Sports Ticker #163 - Aston Villa drop legal threat, Olympian backs CBD brand, and F1 returns to Africa

In a fortnight that saw Harry Brook score a historic double century in ODI cricket for England, Kimi Antonelli become the youngest F1 World Drivers’ Champion, and TNT Sports secure live UK rights to England’s white-ball cricket tour of Australia, we bring you news of a UK wellness startup and a UK sports technology startup securing millions in investment, a proposed amendment to the Sporting Events Bill that would restrict strikes during major tournaments, and Jamie Carragher escaping a legal battle with Aston Villa.

Villa drop legal threat against Carragher after apology 
Aston Villa have dropped their threat of legal action against Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, following a public apology for comments made on the Stick to Football podcast. Discussing Manchester United’s poor run of form and rumours that it might soon seek to replace head coach Michael Carrick, Carragher suggested that Villa’s current and five-times Europa League winning manager Unai Emery would “surely” be interested in the “opportunity to manage a giant again”, adding that “Aston Villa will never be Manchester United”. He also had some choice words for Villa supporters who might disagree. In an official statement published on social media, Villa described the remarks as “unacceptable insults” and announced plans to take legal action, although it never actually initiated proceedings, with online speculation pointing towards a claim in defamation. Carragher apologised the following day, describing his language as “clumsy and wrong” and saying the comments were “tongue in cheek”, and Villa have since ended their threat. The episode has divided opinion, with some commentators questioning what was actionable, and describing the threat as more symbolic than serious.

Full time on disruption: MPs float limits on strikes during major events
A proposed amendment to the Sporting Events Bill, tabled by Louie French MP, seeks to restrict industrial action during major sporting tournaments. French, the Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, argued that limiting strikes during flagship competitions would protect spectators and minimise disruption to event delivery and transport networks. He also highlighted the potential for major sporting events to transform host cities, arguing that there was no justification for trade unions to “spoil the occasion”. Previous industrial action in the UK affected the start of the 2022 Commonwealth Games and also disrupted transport during the 2023 FA Cup final. The implementation of this amendment would be significant as the UK prepares to co-host UEFA Euro 2028 with Ireland and is also expected to make a joint bid to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

UK wellness brand struck gold with the Olympic Champion
Double Olympic taekwondo champion and current Misfits boxing Champion Jade Jones has revealed a multi-million-pound investment in York-based CBD business HempWell Ltd, with equity ownership to be acquired through her wellness company, JJ Double Gold, over the next three years. The investment aims to accelerate HempWell’s growth tenfold, with the business aiming for a valuation of £10 million by 2029. HempWell commented that the partnership would enable the startup to leverage AI and technology expertise to support its growth. The investment comes amid continued growth in the UK’s legal hemp and CBD sector, which is among the largest in Europe and is estimated to be valued at around £1 billion. HempWell, which opened its store in Kensington Gardens in September 2023, has established itself as one of the UK’s leading privately owned CBD wellness businesses. Jones, who co-founded JJ Double Gold this summer, commented that she is “excited to be part of the journey and help take the business to the next level”.

The Golden Goal: Rezzil bags investment of $10 Million
England Under-21 captain Jobe Bellingham (brother of Jude Bellingham) has led a $10 million fundraising round for Rezzil, a technology company pioneering the use of virtual reality in professional football. The company has recently expanded into “movement intelligence”, using movement data to enhance athletic performance, offer broadcasters new ways to analyse matches and deliver more immersive experiences for fans. The company partnered with the Premier League in 2024 to develop a VR game in which players could step onto the pitch to re-enact plays from actual matches, and has investors that include footballing greats Thierry Henry, Gary Neville and Vincent Kompany, as well as former England rugby union star Anthony Watson. Rezzil is continuing to expand, having recently opened a London office alongside its Chicago office and seeks to double its headcount over the next year. The company commented: “Jobe's investment forms part of a broader strategic partnership with the Bellingham family, under which Rezzil will deliver technology supporting future digital initiatives”.

No Pit Stop for F1 with African expansion and McLaren Chassis sales
Formula 1 has announced a 10-year agreement to bring racing back to Africa, with Rwanda set to join the calendar for the first time in the “early 2030s”. The event will be the sport’s first event on the continent since 1993 and is expected to take place on an all-new purpose-built circuit approximately 40km south of Kigali. The event will be sponsored by “Visit Rwanda”, the country’s tourism brand. Rwanda has established itself as a leading African destination for international sporting events and global gatherings, having hosted competitions including the inaugural 2026 ICC Women’s Challenge Trophy and the 2021 Basketball Africa League. Meanwhile, in Woking, McLaren is exploring the sale of five race-used chassis dating from 1991 to 2023, driven by prominent names that include former champions Ayrton Senna and Jenson Button, and 2025 champion Lando Norris. The potential sales would provide an additional boost of around £50 million to McLaren’s finances as the team targets £550 million in revenue this year.

Extra time...

…and finally, the Wrexham Open – the UK’s biggest indoor women’s tennis tournament – returned to Wrexham between 18-25 October 2026 at the Wrexham Tennis and Padel Centre. British teenager and former junior world number one Hannah Klugman lifted the title, producing an impressive performance to claim the biggest victory of her career and, at 17 years old, become the youngest Briton to win a singles trophy at W100 level or higher. The tournament attracted top-ranked players from across the world, including Russian-born French player Anna Blinkova and Armenia’s Alina Charaeva. The players competed for vital world ranking points and a $100,000 prize pot. Off court, the event also featured a host of activities and hospitality events for the local community.