that existing federations can create new IP and make it work. It’s
Maarten Paes: Ajax Goalkeeper on Investing While You’re Playing & Representing Indonesia (Ep137)
Maarten Paes plays for Ajax and the Indonesian national team as a goalkeeper, at least that is what most of the bios will say. What they won’t tell you is that alongside his career as a professional footballer, he is also building a career in business and investment, and the approach he has taken to making himself more than his performance on the pitch is a story we had to cover on the show.There
THE BREAKDOWN: The Champions League Is Back With BIG Money, Pietersen’s Miracle England Job, & The NFL’s Global Tour (E36)
We came into this week thinking not a lot had been happening. We got that wrong. LIV finally filed for bankruptcy, Kevin Pietersen made a miracle return to the England set up, the Champions League kicked off with an absolute treasure chest of cash to distribute to the participants, The NFL season begins which includes the first ever game in Australia…oh and Charlie fills us in on developments in t
James Haskell | “They Build You Up. Then They Crush You”: From Rugby to Reality (Ep136)
Athlete stories and their journeys beyond sport are a big part of this show. James Haskell is one of the most famous rugby players of the last 20 years, and much of that fame comes from the character he presents and profile he has alongside rugby. As you would expect, there is no filter applied to this chat. This is the real James, who came in ready to talk about rugby and the broader state of the
BONUS EPISODE | The Collapse of LIV Golf: From Golf’s Great Disruptor to Sport’s Biggest Failure
Charlie and Charlie take a deep dive into the rise and apparent collapse of LIV Golf, tracing the breakaway tour back to its ambitious launch in 2021 and the huge Saudi investment behind its attempt to challenge the PGA Tour. They examine the extraordinary financial packages offered to players, the appeal of guaranteed money and franchise equity, and why stars including Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koep
THE BREAKDOWN: The Premier League’s Bottomless Transfer Cash Pit, The US Open Returns with BIG Money, & Messi Retires from Argentina (E35)
A blockbuster show to bring you this week as we look at the end of the craziest transfer window on record, Messi’s retirement from international football, the US Open tennis, and LIV’s reported preparation for bankruptcy. Add to that the story of how a golf trip to Scotland left Charlie Jr in the back of an ambulance after a run in with a colony of wasps, and we have ourselves a breakdown.Disclaim
Barney Pascall: Rugby 7’s is Great Product BUT can it be Great Business (Ep135)
Today we introduce the sport of Rugby 7’s, as a brand new tournament, ‘Ultimate 7’s’ kicks off in Cardiff on 12th September. Managing Director Barney Pascall is backing a sport that speaks to a broad audience with a strong heritage to succeed as a business as well as a sporting product. Centralised team ownership, cost controls, venue selection to bring the best out of the first iteration without
THE BREAKDOWN: Celtic Rock Bottom, Football Clubs Have an Investment Problem, FedEX Cup Shows PGA TOUR’s Strength (E34)
It’s been a big week in the world of knockout interviews. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin sat down with Alastair Campbell from the Rest Is Politics to talk through the crazy few weeks at the top of football governance. What did he reveal and did we learn anything new? We’ll take a look at that alongside the football club market after Charlie suggested over half the football clubs in the EFL are
Vik Banerjee: The Hundred’s First Season of New Ownership, Big Sponsors, & What Comes Next (Ep134)
This week the time has come to review the latest season of The Hundred, the ECB’s flagship franchise cricket tournament that this year showcased its biggest changes yet: New owners, new kits, new sponsors and much more. But how did it perform? Managing Director of The Hundred Vik Banerjee rejoins me having appeared on the show when the franchises were being sold a couple of years ago to talk us th
THE BREAKDOWN: Walter & Boehly’s Rumoured Chelsea Exit, PFA Takes on the EFL, & The Meteoric Rise of Padel (E33)
Mark Walter and the fire sale of his sporting portfolio has dominated the news this week after he sold the LA Lakers for a record $12.5bn in 48 hours. Now with his stake in Chelsea reportedly up for grabs, what would it mean for the club who has had its fair share of ownership troubles in the last few years? Add to this a look the simmering tensions between the PFA and the EFL as cost controls and
Nikhil Mohindra: The €4bn Industry vs €25k Prize Money: Can Padel Fix it's Pay Problem (Ep133)
It’s padel week. 135 shows in, and the most requested sport gets its day. There couldn’t be a better person to take us through the world of a sport that has exploded in popularity over the last 10 years than Nikhil Mohindra. A Team GB professional who is also building a padel centre, running a foundation to bring padel to those who haven’t or can’t access it, creating content on his YouTube channe
THE BREAKDOWN: Does Bezos’s Money Matter to Liverpool, LIV Golf’s $300m Miracle, & The €4.2bn World of MotoGP (E32)
In the week where UEFA, CONCACAF & AFC clubbed together to inform FIFA and Infantino of their collective stance post privatisation scandal, we have to keep across what it means for football and its governance structures moving forward. Add to this a look at whether Jeff Bezos type wealth really matters in modern football ownership, how LIV has reportedly managed to convince anyone to invest up
Marc White: Meet the Owner who is also Manager | The Dorking Wanderers Story (Ep132)
Have you ever heard of the owner who’s the manager who’s been the CEO as well as the kitman? Well if you haven’t, you’re about to, and this is a serious conversation despite at times seeming comical when you read that out.Marc White founded Dorking Wanderers in 1999 with a group of friends in the lowest division of English football, 17 tiers below the Premier League. In the last few years, they ha
THE BREAKDOWN: Infantino isn’t the REAL Problem at FIFA, Staveley's West Ham Move Unpacked, & The Jockey Club Quit the RCA (E31)
After one of the most chaotic weeks in football, FIFA’s withdrawal of their privatisation plan would have been welcome news for virtually everyone, but what does that mean moving forward? Can Infantino cling to power? Does it actually matter when the real problem is the voting system? It’s time to look ahead as the dust settles just a little. Add to that a detailed look at West Ham’s ownership str
Brett Gosper: How the NFL Plans to Conquer the World (Ep131)
Finally we’ve taken the jump into the world of NFL as we welcome Brett Gosper to the show. The former CEO of World Rugby, Brett now heads the NFL in Europe and Asia Pacific, making this the perfect time to speak with him as there will be a record 9 matches hosted outside the US. It is also the perfect way for two Brits to get our feet under the table and get to grips with the business of the most
THE BREAKDOWN: FIFA Have Gone Too Far This Time, Is the Commonwealth Games Still Relevant, & Gaelic Football Madness (E30)
This week we had a really nice show schedule planned out, but after the incredible news of FIFA looking to sell off some of the World Cup ownership, it was inevitable that the main topic of this show would then shift to that.So it has been a last-minute change, but we will be doing our best with the information that we have to get stuck into probably what is the biggest football story since the Eu
Frank Smith: The Power of Matchroom & The Finances of Boxing (Ep130)
It’s another returning great this week as we welcome Matchroom Boxing & Talent Agency CEO Frank Smith back to the chair. Frank was show number 8 on Business of Sport, and a lot has happened since. On top of deciding the sweeping curtains should be replaced by a buzz cut, he has been front and centre of a first class Netflix series looking behind the curtain at Matchroom, organised some of the
THE BREAKDOWN: Has Football Finally Cracked America, The Story Behind Golf’s Hidden Superpower, & NRL’s $5.3bn Deal (E29)
The World Cup marathon has finally come to a close with Spain triumphing over Argentina while seeming to do the impossible, uniting the whole non-Argentine world behind one cause for the good of football, and that’s got nothing to do with me being a bitter Englishman. What about what has been happening off the pitch? What are the biggest business takeaways from the tournament. We’re not short of c
Seb Coe | New Formats, Athlete Pay, & The Post-Bolt Era: Rebuilding the Reputation of Athletics (Ep129)
In the week where Josh Kerr smashed the 27 year old mile record, we welcome into the studio the man who broke it 3 times, won multiple Olympic Gold Medals, brought the Olympics to London in 2012, and for the last decade has been President of World Athletics.Seb Coe is one of the most influential and respected executives in sport. He has certainly had one of the most diverse careers, and that gives
THE BREAKDOWN: The FA Need to Stand Up to FIFA, McCullum Gone & The Rise of Jannik Sinner (E28)
After a stacked weekend of World Cup and Wimbledon, The options this week were endless. But having touched on the misdemeanours of FIFA last week, we were inundated with messages on the role the FA have to play in Infantino’s Presidency, so it is time to take a proper look at the relationship between England & FIFA. Add to that an update on McCullum’s inevitable departure from the England test
Mirwan Suwarso: From Bankruptcy to Champions League in 9 Years | The Como Story (Ep128)
Como have gone from bankruptcy to the Champions League in 9 years. There aren’t many better headlines than that. Of course the next question is how have they done it? From Cesc Fabregas’s managerial excellence to building a club that is about more than football in one of the world’s most sought after locations, President Mirwan Suwarso gives us an insight unlike any we have had from a football exe
THE BREAKDOWN: Norway’s Talent Machine Unpacked, Silverstone’s Record Weekend, & NBA Europe’s Billion Dollar Bids (E27)
It’s all eyes on Norway ahead of a massive World Cup Quarter final against England, but how has a country of 5.5m people built a team capable of beating football’s biggest nations (look away Scotland). And guess what, it’s not just in football. Add to that a look at what it costs to host the biggest F1 races on the back of Silverstone’s record weekend and a check on the billion dollar franchise bi
Craig Tiley: Transforming the Australian Open, The Player Pay Debate & How Tennis Can Make More Money (Ep127)
In the summer weeks when tennis is front and centre, USTA CEO Craig Tiley joins us as tennis faces both a bucket load of major opportunities to take advantage of and challenges to overcome. Player pay, demanding audiences, (lack of) centralised governance, some of the biggest stars in global sport - you are balancing multiple plates to try and deliver for the players, the fans, and the businesses.
THE BREAKDOWN: AC Milan’s Multi Billion Gamble, The Power of the Tour de France, & Tennis Player’s Limp ‘Boycott’ (E26)
England are still alive at the World Cup, but only just, and as the tournament properly gets going, Thomas Tuchel’s big selection calls are starting to look a little more uncomfortable. We’ll get into that, before heading to Wimbledon where Serena Williams’ return gave the tournament the talking point it probably needed, and the players’ prize money protest raises the obvious question: if you’re g
Colin Graves: From £25m in Debt to £15m in the Bank: How The Hundred Saved Yorkshire (Ep126)
County cricket. This is long overdue. If we wanted to do this properly, the was really only one place to start, so I’m delighted to welcome Colin Graves to the show. Colin has held positions at the top of international and domestic cricket as Chair of the ECB and Yorkshire, a role he was re-elected to in 2024 as the club faces some of the biggest decisions in its storied history.The stark reality
THE BREAKDOWN: Man United’s Spiralling Debt, FIFA Claim 99% Attendance Record & Why Has Serena Williams Returned (E25)
With two weeks of edge of your seat football, it’s fair to say that the World Cup is delivering on the pitch. But what about all the noise around tickets and pricing and non-football exploits that dominated the news pre-tournament? Time to check in on that, alongside Serena Williams incredible return to Wimbledon in the singles draw at 44, Ben Stokes being back in the fold for the final test with
Monty Panesar: From Bowling Tendulkar & Saving Ashes Tests to the Challenge of Life After Cricket (Ep125)
Today we’re delighted to welcome Monty Panesar to the show. A brilliant servant to English cricket, Monty played 50 Test matches for his country, took Sachin Tendulkar as his first Test wicket, became the first Sikh to play Test cricket for England, and of course pulled off The Great Escape with Jimmy Anderson in Cardiff in 2009, one of the great modern Ashes memories.But what made Monty stand out
THE BREAKDOWN: Burnley’s £35m Win Opens the Floodgates, F1 on Water is Making it’s Mark, & The World Cup is Great (E24)
What a start to the World Cup. What was all the fuss about? As often happens, football seems to have taken over from the outside which is what everyone wanted to see, but we’ll give it another week before reviewing the ticketing and commercial delivery we couldn’t stop talking about in the run up. It is the turn of Burnley and Everton to take the limelight after the landmark £35m compensation ruli
Liam Scully: The Story of Lincoln City’s Promotion Miracle (Ep124)
When we sit down with football club CEO’s, we hear about plans, ambitions, challenges, expectations. These are some of the most scrutinised jobs you could wish for, a privilege but also a huge responsibility. When Lincoln City shocked football this season, in what could only be described as romping to the League One title and therefore promotion to the Championship, getting their excellent CEO Lia
THE BREAKDOWN: FIFA’s Big World Cup Mistake, Horse Racing’s Civil War & England Cricket at it Again (E23)
Huge news this week. It’s Charlie’s birthday, his 50th he’ll be happy for me to tell you, not that that is a surprise for those of you who are watching this; the studio got an impressive one day makeover. As his present, we let him dive back into the world of horse racing and deliver another knockout segment as Epsom and Ascot fill the sporting calendar. Add to this the long awaited start of the W
Jean-Éric Vergne: How To Recover From Losing Your F1 Seat (Ep123)
We’re back to four wheels today as we welcome Jean-Éric Vergne to the studio. JEV, as he is known in the world of motorsport, has seen it all in a career that has spanned F1, Formula E and Le Mans to name but a few. He raced in 51 Grand Prix’s as part of the Red Bull Racing family with Toro Rosso and is Formula E’s only double world champion.Now JEV is not known for being reserved with his opinion
THE BREAKDOWN: Should the Olympics Pay Athletes, The Problem Facing Women’s Football, & F1 Lands Another Mega Deal (E22)
It’s a huge week so let’s go. Athlete pay. We haven’t been able to escape it in recent weeks and with IOC President Kirsty Coventry’s recent comments suggesting there would be no change to her stance on athletes earning money at the Olympics, we go head first into the why and what should happen when an organisation that generation generates €8 billion euros in revenue per cycle and doesn’t pay the
Kieran Gibbs: Arsenal’s Title Win, The Bitcoin Salary & Moving to Beckham’s Miami (Ep122)
An Arsenal icon in the seat this week at the perfect time to reflect on the incredible season The Gunners have had despite their Champions League final loss. Kieran Gibbs played 229 Games for Arsenal, won 3 FA Cups, lived that late Wenger years, Emirates transition, and the balance between opportunity and pressure that comes with playing for one of the top teams in Europe.That’s what we know him f
THE BREAKDOWN: Premier League Winners & Losers, Enhanced Games Makes Its Entrance, & The World of Rugby League (E21)
With the Premier League coming to a close and with it, the hypotheticals we’ve been talking about for the last few months becoming reality, it’s time to look at the real winners and losers from this season. Who has performed to expectation based on money spent and who is well short of it? You’ll guess a few. Add to that a look at Rugby League ahead of the Challenge Cup Final (this is the most requ
Kyle Edmund: “When you’re 13 you DON’T really understand the call you’re making” (Ep121)
As the tennis summer gets going, we’re delighted to welcome Kyle Edmund to the show. Former British number one, world number 14, Grand Slam semi finalist, two ATP titles; there are some serious achievements to put to Kyle’s name. That and of course the aura that comes with playing in one of the greatest eras tennis has seen.Having retired last year at the age of 30 after years battling serious inj
THE BREAKDOWN: Does County Cricket Have a Future, ‘Small’ Clubs Are Outsmarting The Elite & Chelsea’s Alonso Move (E20)
What a week. If you’re here for a bit of Spygate, we released a bonus show yesterday just on that topic. When we recorded this, the outcome hadn’t been confirmed. But what we did have is a huge week of topics to catch up on, from Alonso joining Chelsea to Salah throwing Slot under the bus again to Jannik Sinner winning the Masters Golden Slam. Add to this a long awaited look at county cricket in E
SPYGATE SPECIAL | The Full Impact of Southampton’s Playoff Disqualification
The Spygate scandal has rocked the Championship playoffs. In a special emergency episode of ‘The Breakdown’, Charlie & Charlie unpack Southampton’s expulsion, the legal drama, the impact on fans and players, and what it means for the integrity of English football.Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry.
Tymal Mills: From Nearly Retiring at 22 to a Mega IPL Deal & OnlyFans Partnerships (Ep120)
Today we’re delighted to welcome Tymal Mills to the show. One of the fastest bowlers to grace cricket, Tymal has had a fascinating career. Forced to specialise as a T20 player because of injury, much of his career has been spent touring the world playing franchise cricket.He is World Cup winner with England, the leading wicket taker in The Hundred, one of the most expensive IPL buys in history, an
THE BREAKDOWN: What’s Going on at Real Madrid & Tennis Players Threaten Grand Slam STRIKE (E19)
This week, it is two huge topics that dominate the discussion. For those of you with a passion for football, the chaos engulfing Real Madrid at the moment on multiple fronts will no doubt have caught your attention. From the 70m signatures on a petition to remove Mbappe from the club to the Tchouameni/Valverde fight that ended up in hospital, not to mention the return of Jose Mourinho, there is a
From Running Man United Women to Becoming a CEO in the EFL | Polly Bancroft, Grimsby Town (Ep119)
Today, we are delighted to welcome one of the very few female CEO’s in the English Football League. Polly Bancroft spearheads the Grimsby Town revolution that has seen the club thrive across the board, currently vying for a place in the League Two play-off final. We recorded this a few days before the disappointing 2-1 first-leg loss of Grimsby’s play-off semi final with Salford, but it’s still al
THE BREAKDOWN: West Ham on the Brink, Are Sports Teams Just Brands & The WNBA’s Big Cash Play (E18)
After a bucket load of requests, it’s time to talk about West Ham. I’ve been nervous about discussing them because I didn’t want to inflict the Breakdown curse and condemn them to relegation, but their situation on the pitch when reviewed against the wider business needs discussing. I think they’ve been getting off lightly. Add to that a look at what happens when a sports executive dares to sugges
Tom Tainton: The Plan to Win The Prem, The Ilona Maher Effect & Building a Modern Rugby Club: Bristol Bears CEO (Ep118)
This week we welcome Bristol Bears CEO Tom Tainton to the show. With a new league structure recently announced and some high profile investments across the Prem, this is a great time to talk rugby and look at one of the top clubs pushing for their first title, to take them to the next level.Now since we recorded this show last week, there has been a lot of blowback from some fans and media based o
THE BREAKDOWN: F1 is Back, The Craziest Promotion of All Time & How the Sub-2 Marathon Shows Athletics’ Big Problem (E17)
After a huge week of golf and snooker last time out, we’re breaking more new ground this week. The sub two hour marathon; it’s finally been achieved in an official race when Sebastian Sawe won the London Marathon at the weekend. But do the athletes achieving these feats get the recognition they deserve? As is there a broader problem facing athletics as fights for attention in the most competitive
From Selecting Clubs to Signing Deals: Football’s Hidden Partnership | Chris Richards, Crystal Palace & Alan Redmond, Roc Nation (Ep117)
Player & Agent; we’ve been targeting a show like this for years, and today we bring it to you. This relationship is one of the most important in sport, but shrouded in mystery and hear say, often not portraying either side in the best light.You can put that all aside today. Crystal Palace centre back and the USA’s Men’s Player of the Year Chris Richards joined us with his agent Alan Redmond to
THE BREAKDOWN: LIV on the Brink, The Premier League’s Big End of Season Showdown, & Snooker Back in the Big Time (E16)
Spoiler alert, while I’m recording this after Liam Rosenior got the sack from Chelsea, we recorded the show just before the 3-0 defeat to Brighton. For those of you familiar with the show you’ll not be surprised by my sentiments: what a shambles! I’m not too upset we don’t get to talk about it today because what more is there to be said other than, yes he blew a big chance to succeed, but the deci
Tom Burwell: How Sunderland Have Positioned Themselves for Premier League Success (Ep116)
A huge show for you today with a Premier League club flying high in their first season back at the top. Sunderland have had a difficult and well documented 10 years, but under the ownership of Kyril Louis Dreyfus and the Bia Sports team, the good times are coming back. Tom Burwell has taken over as interim CEO as the club plan the next phase of this growth story. He delivers one of the most impres
THE BREAKDOWN: There’s NO Excuse if Arsenal Collapse & Why Women’s Rugby is Nailing its Development (E15)
What a weekend of sport it was last week. Rory’s Masters triumph, Grand National bashing for the bookies, Premier League blown wide open, and Championship relegation heating up with the Scottish title race. Dialling in, it’s Arsenal who are in the sights this week, and I knew they would be at 2:30pm on Saturday when they were booed off the pitch while 9 points clear in the Prem having lost 2-1 to
John Grabowski: KSI, Andy Carroll, & The Dagenham & Redbridge Revival (Ep115)
Dagenham & Redbridge has been all over the footballing news in recent weeks. A takeover fronted by John Grabowski and Happy Fan Group saw KSI come on board as a minority owner while Andy Carroll has been enjoying his time both on the pitch and in the dugout. Therefore this was never going to be your normal football club conversation.Non-League football in the UK is highly competitive. There is
THE BREAKDOWN: Italian football in Crisis, is the Grand National losing it’s magic, & Chelsea break ANOTHER unwanted record (E14)
Today it’s the turn of Italian football to take the spotlight. To say it has been a disappointing week for Italy would be an understatement. Missing out on their third World Cup in a row is quite incredible for the four time champions. But why is this happening? What is the root cause? Because this is now more than a blip. Add to this a dive back into horse racing ahead of Grand National weekend a
Maheta Molango: Pay, Calendar & Injuries: The Consequences of Football’s Exploitation (Ep114)
I’m so pleased to have finally got this guest in studio with us. When we first recorded with the PFA CEO Maheta Molango, it as over broken wifi at a conference in South Africa two and half years ago. Despite that, it was one of the best shows we have done. We wanted to bring this to properly though, and therefore we all agreed it was time to get the man that is in charge of the interests of all cu
THE BREAKDOWN: Eddie Hearn vs Dana White, The Crazy Business of The Masters & Tottenham Are At It Again (E13)
We come in this week with both some fresh material and some topics, well one in particular, we just can’t stay away from. For the fresh takes, it’s a look at the bubbling story engulfing the boxing world as Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren take on Dana White and his Saudi backed Zuffa boxing. It’s then the turn of the most mental business model in sport and we break down the Masters millions that they
“We don’t need F1 to Fail for Formula E to be Successful” | Jeff Dodds, Formula E CEO (Ep113)
Motorsport, you can’t escape it (well it certainly feels like that at the moment). But what about the newest addition to the global calendar. What do you know about Formula E, the fully electric powered racing championship? With F1’s new hybrid regulations coming into play this year, combining the traditional combustion engine with an electric power unit, the talk round electric racing has never b
THE BREAKDOWN: What Salah’s Departure Tells Us About Liverpool, Another Chelsea Scandal & Key and McCullum Survive (E12)
I feel like we have a month’s worth of news that has happened since we last recorded. Mo Salah’s departure announcement, yet more Chelsea punishment, Brendon McCullum’s continuation as England Head Coach, Spurs going deeper into the relegation pit; where do we even start. Don’t worry, we’ll be taking a look at all of this in some capacity, but the Mo Salah news and what it tells us about Liverpool
Pat Cummins: Winning the Ashes, Magic of the IPL & The Art of Bowling in a Batters Era (Ep.112)
One of the Business of Sport greats returns. It was too painful to do this just after the Ashes, but with time the ever effective healer, and with the IPL kicking off this week, what better moment to get Pat Cummins back in the seat.When Pat first came on before the 2023 Ashes, the conversation ranged from how they’d deal with the new style of cricket England were bringing to the test scene, while
THE BREAKDOWN: Football’s Leadership Problem, US/Iran War’s Sporting Impact & The $1BN College Sports Tournament (E11)
After Charlie’s epic run through of the horse racing industry, the pressure is on to deliver this week. With F1 race cancellations and continued speculation on Iran’s World Cup participation, it feels like the right time to look at the impact of the war on the sporting calendar. We’re also at the crazy time of the season where manager hiring and firings dominate the headlines, so a look at the imp
Carlos Ezpeleta: The Plan to Grow MotoGP , Marc Marquez's Impossible Championship, & Multimillion Team Sales (Ep.111)
MotoGP has hundreds of millions of die hard fans, has an excellent commercial model, some of the most talented sportspeople in the business, and now Liberty Media, the owners of F1, have arrived to try and bring a true global business to this already powerful sporting property. This is an awesome conversation looking into one of the great sports that you may not know much about. Carlos Ezpeleta is
THE BREAKDOWN: Celtic Complacency Exposed, Return of Christian Horner & Is Horseracing Sport’s Biggest Business? (E10)
This is a big week. Charlie is about to deliver a masterclass. Horse racing; it’s not my expertise, and may not be yours. But stick with us. His evaluation of the UK’s second biggest sport and one that has a huge global footprint is truly fascinating, just in time for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. You won’t be disappointed.It’s the turn for Scottish football to have its moment in the sun, looking at a
Julia Chapman: Winning Titles, Controlled Spending & The Henry Pollock Effect | The Northampton Saints Story (Ep110)
There couldn’t be a better time to have this chat. After the big news that Prem Rugby is set to embrace a franchise type model, we welcome Northampton Saints CEO Julia Chapman to the show.There is so much to unpick from this: what does it mean for the individual clubs? What opportunities does it offer the players? How will it impact the core business model? But there is also a huge amount to look
THE BREAKDOWN: Chelsea’s Record Financial Loss, Aston Martin In Big Trouble, PREM Rugby’s Franchise Move (E09)
It’s the turn of Chelsea to take the footballing spotlight today, as we take a deeper look at the implications of UEFA’s report showing a loss of £355m this year. How has this happened and what does it mean for the future?Follow that up with a look at the very exciting Prem Rugby franchising move and the start of the F1 season (with a particular focus on the Aston Martin chaos that seems to be unf
The Business of International Football: Inside the Welsh Football Revolution | Noel Mooney (Ep.109)
Noel Mooney is the CEO of the Welsh FA. So, what does it take to run an international football organisation? It’s a question I’ve wanted to ask from day one, and today we get to. It has been a great few years for Welsh football. Multiple tournament appearances including an iconic 2016 Euro semi final, superstar players like Gareth Bale, a team which at the moment looks like one of the most togethe
THE BREAKDOWN: Eileen Gu & The Politics of Sport, Pakistan’s Hundred Challenge & Referees vs VAR (E08)
Some huge football topics in the last few weeks and an amazing response to both the Spurs and Leicester situations which unfortunately for both do not look like they’re improving. However it’s the turn of Eileen Gu to stand tall this week, and after more gleeful messages than I can relay, an inevitable review of the rumoured boycotting of Pakistan players by Indian owned Hundred franchises. Add to
Matt Richards: The Financial Reality of Becoming Olympic Champion (Ep.108)
Matt Richards is a double Olympic Champion and silver medallist in the pool, winning a historic back to back relay title and falling agonisingly short of individual gold in the 200m freestyle (2 hundredths of a second to be precise). And that won’t be the end of it; LA28 is firmly in his sights.At the age of 23, he has achieved more than most will in their whole career. You would think as an Olymp
THE BREAKDOWN: The Real Cost if Spurs Get Relegated, The Price of Winter Olympics Gold, Vinicius Jr Racism Storm (E07)
This week it’s a balance of fact and hypothetical. The deep dive into Leicester’s concerning situation last week received an amazing response, and with it many requests to look at what would happen if the ever shortening odds of Spurs inconceivably going down paid out. So that’s what we’ll do! It was Charlie’s turn to suffer from the sniffles so bare with him; he’s still his usual self don’t worry
Anthony Watson on Rugby’s BIG Problem: Player Welfare vs A Global Game (Ep.107)
After numerous shows with players from Wales, New Zealand, South Africa, France, we have ourselves an England international. And what a way to kick off the red rose association.Anthony Watson is one of the game’s biggest names over the last decade. He broke onto the scene young, played over 50 times for England, a double British & Irish Lion, and retired by 30. Injury prevented him from achiev
THE BREAKDOWN: Are Leicester in REAL Trouble, The Glazer’s Billion $ IPL Move, & The NBA’s European Dream (E06)
What a show we have for you this week. Leicester’s points deduction for breaching financial regulations is a big problem, but is there something far worse going on? In short, Charlie expertly takes us through how a football club goes bankrupt. Add to that the Glazer’s IPL ambitions and some excellent conversation on whether NBA Europe will get off the ground (which includes some excellent statemen
Claire Williams: “They’ve Ripped up the Rulebook” | Is F1 About to be Flipped on its Head? (Ep.106)
It’s a return to the chair for one of our greatest guests, and what a time to do it. When Claire Williams came to see you in 2024 she delivered an account of Williams and the recent sale that few had heard. Today, we look forward. As the new season approaches, teams have had to deal with some of the biggest regulatory changes in the sport’s history. Are we about to see F1 flipped on its head? With
THE BREAKDOWN: Super Bowl & The Power of The NFL, Baller League Warning Signs, Winter Olympics Fights for Superstars (E05)
We break new ground this week. A couple of English guys taking a look at what makes the NFL so powerful on Super Bowl week. Add that to a review of challenger football leagues after Baller League paused their tournament in Germany and a look ahead to the Winter Olympics, and we have ourselves a breakdown!
Inside The Six Nations: How Rugby is Changing…For the Better | Tom Harrison, Six Nations CEO (Ep.105)
The Six Nations is upon us. With the tournament kicking off this Thursday in Paris, CEO Tom Harrison stopped by to give us a rare insight into how the tournament operates behind the scenes. As the former CEO of the ECB, Tom has a lot of experience when it comes to operating in top sporting organisations. The key focus here was how rugby continues to disrupt, adapt and protect its heritage while ex
THE BREAKDOWN: Indian Cricket Oversteps Again, English Football's Big Money Problem & Rugby's TikTok Dreams (E04)
There are some big stories to look at this week: politically, commercially and socially charged. Coming up? The uncompromising behavior of Indian cricket and the chaos that has surrounded Bangladesh’s removal from the T20 World Cup asks some serious questions of the other major cricketing nations. Are English football clubs falling behind their biggest European rivals off the pitch? What does a he
Rob Smethurst: The Resurrection of Macclesfield; From Bankruptcy to the FA Cup’s Greatest Upset (Ep.104)
It had to be done. It was the greatest upset in FA Cup history when Macclesfield beat holders Crystal Palace a couple of weeks ago. 117 places between the two teams in the football pyramid. But there is much more to the story than that result. A club that went out of business six years ago. An owner who was in the depths of addiction when he bought the club, now delivering one of the great footbal
THE BREAKDOWN: Glasner’s Moment of Madness, Manager vs Medical Staff, Tennis’s Pay Problem, & The F1 Livery Goldmine (E03)
It’s a big show this week. So much to cover, a fight as always to keep it to the point. Managers are back on the menu as we take a look at the ongoing discussion on whether power of selection should like with the head coach or the medical department. That inevitably feeds into a quick look at the chaos unleashed by Oliver Glasner in the media last weekend. It’s then the turn of tennis to celebrate
Petr Cech: “Not One Manager Was Fired Because They Weren’t Good Enough”; Chelsea’s Win At All Costs Mentality (Ep103)
Elite athletes who have achieved everything in their sport while building a career alongside; it’s the ambition many sports stars have today. But how do you do it effectively? Petr Cech is a footballing legend, and I don’t use that term lightly. Four Premier League titles, a Champions League, record for the most Premier League clean sheets, and hugely respected as one of the most dedicated and att
THE BREAKDOWN: Football’s Media Rights Reckoning, Darts Goes Mainstream & Rugby’s Identity Crisis (E02)
Another huge week to dissect today with a quick look back at how one of the stories in particular has developed from last week. Today it’s the turn of the chaotic world of media rights after DAZN pulled out of another league deal in Belgium, the rise of darts (at your request) and how the sport has transformed to get to where it is today, and rugby; in the wake of the challenger league R360 delayi
The Real Finances of a Footballer: What Goes on Behind the Headlines | Matt Smith (Ep.102)
We think we know what the financial world of a footballer looks like. But the reality is very different. There is much more to understand than the salaries that media outlets publish like football scores. And if we’re honest, it’s never done to encourage a positive response. So what is the financial reality that faces some of sports most influential stars? Matt Smith played over 500 games in the F
THE BREAKDOWN: Amorim & Maresca Escape The Chaos, Is LIV On The Verge of Collapse & The Real Reason England Lost The Ashes (E01)
Hello and welcome to our brand new show, The Breakdown. I’m Charlie Stebbings, and joining me on this ride is legendary sports executive Charlie Methven. With his boundless energy and unfiltered opinions, and my carefully constructed guiding influence, we’ll bring you the rundown on the week’s biggest sporting business stories. For the first show, we’re extending the timeframe slightly to cover wh
Why Revolut Are Investing In F1: Antoine Le Nel (Ep.101)
What does it cost for the biggest brands to sponsor the biggest sports? Why do they do it? How do they choose what to put their name to?The money behind sport is a primary feature of the show, but it’s normally from the perspective of the sports property. How big a sponsorship can Liverpool attract and what does it do to the bottom line. So to kick off the new year, we thought we’d change that. An
How Money Shapes Football: Transfers, Contracts and Power Dynamics | The Review
Over the past year, we’ve gone inside football’s boardrooms, dressing rooms and balance sheets. This episode brings the most revealing moments together in one place.Welcome to The Business of Sport: Football Review.Across this compilation, we bring together the best moments from our recent football conversations to explore how money really shapes the game. From transfer fees and player contracts t
Inside F1: Winning Championships, Rebuilding Williams, & The World of Guenther Steiner | The Review
Today, we’re doing something a little different. Welcome to the Business of Sport: F1 Review.Over the past year, we’ve sat down with some of the most influential figures in Formula One. Team principals, world champions, and senior leaders shaping the sport behind the scenes. For this episode, we’ve handpicked the best moments from those conversations and brought them together into one definitive F
Peter Moore: Becoming Liverpool CEO, The Mo Salah Situation, & Why Klopp’s The Modern Day Shankly (Ep.100)
Today, we’re going headfirst back into the world of the tier one football executive. Peter Moore is the former CEO of Liverpool, the man who oversaw the clubs return to the top of English and European football. Working alongside Jurgen Klopp from 2017-2020, this was one of the most effective ‘performance x business’ relationships in modern football. How do you win on the pitch and build value off
Bryan Habana: From World Cup Win to Family Betrayal, The Rebirth Of The Springboks, Why Rugby HAS To Change (Ep.99)
Today we welcome a true sporting legend. Bryan Habana is a 100+ cap Springbok, a World Champion and joint highest tryscorer in Rugby World Cup history, a man who races cheetahs. As I’m sure you’ve noted this is our longest show yet. That is because it’s also one of the best. Rugby sits at the heart of it, but the personal stories bring a side to an elite athlete we rarely see. There are moments in
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