Professional cyclist Alberto Contador made the case for a salary cap for professional cycling teams, "in the interest of making the sport more competitive and sustainable." Contador was asked about "financial inequality." He said, "I'll tell you my point of view, but I want you to understand it isn't aimed at any particular team -- Sky or anyone else -- but rather with the future of cycling in mind. I think there should be a salary cap. ... Because if budgets start to go through the roof, we're going to find it difficult to attract sponsors at all" (CYCLING NEWS, 9/5).
Fidelity Int'l, which owns almost 6% of sportswear retailer Sports Direct, is "planning to vote against the re-appointment" of Sports Direct Chair Keith Hellawell at its annual meeting. Fidelity also plans to vote against the re-election of Simon Bentley, the senior independent director seen as a potential replacement for Hellawell (LONDON TIMES, 9/5).
League Championship side Aston Villa is "set to escape punishment from the Football League" after raising £18M ($23.5M) in player sales this summer. Villa offloaded nine senior players in the transfer window, "either permanently or on loan, in a bid to fall in line with Financial Fair Play regulations." The club was "in danger" of breaching league rules after "incurring heavy losses in the past," but it is "now in a healthier financial state" after its summer clear-out (London TELEGRAPH, 9/4).
