Tariq Panja

“Not being in the US has cost the Ronaldo brand millions. A final pension-pot World Cup is looming. With Trump in the White House and MBS at his back, it seems this is now a safe space. The quid pro quo is obvious.”

Ronaldo dines with Donald for glamour portion of grotesque Saudi-funded spectacle | Barney Ronay A pension-pot World Cup is looming for CR9 and with Donald Trump in the White House and Mohammed bin Salman at his back, it seems this is now a safe space

Ronaldo: now the most abject regime fluffer of all time
www.theguardian.com/football/202...

We can still expect a few of these curious related party deals now until the new rules kick in.

Women’s team loophole now closed under SCR arrangement. Chelsea benefitted significantly in the past by selling women’s team to themselves.

New Premier League financial system explained A summary of Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) and Sustainability and Systemic Resilience (SSR), which will replace Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) from the 2026/27 season

The “football revenue” of this requires further detail from the PL. As it stands revenues that can be counted, perhaps fairly, include things like concerts and events. PL still to reveal finer details of inclusions and exclusions. Including in this summary: www.premierleague.com/en/news/4467...

The big markets Champions League sale this week has led to a 20 percent increase overall. France apparently the only market that’s slightly lower than previous cycle. Paramount entering has pushed broadcast fees up,
Including in markets where it bid but didn’t win.

Premier League introduces new financial rules to replace PSR. Clubs “on-field” spending will be limited to 85 percent of their “football revenue”. They can exceed this by 30 percent in exchange for a levy for a period of time and then face sporting sanctions. The clubs rejected anchoring proposal.

Libero: Libero 072 | Arsenal v Tottenham: Who Really Owns North London? A team of interlopers from Kent are now arguably London's biggest club and with the pendulum of power swinging back Arsenal's way in recent years, a league title appears possible again. Did North L...

A Friday @podcast_libero North London derby special, with me, @jonawils and @JackPittBrooke - and discussion on what might have been one of most far-reaching decisions in football history

pod.fo/e/356f92

‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response Report on handling of pandemic contains stinging criticism of ‘toxic and chaotic’ culture inside Boris Johnson’s No 10

‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Good chance a streamer gets rights in Spain and France too. That has gone to a second round of bidding that took place today.

Paramount held talks with Saudi wealth fund over potential Warner Bros Discovery bid David Ellison met officials from the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, among other Gulf investors

Paramount owners currently bidding to buy TNT owner Warner Bros Discovery. FT reporting today that David Ellison, whose dad is really rich, approached Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to help fund bid for Warner.

www.ft.com/content/9795...

Paramount, which already owns Champions League rights through CBS in US, has won the contract to broadcast it in England from 2027-31, taking it away from TNT. Will be streamed on Paramount+. Chance that they can merge US/UK output. Amazon likely keeps first pick Tuesday.

High Court ruling in Felipe Massa case against Bernie, F1 and FIA today. Judge says history can’t be rewritten and Massa won’t be able to claim 2008 championship but can continue claim for damages for “lost career opportunities” but acknowledged if he tries it won’t be “plain sailing”.

Inside the Sims rebellion Players are trying to mount a protest against the Saudi-led deal to acquire the game’s parent company Electronic Arts

Inside the Sims rebellion on.ft.com/487XQGC | opinion

Libero: Libero 71b | ACTUALLY The Greatest Week Of Football Ever Last week Libero called this the greatest week in football but little did we know the drama to come. In fact, there was so much to talk about we decided a bonus episode was in order. Here to talk t...

Bonus @liberopodcast.bsky.social with @jonawils.bsky.social and @tariqpanja.bsky.social looking back at a great week of World Cup qualification, and the stories from it

pod.fo/e/355df6

2026 World Cup ticket update: Hearing that qualified countries will be able to sell a small number directly to their fans (as happened at previous tournaments) free of dynamic pricing nonsense. Unclear what prices will be, but will be fixed. 2026 most expensive for fans in history.

CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination Audio recordings, intercepted phone calls and other intelligence link Mohammed bin Salman to killing that Saudis say was conducted by rogue elements.

A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.

www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...

The president of the United States said this today: “A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen.”

Context: journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered by a Saudi hit squad and his body parts dispersed.

🥱

Libero 070 | Why This Is The Best Week In Football Podcast Episode · Libero · 13/11/2025 · 58m

And the lads called it before all the drama

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/l...

This week has been an antidote to power club football. Make do and mend teams, full of faulty parts giving their people a night or two of glorious delirium.

What a moment. What a week of football.

We are doing our best not to dismember any more journalists with bone saws www.ft.com/content/dc11...

“We’re the famous Tartan Army and we’re going to Montereeey!”

Bloody hell!!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Ronaldo who has stayed from US since 2017 now set to get red carpet treatment: White House visit with Donald Trump on day when paymaster Saudi Arabia and its leader Mohammed bin Salman also meeting Trump at Oval. Vivid Ronaldo's relationship with Saudi extends well beyond football.

Nigeria not able to make a 48 team World Cup is quite pathetic. Dreadfully run FA gets what it deserves. So much talent and passion for football there and let down by the federation time and again. DRC far better throughout. Should have won before pens.

ICYMI: Your Sunday long-read on what went on inside the BBC this week during a crisis sparked by a Trump documentary.

Seven Days of Paralysis: Inside the BBC Crisis Over a Trump Documentary

Not the first time this has happened at Panorama. In an incident that generated much less handwringing, BBC quietly acknowledged a key interview in a 2019 film into allegations of antisemitism in Labour Party was incorrectly spliced together. No apology then.

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/w...

Seven Days of Paralysis: Inside the BBC Crisis Over a Trump Documentary

“One of the most powerful voices on the board, Robbie Gibb, disagreed, according to the three employees. He wanted the response to be broader and more repentant. The board’s four other political appointees, all installed by Conservative governments, also opposed…”

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/w...