Exclusive by Matt Hughes

IFR budget has risen from £10m previously projected Levy imposed on clubs will be tiny fraction of revenues Premier League clubs are increasingly unhappy at the Independent Football Regulator’s (IFR’s) costs and uncertainty about how much each club will be made to pay. Premier League and EFL clubs have repeatedly asked the IFR for an update on its operating budget, which is believed to have risen significantly from the annual £10m projected by the previous government, and been frustrated by the limited response.

Chicago and Pittsburgh decline to enter running Some cities opt to focus on men’s Rugby World Cup Bid approval delayed by reported government holdups A number of American cities named in the running to host games at the 2031 Women’s World Cup are considering withdrawing over concerns related to Fifa’s handling of this summer’s World Cup. The Guardian has learned that several cities are exploring whether to focus solely on winning the right to host matches at the men’s 2031 Rugby World Cup. The US will also stage the women’s rugby tournament two years later.