Michael Quinn

The Premier League has returned. For many, this predictable development will bring untold emotion – ecstasy, horror and a glimpse of second-hand glory with a pint in hand. Some, of course, having just got over the disruption of the World Cup, will roll their eyes as the circus continues. But we don't really need to worry about them. So aside from the football itself, what can we expect? Fresh Faces Teams Like the new kids at school, the three promoted teams – Coventry, Hull and Ipswich –...

Football needs its villains. Mourinho, Suarez, Pepe, Terry. The beautiful game is made so, in part, by the dark arts that leave us seething at men hundreds of miles away who will never know our name. The blood boils, then cools. All part of the circus. What's not so grand is when the object of fans' disdain is governing bodies. You'll struggle to find a football lover who accepts corruption as a necessary evil for fiery derby matches. I am, of course, referring to Gianni Infantino, who,...

Be it the scoreline, identifying figures on a player's jersey, or obscene monetary values, the beautiful game would be nothing without its numbers. Naturally, the World Cup is no different, with the 2026 edition conjuring a bounty of stats to keep pundits and commentators in hot dinners for another few weeks at least. If you wanted the most popular sporting event in history distilled into cold, hard stats, you’re in luck. The final Argentina registered more punches thrown (1) than shots on...