Sweeping changes to the Champions League could "threaten the prospects" of the top four EPL teams qualifying for Europe's elite competition, EPL clubs were warned. The chairs of the 20 top-flight teams were told that UEFA is being "pushed" by the European Club Association to make "radical changes to the Champions League" so that it would "operate effectively as a closed shop" after '24 (LONDON TIMES, 4/5).

EPL clubs opposed the proposed changes to the Champions League format and said in a statement, "The structures of domestic football are determined by leagues and their respective national associations. We will now work with the FA and other leagues to ensure that European football bodies understand the importance of this" (BBC, 4/5).

The total earned from overseas rights for the three EPL seasons starting from '19-20 is now thought to have exceeded $5.2B. That means a "total broadcast revenue income" for the next three years in excess of $11.7B, which is "far greater" than other European domestic leagues and "the reason why major clubs outside the English game" are seeking to earn more from UEFA competitions (London TELEGRAPH, 4/5).

Jim Ratcliffe wants to make Nice the latest addition to his sports portfolio.GETTY IMAGES

Britain's richest man, Jim Ratcliffe, "wants to further expand his sport network" by buying Ligue 1 club Nice, but the club's owner reportedly "pulled away" from Ratcliffe's $112M offer. Robert Ratcliffe confirmed that his brother "wants to purchase the club." Robert: "We do not want to buy a club where we have to rebuild everything. There is a magnificent stadium and a brand new training center." Robert said that after "initially showing interest in the sale," Nice Owner Chien Lee "informed that he did not want to receive any more offers" (AFP, 4/5). Lee became a co-owner of Nice in '16. In '17, he became co-owner of League One side Barnsley (BLOOMBERG, 4/5).

Jim is reportedly "not giving up" despite his $112M offer being rebuffed. Lee believes the club is worth closer to $130M. The Ineos owner "is understood to have first approached" Nice in November, "shortly after he moved to nearby Monaco for tax-related reasons" (PA, 4/5).

The Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo bid for the '26 Winter Olympics received a "key letter" of financial support from Italian PM Giuseppe Conte on Friday. The letter promised that the government would "provide security for the Games, handle anti-doping expenditures and coordinate visas for visiting athletes, officials and fans." In another showing of the government’s support, Deputy PM Matteo Salvini met with IOC inspectors in Milan. He said, "I hope everything necessary is covered." Milan-Cortina plans for a budget of $1.7B, "far less" than the $51B Russia spent on the '14 Sochi Games. Much of the local funding would be organized by the governments of Lombardy and Veneto -- "two of Italy’s richest regions" (AP, 4/5).

Man City owner City Football Group closed '17-18 with losses of £44.8M, which was 37% less than it lost the previous year. The reduced losses were due to a combination of "improved income" and the "consolidation" of Spanish club Girona, which has "started to earn money" after its promotion to La Liga ahead of the '17-18 season. CFG brought in £585M last season, 13.8% more than the '16-17 season. Of this amount, 86% corresponds to Man City, while the rest was divided among the rest of the teams. CFG's second-largest contributor of income, Girona, obtained a turnover of €52M in '17-18, an amount "even higher" than that obtained by MLS side NYCFC, which closed the last financial year with income of £40M (PALCO23, 4/5).

Tottenham warned supporters that it may take several more games to "improve access" to its new stadium following complaints about "overcrowding and journey times" after Spurs' 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday. Passengers complained on social media of being "treated like cattle." Tottenham insisted it was "working closely with 'Transport for London' and other service providers to improve matters." Tottenham has "at least" five more home games this season, two of which will take place on midweek evenings. Spurs said in a statement, "The club has implemented a range of additional transport measures to support public transport, including shuttle bus and regional coach services, and it will naturally take a few games for fans to make best use of these options" (LONDON TIMES, 4/5).

Jack Marshman (left) and John Phillips met during a March 16 card attended by over 16,000 fans.GETTY IMAGES

UFC's growth outside the U.S. is showing no signs of slowing down, as it now has 275 million fans globally. In addition to its established presence in markets like the U.K. and Australia, the promotion is making headway in newer markets like the Czech Republic, where the first event in the country took place in Prague on Feb. 23. UFC events have now taken place in 24 different countries.

UFC Exec VP of Event Development & Operations Pete Dropick reflected on the sold-out crowds for the fight night in Prague as well as UFC 234 in Melbourne on Feb. 9 and the London card featuring English fighter Darren Till.

He said of hometown hero Robert Whittaker being unavailable for UFC 234 due to a hernia in his abdomen and the last-minute adjustments that had to be made, "Fortunately, but unfortunately, it has happened before and it's part of our sport." Despite Whittaker's absence, the event was a sell-out at Rod Laver Arena and recorded a live gate of $2.5M. 

"The key to that is communication, internal communication with our department leaders," Dropick said. "As soon as we have information that we need to make a change, it's about making sure everyone is informed and prepared to execute in their specific area."

Transfer fees for U.K. county cricket will be introduced from '20 for players "who have been developed by one county but move to play for another." The system of compensation was agreed upon by an England & Wales Cricket Board committee (LONDON TIMES, 4/5).

Formula E will continue to race on the streets of Paris following a three-year extension to hold a race in the French capital (MOTORSPORT, 4/5).

Spanish second division side Mallorca announced an investment of more than $561M to build a dormitory for its youth players (PALCO23, 4/5).

HYPE Sports Innovation, which is led by former Reebok President Uli Becker and former Bundesliga side Vfb Stuttgart President Bernd Wahler, announced plans for a $75M capital fund. HYPE's accelerator network includes UEFA and NFL members (HYPE Sports Innovation).

The FA decided not to charge WAYNE HENNESSEY over an incident which led the EPL side Crystal Palace goalkeeper to "deny making a Nazi salute" (London INDEPENDENT, 4/5). ... Football Federation Australia appointed  ROB SHERMAN as technical director (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 4/5). ... EUGENI SALLENT, the former director of TV3 and CEO of Mediapro Colombia, was named head of Mediapro Italy (PALCO23, 4/5). The EuroLeague signed Mediaset's LALI ARNAU as director of corporate sponsorship and licensing (PALCO23, 4/4).

"We haven't discussed weekends, just to clear that up once and for all" -- UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, on rumors that the organization intends to hold European matches on weekends (London TELEGRAPH, 4/5).

"Obviously it's sad [to have to prepare yourself for that] but when countries only get fined what I probably spend on a night out in London then what do you expect?" -- Tottenham's Danny Rose, calling for harsher sanctions against racist behavior by fans (ESPN.com, 4/5).

"I am not worried about the market. I am confident in my players" -- Chelsea Manager Maurizio Sarri, on the club's transfer ban (AFP, 4/5).

"I took the decision to change the scenery, the country, my dreams and my targets. That is what my heart and my body dictated" -- Spanish midfielder Andrés Iniesta, on leaving Barcelona in '18 (MARCA, 4/5).

"Going Deep" features links to longform sports business-related pieces worth taking some time to dive into over the weekend.

The Athletic's Jack Lang weighed in on Tottenham's new stadium, writing that "All that agonizing work, all the expenditure (Chair Daniel Levy recently admitted that construction costs had reached around £1 billion) comes with obligations attached. Tottenham now need to make good on their expanded horizons." The London Independent's Miguel Delaney wrote about Levy's "extreme attention to detail" as he meticulously planned every aspect of Spurs' new home, including its glass roof.

The N.Y. Times' Andrew Keh wrote about the evolution of the way esports professionals take care of their bodies under the headline, "Less pizza, more yoga: E-Sports embraces traditional training methods."

The N.Y. Times' Tariq Panja wrote that "In soccer's biggest elections, accusations are common but challengers are not."

The London Times' Martyn Ziegler wondered aloud whether Champions League reform could "really happen." He also asked whether it would be "good for English football."

The London Guardian's Barney Ronay wrote of recent racist incidents in European soccer, England's Danny Rose "has had enough: this time football needs to agree with him."

The Plus500 Brumbies, with CEO Phil Thomson and Bec Cody MLA, paying their respects to the victims of the recent tragedy in Christchurch earlier today. #LoveNotHate pic.twitter.com/pBujLiJ4s4

— Plus500 Brumbies (@BrumbiesRugby) April 5, 2019

Fans pic.twitter.com/68XgMTvlqL

— The FA (@FA) April 5, 2019

Our home is so beautiful 🏠💕 pic.twitter.com/wBim1WEHap

— Valencia CF English 🦇💯 (@valenciacf_en) April 4, 2019

Had a long discussion about Moise Kean, racism in Italian football and what needs to (but probably won't) be done with @Minarzouki and @Marcotti on our weekly podcast for @ESPNFC. Also all the latest on the Icardi saga at Inter & the race for the top 4: https://t.co/4rTaxhfVWX

— Paolo Bandini (@Paolo_Bandini) April 5, 2019