Podcast · Sport

Business of Sport

by Charlie and Harry Stebbings · English · Sport

New episodes: Several times a week
Typical length: 1 hr 10 min
Latest: 9 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 16 minNew

THE BREAKDOWN: Man City’s Etihad Problem, More Chaos at Celtic, LA Clippers Sanctioned, & LIV 2.0 $100m Franchises (E40)

What a week it was last week. Man City’s very well publicised indiscretions will once again be looked at as we question the grounds for appeal and take a look at the role of the Premier League in securing this verdict, while also taking a peak across the pond as the LA Clippers come to terms with a very strong set of sanctions for 113 less guilty charges charges, albeit one serious one. Add to this yet more chaos at Celtic as fans pelt their main shareholder with tennis balls on a golf course, the claims from LIV 2.0 that teams are going to be worth $100m, and the revelation that despite…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

6 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 27 min

Eddie Pepperell: The Real Finances of a Pro Golfer, LIV Golf & Why He’d Turn Down the PGA Tour (Ep140)

If you can believe it, today we welcome our first golfer to the show. A notoriously hard group to get hold of, I have wanted to get stuck into life as a professional for years. Eddie Pepperell is the perfect person to do that with. Fully open with him thoughts, super analytical, a media voice himself as co-host of the hugely popular podcast ‘The Chipping Forecast’, and someone that has experienced both the highs and lows of a sport that tests your mental strength as much as any other. He has been an outspoken voice on LIV Golf, as well as being very open about the need to protect and develop…
2 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 22 min

THE BREAKDOWN | Manchester City: The Verdict (E39)

It won’t surprise you to hear that today’s show will be focused completely on the guilty verdict handed down to Manchester City last Friday. Firstly, there have been many of you who have been relentlessly calling for us to do a show on this since it broke. We explain why we didn’t jump straight on at the start of today’s episode, and I am pleased that we did hold off and can come to you with a more complete set of thoughts and information. Secondly, it is the size of this story and the potential ramifications both in football and beyond that make it so important to cover properly. There is a…
29 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 23 min

Rishabh Pant: From Near Fatal Car Crash to Winning the World Cup (Ep139)

A genuine world class athlete joins us on the show today. There are few sports people with more influence than India’s international cricketers, and Rishabh Pant has been at the top of the cricketing world for a decade. A multi format player who captured people’s attention with his aggressive batting and elite talent, there has always to be a story to tell here that looks beyond the performance, and today we’re delighted to bring it to you. Having survived a near fatal car crash in 2022, the Rishabh that sits with us today is a different one to the man who started a career with complete…
25 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 24 min

THE BREAKDOWN: Man Utd’s Accounts Released, Why are Spurs Still Bad, Hearn’s Rugby Takeover, & WTA in Big Trouble (E38)

With an extra long international break upon us, it is time to take our first proper look at what the early parts of the season have delivered, and to Charlie Snr’s no great surprise, Spurs have continued to heap more pain on their fanbase. But why? This was also the week where Manchester United released their accounts, showing record revenues, but there is much more to the story than that. Clearlake have now really got the keys to Chelsea, albeit at a price which seems hard to justify based on, well, everything that the club has done in the last few years. Add to all this a look at whether…
22 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 2 min

Alexis Ohanian: Investing in Chelsea Women, Building Athlos, & The Power of Sport in a Social Era (Ep138)

Alexis Ohanian is back! Having joined us a couple of years ago to talk about Angel City and his broader sporting investment adventures, the time has come to dive back in with one of the most active (and successful) investors in women’s sport. In London for Athlos, the female only athletics competition he set up to both invest more and create ownership opportunities for the talent in the sport, Alexis not only took me through why he believes there is so much untapped opportunity in women’s sport, but how you can unlock it. Founder of Reddit, NWSL owner, IP creator, Chelsea Women co-owner, TGL…
18 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 10 min

THE BREAKDOWN: The Fall of Nike, Sydney Sweeney, & Infantino Consolidates his Power (E37)

In a week that has seen a bucket load of big sporting events and an equal amount of controversy, you won't be surprised to find out there is some heat in this show. The Ultimate Athletics Championships and Solheim Cup both delivered some serious entertainment over the weekend, emphasising the strength of women’s golf and proof that existing federations can create new IP and make it work. It’s also about time we check in on regular pod appearance maker Mr Infantino and his quest for survival. There is then of course the Sydney Sweeney drama, but the big one we want to grapple with this week…
15 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 3 min

Maarten Paes: Ajax Goalkeeper on Investing While You’re Playing & Representing Indonesia (Ep137)

Maarten Paes plays for Ajax and the Indonesian national team as a goalkeeper, at least that is what most of the bios will say. What they won’t tell you is that alongside his career as a professional footballer, he is also building a career in business and investment, and the approach he has taken to making himself more than his performance on the pitch is a story we had to cover on the show. There is a shifting attitude in dressing rooms that, in Maarten’s own words, is moving away from the macho discussions on who has the best car or most expensive watch to what they’re up to away from the…
11 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 25 min

THE BREAKDOWN: The Champions League Is Back With BIG Money, Pietersen’s Miracle England Job, & The NFL’s Global Tour (E36)

We came into this week thinking not a lot had been happening. We got that wrong. LIV finally filed for bankruptcy, Kevin Pietersen made a miracle return to the England set up, the Champions League kicked off with an absolute treasure chest of cash to distribute to the participants, The NFL season begins which includes the first ever game in Australia…oh and Charlie fills us in on developments in the horse racing world. If that isn’t enough for you, we then move to substack to take a look at the sponsorship market in the Premier League as Liverpool announce a £60m a year deal with Turkish…
8 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 36 min

James Haskell | “They Build You Up. Then They Crush You”: From Rugby to Reality (Ep136)

Athlete stories and their journeys beyond sport are a big part of this show. James Haskell is one of the most famous rugby players of the last 20 years, and much of that fame comes from the character he presents and profile he has alongside rugby. As you would expect, there is no filter applied to this chat. This is the real James, who came in ready to talk about rugby and the broader state of the game, alongside his work in the media, music, public eye, and so on. The big question is, and it’s one that James brings up a few times, if you want to punch him in the face at the start of the…
7 Sep 2026 · 46 min

BONUS EPISODE | The Collapse of LIV Golf: From Golf’s Great Disruptor to Sport’s Biggest Failure

Charlie and Charlie take a deep dive into the rise and apparent collapse of LIV Golf, tracing the breakaway tour back to its ambitious launch in 2021 and the huge Saudi investment behind its attempt to challenge the PGA Tour. They examine the extraordinary financial packages offered to players, the appeal of guaranteed money and franchise equity, and why stars including Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm made the move while Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy stayed away. From LIV's failure to secure the distribution, audiences and fan loyalty needed to make the model…
4 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 7 min

THE BREAKDOWN: The Premier League’s Bottomless Transfer Cash Pit, The US Open Returns with BIG Money, & Messi Retires from Argentina (E35)

A blockbuster show to bring you this week as we look at the end of the craziest transfer window on record, Messi’s retirement from international football, the US Open tennis, and LIV’s reported preparation for bankruptcy. Add to that the story of how a golf trip to Scotland left Charlie Jr in the back of an ambulance after a run in with a colony of wasps, and we have ourselves a breakdown. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and…
1 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 9 min

Barney Pascall: Rugby 7’s is Great Product BUT can it be Great Business (Ep135)

Today we introduce the sport of Rugby 7’s, as a brand new tournament, ‘Ultimate 7’s’ kicks off in Cardiff on 12th September. Managing Director Barney Pascall is backing a sport that speaks to a broad audience with a strong heritage to succeed as a business as well as a sporting product. Centralised team ownership, cost controls, venue selection to bring the best out of the first iteration without placing crazy expectations on it to fill 80,000 seater stadia. But most importantly and what gives this conversation credibility, is his acknowledgement of the challenges to overcome. You don’t…
28 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 17 min

THE BREAKDOWN: Celtic Rock Bottom, Football Clubs Have an Investment Problem, FedEX Cup Shows PGA TOUR’s Strength (E34)

It’s been a big week in the world of knockout interviews. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin sat down with Alastair Campbell from the Rest Is Politics to talk through the crazy few weeks at the top of football governance. What did he reveal and did we learn anything new? We’ll take a look at that alongside the football club market after Charlie suggested over half the football clubs in the EFL are looking for investment, plus the PGA Tour’s end of season FedEX Cup bonanza, and we have ourselves a breakdown. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on…
25 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 2 min

Vik Banerjee: The Hundred’s First Season of New Ownership, Big Sponsors, & What Comes Next (Ep134)

This week the time has come to review the latest season of The Hundred, the ECB’s flagship franchise cricket tournament that this year showcased its biggest changes yet: New owners, new kits, new sponsors and much more. But how did it perform? Managing Director of The Hundred Vik Banerjee rejoins me having appeared on the show when the franchises were being sold a couple of years ago to talk us through some of the key points that I think need addressing. As you will hear, I am a fan of it. I’m sure some of you will shake your head at that, while others may agree. I want to test some of the…
21 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 8 min

THE BREAKDOWN: Walter & Boehly’s Rumoured Chelsea Exit, PFA Takes on the EFL, & The Meteoric Rise of Padel (E33)

Mark Walter and the fire sale of his sporting portfolio has dominated the news this week after he sold the LA Lakers for a record $12.5bn in 48 hours. Now with his stake in Chelsea reportedly up for grabs, what would it mean for the club who has had its fair share of ownership troubles in the last few years? Add to this a look the simmering tensions between the PFA and the EFL as cost controls and player wages face off against each other, and a long awaited review of the booming world of padel, and we have ourselves a breakdown. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended as…
18 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 6 min

Nikhil Mohindra: The €4bn Industry vs €25k Prize Money: Can Padel Fix it's Pay Problem (Ep133)

It’s padel week. 135 shows in, and the most requested sport gets its day. There couldn’t be a better person to take us through the world of a sport that has exploded in popularity over the last 10 years than Nikhil Mohindra. A Team GB professional who is also building a padel centre, running a foundation to bring padel to those who haven’t or can’t access it, creating content on his YouTube channel, and playing with the world’s top athletes (Cristiano Ronaldo included), this is proper access to a world we haven’t explored. I know we say behind the scenes a lot, but this really is behind the…
14 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 10 min

THE BREAKDOWN: Does Bezos’s Money Matter to Liverpool, LIV Golf’s $300m Miracle, & The €4.2bn World of MotoGP (E32)

In the week where UEFA, CONCACAF & AFC clubbed together to inform FIFA and Infantino of their collective stance post privatisation scandal, we have to keep across what it means for football and its governance structures moving forward. Add to this a look at whether Jeff Bezos type wealth really matters in modern football ownership, how LIV has reportedly managed to convince anyone to invest up to $300m in the crippled tour, and a long overdue deep dive into MotoGP after the British Grand Prix, and we have ourselves a Breakdown. If you want to hear part one of our Premier League season…
11 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 4 min

Marc White: Meet the Owner who is also Manager | The Dorking Wanderers Story (Ep132)

Have you ever heard of the owner who’s the manager who’s been the CEO as well as the kitman? Well if you haven’t, you’re about to, and this is a serious conversation despite at times seeming comical when you read that out. Marc White founded Dorking Wanderers in 1999 with a group of friends in the lowest division of English football, 17 tiers below the Premier League. In the last few years, they have got as high as the 5th, just one promotion from the EFL. Marc is still the owner, and the manager. His views on football as a business, how you can prove yourself without a background in the…
7 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 10 min

THE BREAKDOWN: Infantino isn’t the REAL Problem at FIFA, Staveley's West Ham Move Unpacked, & The Jockey Club Quit the RCA (E31)

After one of the most chaotic weeks in football, FIFA’s withdrawal of their privatisation plan would have been welcome news for virtually everyone, but what does that mean moving forward? Can Infantino cling to power? Does it actually matter when the real problem is the voting system? It’s time to look ahead as the dust settles just a little. Add to that a detailed look at West Ham’s ownership struggle as Amanda Staveley eyes an investment, and an update on horse racing after the huge news that the Jockey Club is leaving the Racecourse Association, and we have ourselves a breakdown.…
4 Aug 2026 · 58 min

Brett Gosper: How the NFL Plans to Conquer the World (Ep131)

Finally we’ve taken the jump into the world of NFL as we welcome Brett Gosper to the show. The former CEO of World Rugby, Brett now heads the NFL in Europe and Asia Pacific, making this the perfect time to speak with him as there will be a record 9 matches hosted outside the US. It is also the perfect way for two Brits to get our feet under the table and get to grips with the business of the most successful sports league in the world. What can other sports take from the way the NFL has achieved that? What is unique to it? A very fresh conversation to bring you as we welcome Brett Gosper to…
31 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 8 min

THE BREAKDOWN: FIFA Have Gone Too Far This Time, Is the Commonwealth Games Still Relevant, & Gaelic Football Madness (E30)

This week we had a really nice show schedule planned out, but after the incredible news of FIFA looking to sell off some of the World Cup ownership, it was inevitable that the main topic of this show would then shift to that. So it has been a last-minute change, but we will be doing our best with the information that we have to get stuck into probably what is the biggest football story since the European Super League from a business perspective, at least. Add to that a look at the Commonwealth Games, which kicked off last week in Glasgow after Australia pulled out of hosting the event in…
28 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 12 min

Frank Smith: The Power of Matchroom & The Finances of Boxing (Ep130)

It’s another returning great this week as we welcome Matchroom Boxing & Talent Agency CEO Frank Smith back to the chair. Frank was show number 8 on Business of Sport, and a lot has happened since. On top of deciding the sweeping curtains should be replaced by a buzz cut, he has been front and centre of a first class Netflix series looking behind the curtain at Matchroom, organised some of the biggest fights in the industry, and has set up Matchroom Talent Agency, signing some of the most notable but undervalued talent in sport, including Tom Aspinall & Henry Pollock. There was an air of…
24 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 10 min

THE BREAKDOWN: Has Football Finally Cracked America, The Story Behind Golf’s Hidden Superpower, & NRL’s $5.3bn Deal (E29)

The World Cup marathon has finally come to a close with Spain triumphing over Argentina while seeming to do the impossible, uniting the whole non-Argentine world behind one cause for the good of football, and that’s got nothing to do with me being a bitter Englishman. What about what has been happening off the pitch? What are the biggest business takeaways from the tournament. We’re not short of content. Add to that a look at golf after an enticing Open Championship, and how the mysterious R&A oversee the non-US side of the sport, and the incredible record NRL deal as Rugby League once again…
21 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 8 min

Seb Coe | New Formats, Athlete Pay, & The Post-Bolt Era: Rebuilding the Reputation of Athletics (Ep129)

In the week where Josh Kerr smashed the 27 year old mile record, we welcome into the studio the man who broke it 3 times, won multiple Olympic Gold Medals, brought the Olympics to London in 2012, and for the last decade has been President of World Athletics. Seb Coe is one of the most influential and respected executives in sport. He has certainly had one of the most diverse careers, and that gives him the opportunity to talk through both the biggest challenges that athletics and the Olympics more broadly faces, but also highlight what makes them storied, successful, and desirable for both…
17 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 8 min

THE BREAKDOWN: The FA Need to Stand Up to FIFA, McCullum Gone & The Rise of Jannik Sinner (E28)

After a stacked weekend of World Cup and Wimbledon, The options this week were endless. But having touched on the misdemeanours of FIFA last week, we were inundated with messages on the role the FA have to play in Infantino’s Presidency, so it is time to take a proper look at the relationship between England & FIFA. Add to that an update on McCullum’s inevitable departure from the England test set up, the incredible rise of Jannik Sinner alongside the Grand Slam nations struggles to produce their own champions, and a venture into the world of showjumping, and we have ourselves a breakdown.…
14 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 23 min

Mirwan Suwarso: From Bankruptcy to Champions League in 9 Years | The Como Story (Ep128)

Como have gone from bankruptcy to the Champions League in 9 years. There aren’t many better headlines than that. Of course the next question is how have they done it? From Cesc Fabregas’s managerial excellence to building a club that is about more than football in one of the world’s most sought after locations, President Mirwan Suwarso gives us an insight unlike any we have had from a football executive. There are a few eye opening takes on transfer strategies and UEFA dealings that will keep you guessing. Como is a proper business years ahead of the competition. A huge thank you to our…
10 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 6 min

THE BREAKDOWN: Norway’s Talent Machine Unpacked, Silverstone’s Record Weekend, & NBA Europe’s Billion Dollar Bids (E27)

It’s all eyes on Norway ahead of a massive World Cup Quarter final against England, but how has a country of 5.5m people built a team capable of beating football’s biggest nations (look away Scotland). And guess what, it’s not just in football. Add to that a look at what it costs to host the biggest F1 races on the back of Silverstone’s record weekend and a check on the billion dollar franchise bids for NBA Europe, and we have ourselves a breakdown! Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we…
7 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 11 min

Craig Tiley: Transforming the Australian Open, The Player Pay Debate & How Tennis Can Make More Money (Ep127)

In the summer weeks when tennis is front and centre, USTA CEO Craig Tiley joins us as tennis faces both a bucket load of major opportunities to take advantage of and challenges to overcome. Player pay, demanding audiences, (lack of) centralised governance, some of the biggest stars in global sport - you are balancing multiple plates to try and deliver for the players, the fans, and the businesses. Craig has turned the Australian Open into one of sports great events; a now 3 week festival of entertainment. Those of you that tune in regularly will know how important that is to the modern…
3 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 15 min

THE BREAKDOWN: AC Milan’s Multi Billion Gamble, The Power of the Tour de France, & Tennis Player’s Limp ‘Boycott’ (E26)

England are still alive at the World Cup, but only just, and as the tournament properly gets going, Thomas Tuchel’s big selection calls are starting to look a little more uncomfortable. We’ll get into that, before heading to Wimbledon where Serena Williams’ return gave the tournament the talking point it probably needed, and the players’ prize money protest raises the obvious question: if you’re going to strike, are you actually prepared to hurt the event? We dive into one of sport’s great untouched properties in the Tour de France and the strange economics of cycling. Then we finish with AC…

About Business of Sport

The show that takes you behind the scenes with the industry’s leading owners, operators, and athletes; it’s the game behind the game. BOS takes two forms: a weekly interview with leading figures from the world of sport, and ‘The Breakdown’, the news show hosted by Charlie Stebbings & Charlie Methven, ensuring you don’t miss a minute of what’s happening in the world of sports business. For greater access and insight, come and join us on Substack to access bonus shows, articles, giveaways, and events. https://businessofsport.substack.com/

Business of Sport is a English sport podcast from Charlie and Harry Stebbings. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Charlie and Harry Stebbings
Language: English
Category: Sport
New episodes: Several times a week
Typical length: 1 hr 10 min
Latest episode: 9 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1690597762
Rights: Charlie and Harry Stebbings

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