Chelsea FC could soon share owners with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Lakers, as bidders for the club have been reduced to a shortlist.

A consortium led by Dodgers and Lakers co-owner Todd Boehly, British real estate magnate Jonathan Goldstein, and Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss is believed to be in the lead, but there are still several well-heeled contenders for the Premier League club.

• British businessman and former Liverpool chairperson Sir Martin Broughton and World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, along with Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils co-owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer, have also made the shortlist. 
• Harris and Blitzer would have to sell their stakes in Premier League club Crystal Palace FC, should their bid be successful. American investor John Textor, who has reportedly been seeking to grow his 40% stake in Crystal Palace, could potentially buy their shares.
• Chicago Cubs owner Thomas Ricketts was expected to make the shortlist, despite backlash from Chelsea fans over Islamophobic statements made by his father, Joe Ricketts.

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and the Saudi Media Group did not make the cut. 

Abramovich Allowed to Supply Cash

The United Kingdom updated the special license governing club activities it issued following its seizure of Chelsea ownership from Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. 

Under the new license, the team can resume selling tickets to away games and cup matches, and Abramovich’s company can supply the club with up to $39.6 million to aid “cash flow and liquidity.”

The rollercoaster that is the European Super League continues, as Real Madrid is reportedly heading a new project that would exclude English clubs, going against both the Premier League and UEFA.

Three of the original Super League founding clubs — La Liga’s Real Madrid and Barcelona and Serie A’s Juventus — are working on a separate proposal for a breakaway league in hopes to gain approval, according to La Liga president Javier Tebas.

• Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina said on Thursday that Serie A teams will be banned from the Italian league if they make any attempts to revive the Super League. 
• The European Court of Justice will decide in the coming months whether UEFA’s control of European soccer is a monopoly. The three teams filed a suit against UEFA and FIFA in October alleging they regulate and profit from the competitions they oversee — a violation of European competition law.

“What the courts do is apply the rules approved by the European Union, that is very clear that it does not want Super League projects,” Tebas said.

Lingering League

The idea for the original Super League has been revived a few times, with multiple changes made to proposals in an effort to be approved. Reports claimed some of the changes included removing permanent membership from the league and devising two tiers with 20 clubs each. 

“It’s freedom, it’s financial fair play,” Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said in November.

The cost to host the 2031 and 2033 Rugby World Cups in the U.S. is expected to reach approximately $500 million, according to USA Rugby, the sport’s national governing body. 

USA Rugby submitted a bid in October 2021 to host the 2027 or 2031 Rugby World Cup. A month later, World Rugby, the event’s organizer and governing body for the sport, entered into exclusive talks with USA Rugby to host the 2031 tournament. 

Hosting the Rugby World Cups, which are held every four years, in the U.S. is an effort to grow the sport and attract new fans. 

• Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, and New York have expressed interest in hosting.
• Some of the tournament’s matches could be played in NFL stadiums.
• A final decision on hosts for the 2027 and 2029 tournaments is expected on May 12. 

USA Rugby has also submitted bids to host the 2029 and 2033 women’s Rugby World Cups. The events would allow USA Rugby to showcase its ability to host successive tournaments. A final decision on the 2029 women’s tournament will also be delivered on May 12. 

Better Days Ahead

In March 2020, USA Rugby filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to “insurmountable financial constraints” sparked by the global pandemic. Six months later, USA Rugby exited bankruptcy with a five-year reimbursement plan with creditors.

USA Rugby plans to fund its bid for the Rugby World Cup with support from the U.S. government and World Rugby.