Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has "distanced itself from reports" that it has made a $2B "take-it-or-leave-it" offer to unite tennis's ATP and WTA Tours, insisting that it "has no intention of disrupting the sport" (London GUARDIAN, 3/13).
IOC VP John Coates said that the war in Gaza "does not warrant the same Olympic sanctions for Israel as those imposed on Russia after it invaded Ukraine," due to the "difference between the two conflicts." The IOC recently rejected calls for Israel to be banned from the Paris Games (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/13).
Manchester United has dismissed claims from anti-racism charity The Anthony Walker Foundation that they "displayed 'systemic racism'" with their recent appointment of a 10-person task force to regenerate Old Trafford due to the panel being "made up entirely of white individuals" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 3/13).
Work to prepare the pitch at Everton's future home at Bramley-Moore Dock is "set to begin before the end of this season," hopefully by "early May." The race is on to "wrap up all pitchside works and clear the pitch area of cranes, and other construction plant, to begin laying foundations for what will become the hallowed turf" (LIVERPOOL ECHO, 3/13).
Topps is now the British Olympic team's official licensee of trading cards and stickers in a multiyear deal that runs until '28. Topps will be the sole distributor of official retail and online trading cards featuring Team GB's roster of current athletes and Olympic legends (Topps).
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