Sports Ticker #154 - Burnley v Everton judgment and F1's decade long Vegas GP extension

In a fortnight that saw the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup kick-off, the New York Knicks win their first NBA title since 1973, and Paris Saint-Germain FC retain the UEFA Men's Champions League title, we bring you news of the landmark judgment between Everton FC and Burnley FC and F1 extending its Las Vegas Grand Prix residency.

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.

Toffees stuck with over £35 million bill in dispute with Clarets
The Premier League Independent Disciplinary Commission has awarded Burnley FC £35 million in compensation following a claim brought against Everton FC. The claim followed Everton’s breach of profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) in the three-year period up to June 2022, which ultimately resulted in Everton being deducted six points in the 2023-24 season. The three-person panel found “on the balance of probabilities, Everton’s breach of the PSR caused Burnley to be relegated” at the end of the 2021-22 season, having only finished four points above them in the table. Everton has announced its intention to appeal. The award makes PSR breaches a direct litigation risk, and subject to any appeal, would mark a significant step-change in the types of club-on-club disputes relating to a breach of football regulations.  It will be interesting to see whether clubs vote to close down the ability to bring these types of horizontal claims by way of updates to regulations moving forwards.

Viva Las Vegas! Formula 1 Grand Prix staying in Nevada another decade
Formula 1 will race in Las Vegas until at least 2037, after agreeing a 10-year extension with the city. Debuting in 2023, the circuit sees drivers take to the iconic Vegas Strip at over 215 miles per hour. Backed by a $500 million investment for a new pit building and paddock, the race has sold out every year, bringing a reported $3.2 billion in cumulative economic impact for Nevada since it began. TV audiences have been strong too: last year’s race averaged 1.5 million live US viewers – a circuit record – and ESPN’s US F1 coverage averaged around 1.3 million viewers per race across 2025, up roughly 135% from 2018. Announcing the extension, F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said, “We always believed that Las Vegas would become a cornerstone of our presence in the United States, and this extension, together with the success of recent years, reinforces our long-term commitment to this important market”. With US audiences accelerating, this extension is no gamble for F1.

Turin’s New Tag Team: Juventus enters the ring with WWE
Serie A club Juventus has secured a strategic partnership with WWE, designed to help both brands expand their global fanbases and reach younger, digital-first audiences. Under the deal, Juventus and WWE will collaborate on campaigns including crossover content, fan experiences and events featuring both Juventus players and WWE stars. The partnership is designed to connect two highly engaged communities: WWE’s global entertainment audience and Juventus’ international football fanbase. The move follows WWE’s recent push into European football, having previously partnered with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. For Juventus, it also forms part of a broader year of increased commercial partnerships which includes, UniCredit, Stanley 1913 and Heineken.

Cricket’s Ultimate All-Rounder: The Hundred introduces combined trophy
The Hundred cricket tournament has launched a new trophy, which will be presented at the end of the season to the franchise achieving the best combined performance across the men’s and women’s competitions. The trophy, which will be awarded in addition to individual trophies for each league, is to be named by fans via submission on The Hundred’s website. The Hundred has boosted engagement with women’s cricket across the UK since its inaugural season in 2021, and it is hoped that this move will further the rising popularity of the sport. The decision is part of a wider revamp ahead of the 2026 season following around £500 million of external investment in the league’s eight franchises. Players have voiced their approval: England international Tammy Beaumont said that they “have always tried to create the ‘one club, two teams’ vibe, and this will bring that even closer together.”

Women’s ‘Soccer’ Crosses the Pond: CBS Sports secures four-year broadcasting rights deal with WSL Football
WSL Football has entered an exclusive broadcasting deal with US broadcaster CBS Sports, which will see the league streamed live in the US until the end of the 2029-30 campaign. The deal will also include studio and magazine programming, as well as a range of social, digital and audio content. The deal is a strategic move for the US broadcaster, following the increased football interest in the US, in part owed to the North American hosted 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The CBS Sports Network will air one WSL match per week, while the affiliated Paramount+ will air a further 183 games per season.

Extra time...

…and finally, British pubs are set for a timely round of relief this World Cup as the industry continues to face a succession of cost pressures. Rising energy bills, higher tax burdens and ongoing uncertainty around business rates relief, has contributed to overwhelming pressure for the staples of British culture, with reports last year suggesting up to eight pubs in England and Wales were closing each week. The arrival of the 2026 Men's FIFA World Cup looks set to provide some rare respite, with increased footfall to watch matches combined with extended opening hours for key Home Nations fixtures offering venues an opportunity to lift revenues over the period. Globally, analysts forecast the expanded 48-team, 104-match, tournament will drive consumption of an extra one billion pints worldwide. For British landlords, England’s and Scotland’s longevity in the tournament could be the difference between a difficult summer and a vital lifeline.