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Futbol

Chelsea Report 128.4m Profit After Sale Of Women's Team

Chelsea have reported a pre-tax profit of £128.4m in their financial results for the year ending June 2024. The figure was an improvement on the first full year under the ownership of Todd Boehly's Clearlake Capital consortium, in which the Premier League club announced pre-tax losses of £90.1m. Chelsea's overall revenue fell from £512.5m in 2023 to £468.5m, which the club attributed to the absence of Champions League football for their men's side. The club credited the profit to the "disposal of player registrations" worth £152.5m and the "repositioning" of their highly successful women's team. Chelsea announced a restructuring and a long-term strategic plan for the women's team in May 2024 which saw them sold to become a standalone business from the men's side while remaining a part of the club owners' wider portfolio. Chelsea said matchday revenue increased to £80.1m for its financial year, from £76.5m in the previous results. Commercial revenue also increased from £210.1m in 2023 to £225.3m due to "an increase in player loan income and strong sales of non-matchday activities". Chelsea's statement on Monday pointed to how the club improved their financial health, avoiding breaking Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR). The position was strengthened in the previous financial results by the sale of two hotels by Chelsea FC Holdings Ltd to BlueCo 22 Properties Ltd, a deal between companies under the control of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital ownership. That £76.5m sale meant Chelsea made a loss of £89.9m instead of £166.4m in their 2022-23 accounts. Chelsea may have made an even greater gain with the sale of the women's team to BlueCo, with that 2024 transaction worth either part or all of the £198.7m "profit on disposal of subsidiaries" mentioned in the club accounts. Without that, Chelsea may have made a significant loss. In a season without European football, the club again made substantial player purchases while not having a front-of-shirt sponsor. Only when the full financial results are released on Companies House will it be absolutely clear what impact the women's team transaction has made. Chelsea's strategy is entirely within Premier League rules. Uefa has more stringent rules and it remains to be seen whether European football's governing body considers any action. Chelsea believe their move benefits the women's team, which is gaining investment while a separate entity.

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Futbol

Who Is Man City FA Cup Hero Nico O'Reilly?

"He's going to play in the semi-final, for sure," said Pep Guardiola after Nico O'Reilly saved Manchester City's FA Cup skins for the second round in a row. The City manager may have been half-joking - with the words accompanied by a huge smile and laugh - but 20-year-old O'Reilly has certainly added to his growing reputation. O'Reilly, who has yet to start a Premier League game, came off the bench at half-time to assist two goals in Sunday's 2-1 comeback win at Bournemouth. In the previous round he scored twice as they came from behind to beat Plymouth 3-1. O'Reilly also netted in the 8-0 win over Salford in round three. BBC Sport looks at the youngster's career. O'Reilly joined City as an eight-year-old, having also been scouted by Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton. He signed his first professional contract in July 2022, alongside 10 other players, including Rico Lewis. In 2022-23 O'Reilly made headlines with two remarkable goals in the Under-18 Premier League - a stoppage-time scorpion kick winner against Middlesbrough and 40-yard strike against Manchester United - and ended the season as an unused sub for the first team against Brighton. Last season his development was hindered by injury but he still scored from near the halfway line for City's under-23 team against Nottingham Forest. In the summer he impressed Guardiola on City's pre-season tour of the United States - and started the Community Shield win over Manchester United. O'Reilly has played in the Premier League and Champions League from the bench this season and started in the Carabao Cup - but his headline acts have been in the FA Cup. With three goals and two assists in four games, only Exeter's Josh Magennis has been involved in more FA Cup proper goals this season. Anyone coming through the academy at a Guardiola club would be best placed to be flexible - and 6ft 2in O'Reilly matches that description. He is a midfielder - and an attacking midfielder at that - by trade. City's website says he is "able to operate in a number of attacking positions". Yet in pre-season, with Rodri absent, O'Reilly featured as a defensive midfielder alongside Mateo Kovacic in a friendly against Barcelona - in which he scored - and against United in the Community Shield. O'Reilly played as a centre-back against Salford and as a left-back when he replaced Abdukodir Khusanov at half-time against Bournemouth. O'Reilly enjoyed a huge amount of joy down the left, with a cross to assist Erling Haaland and pass to play in Omar Marmoush. BBC chief football news reporter Simon Stone said: "He had his contract updated in 2023 but there are likely to be talks about an improved deal in light of recent performances. "There was interest from Chelsea in the winter window but never close." Had O'Reilly, who is under contract until 2028, joined Chelsea, he would have followed fellow City academy product Cole Palmer. Palmer has scored 39 goals in 78 games and become an England regular since his 2023 move. O'Reilly spoke to BBC Sport after his man-of-the-match performance on Sunday. "My instructions were to get involved as much as I can - in the attacking phase and securing the defending phase," he said. "It was good to get the contributions with the two assists. I was buzzing. "Towards the start it was a bit challenging because I've not really played there, but I know what I need to do there and I'm just buzzing I can play. "I'm just grateful for the opportunities I get from the manager and to play with the players who are out there." After the Bournemouth game Guardiola said: "Against Plymouth he scored two goals. Today he made the assists. "He's a number 10, we cannot forget. But he has the pace, he is so intelligent and quality with the ball. "In the final third he has vision. He played really good and had an impact." City midfielder Bernardo Silva said: "He was unbelievable. "Against Plymouth he showed the impact he can have on the game and the energy he brought today changed the game. That's what we need." City play Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals at Wembley in late April. It may not have been a serious promise from Guardiola, but it seems likely that O'Reilly will feature at some stage. No player remaining in the FA Cup has more goals than his three this season.

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News_Naija

Shooting Slip As Remo Edge Closer To Title

Remo Stars edged closer to their maiden Nigeria Premier Football League title on matchday 34, with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Shooting Stars at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Sunday, The PUNCH reports. The Sky Blue Stars have been impressive in their bid for glory, and this result keeps them at the top of the table with 65 points, moving them ever closer to earning the league win. Their success on the road has been crucial, with this being their first away win over Shooting Stars in 10 NPFL head-to-head meetings. Alex Oyowah’s goal, his third opener of the season, came in the 31st minute, and it proved enough to get all three points for the Daniel Ogunmodede’s side. On the other hand, this was a disappointing result for the Oluyole Warriors, who suffered their first home loss of the season, leaving only Remo Stars and Enyimba unbeaten at home in the NPFL. Remo Stars’ pursuit of their maiden league title is now increasingly promising, with just four matches remaining. They are firmly in control of their destiny, with a healthy seven point lead over second-placed Rivers United, who also earned a 1-0 victory over Sunshine Stars, courtesy of Abba Suleiman’s late goal in the 84th minute to move them to 58 points. In other results, Plateau United edged Akwa United 1-0, with Vincent Temitope’s 23rd-minute strike proving to be the difference. Ikorodu City snatched a 1-1 draw in Maiduguri against El-Kanemi Warriors, while a penalty from Sunday Williams in the 38th minute helped Tornadoes draw 1-1 with Bayelsa United. Lobi Stars lost 2-4 to Rangers, with Williams Wonah and Godwin Obaje both on the scoresheet for the Flying Antelopes. Meanwhile, Katsina United produced a memorable 5-1 win over Abia Warriors to record their biggest NPFL victory since their return to the league in 2017. Abia Warriors’ poor performance saw them concede five goals for the fourth time in NPFL history, the highest number they have conceded in a single match. As the season heads into its final stretch, attention turns to matchday 35, which could have implications in the relegation survival, title and continental chase. Plateau United will face Bendel Insurance, while Nasarawa United meet Heartland. Kwara United will take on relegated Lobi Stars, and defending champions Rangers International are set to face Enyimba in blockbuster Oriental derby. Kano Pillars host Rivers United, while Sunshine Stars play Katsina United. Abia Warriors will battle Shooting Stars, and Remo Stars look to extend their lead as they host Niger Tornadoes in Ikenne. Bayelsa United face El-Kanemi Warriors, and Akwa United meet Ikorodu City. After 340 games played, the numbers tell the story of an action-packed season. Home teams have claimed 209 victories, while away sides have pulled off 38 wins, and 93 matches have ended in a draw. A total of 672 goals have been scored, with 473 coming from the home team’s side and Abubakar Garba’s opener in Benin for Nasarawa United being the 200th from visiting teams. The first half of the season saw 320 goals, but the second half has been even more exciting, with 353 goals flying in.  

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Worldnews

IMF Warns Trump Tariffs Are Fuelling Uncertain Global Economic Outlook

Economists at JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs recently echoed concerns about global financial uncertainty, saying a recession is more likely. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says that US President Donald Trump’s tariffs have increased global financial stability risks. This warning was part of the IMF’s Global Financial Stability Report released on Tuesday, as world financial leaders meet in Washington to discuss the uncertainty caused by the tariff policies. The IMF pointed out that Trump’s tariff rate surged past levels reached during the Great Depression, which saw tariffs rise as high as 60 percent during one of the worst economic periods in modern history, a downturn that led to more than 12 million Americans losing their jobs. The global ripple effect took the spotlight in the IMF’s report. “Global financial stability risks have increased significantly, driven by tighter global financial conditions and heightened economic uncertainty,” the IMF said. The fund projects a slump in US economic growth at 1.8 percent for the year — a downturn from its previous forecast of 2.7 percent and down a full percentage point from this time last year. China is also forecast to grow more slowly because of imposed US tariffs, looming additional tariffs on goods including pharmaceuticals, and Beijing’s reciprocal tariffs on US goods. The IMF now expects it will expand 4 percent in 2025, which is more than a half-point decrease from previous forecasts. In Europe, the IMF forecasts that the 20-country eurozone will see 0.8 percent growth this year and 1.2 percent in 2026. The new report is a 0.2 percent decline from its forecast at the beginning of the year. The IMF also forecasts a decrease in Mexico for the year, with growth falling by 0.3 percent for 2025. But it expects that it will rebound next year with 1.4 percent growth. Across Latin America and the Caribbean, the organisation of 191 member nations is expecting a 1.4 percent decrease in growth from its 2024 forecasts, but it does expect growth to bounce back in 2026. “I don’t recall another instance in my professional life where a single act by a president or prime minister has resulted in such a sudden downgrade in growth in a matter of weeks,” Stuart  Mackintosh, executive director of the financial think-tank Group of Thirty, told Al Jazeera. The bond markets recently surged in the US earlier this month after Trump’s tariffs went into effect. As a result, interest rates went up in other countries around the globe, causing borrowing to become more expensive in other countries, too. “Emerging market economies already facing the highest real financing costs in a decade may now need to refinance their debt and fund fiscal spending at higher costs,” the IMF said. The IMF also said that other geopolitical risks such as military conflicts could further spur uncertainty. The concerns echo those of other prominent economists around the globe who expect a downturn. Goldman Sachs said it expects “very low US growth of 0.5 percent” and said chances of a recession next year are 45 percent, according to the investment bank’s “tariff induced recession risk” report released on Monday. Earlier this month, a survey of macroeconomic forecasts conducted by the National Association for Business Economics showed that more than half of respondents believe the probability of a recession in 2025 could be as high as 49 percent. Economists at JPMorgan now believe that the chances of recession are 60 percent. “The increased likelihood of a global recession and the likelihood of an American recession is up. It’s gone up. We have to deal with that. When you think about the consensus position of US economists, that shifted dramatically,” Mackintosh added. “In the fall of last year, a majority of US business economists thought that there would be no recession this year. Indeed, most consensus positions viewed the US economy as the strongest advanced economy in the world, and that could only get better. Unfortunately, after ‘Liberation Day’, they got worse.” The US Federal Reserve has also forecast that growth will weaken this year, to 1.7 percent. This comes as the president has pushed for the central bank to cut interest rates, which Fed Chair Jerome Powell has refused to do. Last week, Trump said that Powell’s exit can’t come soon enough and asserted that if he asked Powell to leave the role, he would. Powell has continually said that he would serve out the remainder of his term, which ends in May 2026. Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, the IMF’s chief economist, pushed back on Trump’s increased rhetorical attacks on Powell, saying “central bank independence remains a cornerstone”, to a group of reporters. Follow Al Jazeera English:...