Sports Ticker #126 - Cricket’s Olympic revival, Euro-Soccer and Mbappé’s pay war - a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

In a fortnight which saw Cambridge University do the double over Oxford University at the 2025 Boat Race and Strava acquire its rival Runna in a dash for running app supremacy, we bring you updates on the historic impact of Rory McIlroy's Masters victory, news of cricket's triumphant return to the Olympics and an insight into the record-breaking prize pool announced for the Esports World Cup 2025.

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.

Esports World Cup tops the leader board with record-breaking prize pool

It was confirmed last week that the Esports World Cup will boast a record-breaking prize pool of $70 million for the 2025 iteration of the tournament, which is set to take place in Riyadh later this year. The Esports World Cup, which styles itself as the “Ultimate Stage for Competitive Excellence” and a “Platform for Sustainable Growth of the Esports Industry”, is a relative newcomer to the esports world, with its inaugural tournament taking place only last year (and sporting an already impressive prize pot of $60 million). According to Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation – the investment forms part of a “long term vision” designed to “create opportunities for everyone at every level of the [esports] ecosystem” and “strengthen the industry for years to come”. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will play host to 2,000 esports players and 200 esports clubs between July and August this year, in what promises to be another huge spectacle.  

Mbappé remains frozen out as salary dispute escalates with PSG

Kylian Mbappé’s legal team has announced its intention to “go on the attack”, as the ex-Paris Saint Germain star’s multi-million euro salary dispute with his former club continues. Mbappé’s lawyers recently confirmed that they have applied to a Parisian court to protectively freeze €55 million in unpaid wages, held in several of the French club’s accounts. Mbappé initially brought the claim to the attention of French football’s governing bodies in 2024. They both ruled in favour of Mbappé last October (see our take here), and demanded that PSG pay the now-Real Madrid forward his outstanding dues. However, the decision was ultimately overturned as PSG had already initiated civil proceedings in the Paris Judicial Court. PSG contends that Mbappé agreed to waive the alleged unpaid wages and loyalty bonus in August 2023. According to a spokesperson, the club seeks “an amicable solution” to the dispute. Whether or not an amicable solution will be reached is now a matter for the courts; a hearing is scheduled to take place on 26 May 2025.

Goodbye football, hello soccer as Relevent settles dispute with US Soccer

A long-running dispute between the US Soccer Federation and sports promoter Relevent Sports has come to its six-year conclusion after the US-based company filed to dismiss its case against the governing body earlier this month. Although confined to the US courts, the spat has drawn the attention of eyes around the world, as it pertained to the legality of hosting foreign domestic league football games in the United States during the regular playing season. Relevent has long argued that the resistance of US Soccer to permitting foreign domestic football matches in the US was in breach of the Sherman Antitrust Act (US legislation designed to prohibit anticompetitive behaviour in the marketplace). Following settlement, the final legal obstacle to hosting regular-season domestic football league games in the US has been quashed, paving the way for such games as El Classico to take place across the Atlantic (should the applicable leagues and clubs permit). Relevant, which already holds long-term commercial rights deals in the Bundesliga, La Liga and EFL, views the settlement as a major milestone in its goal to “grow the sport [of football] throughout America” and bring foreign domestic league football stateside. 

It’s an ace as Sky Sports hits viewership record with McIlroy’s Masters win

Rory McIlroy’s heroic victory at the 2025 Masters was not a historic day for only the pride of Ireland; the Grand Slam champion’s title-clinching birdie over Justin Rose also made history for Sky Sports, with the 2025 Masters Final netting the broadcaster its most-watched day ever with a peak audience of over 1.85 million viewers. The figures, which accounted for 37% of total TV viewership at the time of broadcast, might come as no small surprise given the buzz surrounding McIlroy’s road to victory, a journey which reverberated well beyond the usual confines of golf fandom. Marking the cherry on an otherwise already distinguished career, McIlroy’s win earned the golfer the title of Grand Slam champion after his seventeenth attempt to win the Masters, ending an 11-year trophy drought in major competitions following his last victories in the 2014 PGA Championship and Open Championship. McIlroy now sits firmly in the books of history, becoming only the sixth golfer to make Grand Slam status in the modern era, and the first since Tiger Woods in 2000. 

T20(28) - Cricket’s Olympics revival will be as a six-team T20 tournament 

Extra time...

…and finally, a study published by the University College of London has suggested that up to 75% of football academy players suffer from gum disease. The findings are the result of an investigation into 160 players from ten club academies across the English Premier League, EFL Championship and Women’s Super League. According to the study, which involved a questionnaire and a clinical dental assessment, the young players were found to be much more likely to suffer with serious tooth decay and oral hygiene issues than non-footballers of an equivalent or similar age. More than 76% of players suffered with gingivitis, a common form of gum disease, compared to just 40% of 15-year-olds across England; up to 22.5% also exhibited signs of irreversible gum disease. It is thought the findings result from a combination of high sugar consumption associated with elite sport, as well as increased levels of teeth-grinding and gastric acid reflux.