Sports Ticker #113 - PL v Man City, Commonwealth Games 2026 and Supreme Court referee ruling - a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

In a fortnight which saw the Women's Professional League agree a record £45 million Barclays title sponsorship extension, Friedkin Group reach a deal to buy Everton FC and FIFA extend its partnership with Lay's, we bring you updates on the 'Sports Trial of the Century' between the Premier League and Man City, Glasgow's plans for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and how football referees may qualify as employees.

As always, if there are any issues on which you'd like more information (or if you have any questions or feedback), please do let us know or get in touch with your usual contact at RPC.

Manchester City's biggest match yet

The private hearing of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League against Manchester City for alleged breaches of its financial rules finally commenced on 16 September 2024. It has been described as the "sports trial of the century" - and whilst one pre-eminent commercial silk has reminded us that we are not a long way through the century yet, it is undoubtedly going to be an incredibly important case. The hearing is being held at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London over an estimated 10-week period and is to be decided by an independent panel. The Premier League reportedly started investigations over six years ago and announced the charges in 2023, alleging that City broke financial regulations between 2009 and 2018. The club strongly denies the allegations, stating there is a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position". A commission will assess evidence in relation to the 115 charges, and the verdict is expected to be announced before the end of the 2024/2025 Premier League season. City are currently top of the table and looking to win their fifth title in a row.

Glasgow to host 'bare bones' Commonwealth Games in 2026

Twelve years after its last visit, a stripped back Commonwealth Games is set to return to Glasgow in 2026. The event will be partially funded by the Australian government, who withdrew its offer to host the twenty-third iteration of the tournament due to rising costs. Rather than the nineteen sports comprising the 2022 Games, viewers will only be treated to ten sports over the eleven-day competition, which will be scheduled over July or August in two summers' time. The Commonwealth Games Federation has marked Glasgow 2026 as the first step in its plans to “reset and reframe the Commonwealth Games as a co-created, sustainable model that minimises costs”. However, the announcement also raises questions about the longevity of the fixture, which continues to be underscored by financial concerns and a general reluctance amongst potential host nations

Premiership Rugby and the URC consider play for merger

It has been reported that Premiership Rugby are exploring a merger with the United Rugby Championship (URC) following discussions of a potential British and Irish league which took place at the 2023 World Cup. The URC consists of teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and South Africa. However, the waters remain unclear as, despite the plethora of media speculation about the new proposal, the key parties involved have expressed more reserved views. In particular, the URC have since denied the possibility whilst Premiership Rugby are believed to only consider changing the league structure if there is a guaranteed significant uplift in revenue. Therefore, only time will tell whether the much anticipated British-Irish League materialises and what this means for the URC's Italian and South African clubs.

Opening lap for Para Racers Academy

Hot on the heels of the Paralympics 2024, UK-based sim racing and esports team Quatermass Motorsport has announced the launch of its Para Racers Academy. The innovative program is designed to “empower drivers with physical and psychological disabilities” to “compete at the highest levels of sim racing and esports”, irrespective of their individual challenges. The initiative, which has so far opened its doors to ten disabled and neurodiverse drivers, involves a tailored training program adapted to the bespoke needs of each driver, investing in specially designed gaming equipment and providing them with access to a community “where collaboration, respect and mutual encouragement are key”. Quatermass, whose own founder Max Spooner was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in his late teens, hopes to show through the program that anyone can pursue their passion for esports regardless of the challenges posed to them in day-to-day life.

Part-time football referees may qualify as employees

The UK Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by the Professionals Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) over whether part-time football referees should be classed as employees. In Commissioners for His Majesty's Revenue and Customs v Professional Game Match Officials Ltd, it was held that the engagement of such referees met the minimum requirements for a common law contract of employment. Specifically, it was established that mutual obligations operated until the engagement was terminated and those imposed on referees' conduct created "a sufficient framework of control" which met the applicable test. However, the Supreme Court drew an important distinction between the annual overarching contracts with referees and the single-engagement match contracts. Whether the latter are also contracts of employment is still yet to be determined. The Supreme Court has now remitted the final decision case back to the First-tier Tribunal (Tax) to decide whether the contracts between PGMOL and the referees (on engagements that took place ten years ago) were, in fact, contracts of employment.

Extra time...

…and finally, WSC Sports, a pioneer in AI-powered sports content technology, and Snap Inc. have partnered to allow sports teams to bring content to fans on Snapchat. The focus of this collaboration is on Snap Stars, a program launched in 2022 which allows online influencers to monetize their content and incentivise audience growth. WSC Sports will implement its Magicrop technology into the app, allowing video action to be tracked and representing the transition to an automated filming experience. Creators can therefore engage with fans and share game-changing moments with their community whilst also offering an additional revenue stream for sports teams.