In sports, when things start going south, sponsors tend to be the first to run for the hills.
Remember when Chelsea lost their shirt sponsor Three after Abramovich’s sanctions? Or how Coca-Cola ditched Wayne Rooney following his messy personal scandals? Even Marcus Rashford has seen big names like Levi’s, Burberry, and Beats back away amid his recent troubles.
No brand wants to be tied to bad headlines or embarrassment.
So, it’s a bit surprising that Manchester City’s new £1 billion, 10-year deal with Puma just went through smoothly — despite looming accusations of financial misconduct that could seriously damage their reputation.
While the Premier League investigates 115 charges against City, including claims that their success was bankrolled by disguised Abu Dhabi sponsorship money, Puma seems unfazed, signing a record-breaking kit deal.
Manchester City’s Billion-Pound Deal and the Waiting Game
City clearly know how to play the long game. Earlier this year, they locked in Erling Haaland for nine years at over £400,000 a week.
Now, Puma’s deal at £100 million a season dwarfs any other Premier League club’s kit agreement.
The club’s social media even boasted “Top of the food chain,” flaunting their dominance.
But behind the scenes, Puma’s struggling a bit after a 23% drop in share price and a leadership shuffle.
Meanwhile, the football world is growing impatient as the Premier League drags its feet on City’s case — it’s been 221 days with no verdict.
Clubs, fans, and everyone involved desperately need closure before the new season kicks off.
What Happens If City Get Punished?
Honestly, the idea of City being relegated feels impossible.
But if it did happen, it would throw the whole league into chaos — opening a spot for clubs like Sheffield United or Leicester City.
Yet, no one’s talking about that possibility.
The City controversy seems to have quietly slipped off the public radar, stuck in limbo.
Puma has been bold, betting on a legal win just like when UEFA slapped City with sanctions in 2020 for funneling money through state-owned companies — a decision that was later overturned.
They even benefit from close ties to Abu Dhabi, including a ‘Visit Abu Dhabi’ clothing range. They’re clearly part of the family.
When PR Backfires: Lessons from Puma and Chelsea
Puma’s had its share of PR nightmares too. Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella famously slipped twice wearing their boots last season and posted the ruined shoes to Instagram.
But Puma turned that embarrassing moment into a cheeky marketing win with a slogan about bouncing back. Clever.
But if City were found guilty of major financial cheating, even Puma’s smooth moves wouldn’t be enough to save face.
With the new Premier League season just a month away, City’s message seems loud and clear: business as usual, no matter what’s hanging over them.
On the Cricket Field: England vs India Drama and Wimbledon’s Mistake
Switching gears to cricket — England’s fiery win over India sparked some brilliant tension on the field.
Remember when Shubman Gill pointed fingers at Zak Crawley for playing too defensively? That kind of grit used to be expected.
Think Malcolm Marshall’s pace or Michael Atherton’s mental games.
Now, it seems some players shy away from facing the heat head-on.
Come on, Zak, step up and take the challenge.
This kind of on-field drama contrasts sharply with Wimbledon’s controversial decision to ditch line judges in favor of technology.
Monday’s review of KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja’s lbw decisions at Lord’s showed how well human judgment combined with tech can work.
That hybrid system creates real moments of suspense and fairness.
Wimbledon might want to rethink their move to robotic calls — human eyes still have their place in the game.
Respect and Sportsmanship: A Tale of Two Tennis Players
There was something touching about Carlos Alcaraz’s humble bow to the Duchess of Cambridge after his Wimbledon loss.
It showed he valued the moment deeply.
Jannik Sinner, on the other hand, seemed far more casual about his win — maybe too casual.
Especially considering he’s twice tested positive for a banned substance but faced little consequence.
Sportsmanship and respect still matter, and Alcaraz set the bar high.
FIFA’s Club World Cup: Football or Concert?
Finally, FIFA’s PR for the Club World Cup final had everyone wondering — did anyone tell them there’s a football match involved? Their announcement seemed more hyped about the music acts than the game itself, promising non-stop entertainment from stars like J Balvin and Doja Cat.
It’s a reminder that for some events, the spectacle has to be bigger than the sport itself — a sign of our short attention spans and the entertainment age we live in.
