NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Premier League clubs enjoyed an increase in television revenue almost equal to the rest of European club soccer combined from 2014-24, UEFA said on Thursday.
English clubs benefited from an increase of 1.5 billion euros ($1.77 billion) over the decade. During the same period, the combined TV revenue increase across clubs from the 53 other European top-division leagues was 1.6 billion euros ($1.89 billion), highlighting the English top flight’s financial dominance.
England provided five of the eight clubs to automatically qualify for the last 16 of this season’s Champions League. Newcastle joined them on Tuesday when it completed a 9-3 aggregate victory over Qarabag in the playoffs.
UEFA’s European Club Finance and Investment Landscape report also highlighted the inequality of total revenue growth across Europe.
While Premier League clubs’ total revenue increased by 3.5 billion euros ($4.13 billion), that of the 76 clubs in Europe’s other four largest leagues in France, Germany, Italy and Spain grew by a combined 5.9 billion euros ($6.97 billion).
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - The match ball is set on a pedestal with the logo of the English Premier League before the soccer match between Newcastle and Aston Villa, in Newcastle, England, on Aug. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File)
AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — South Africa took a giant leap toward the Twenty20 World Cup semifinals after a dominant nine-wicket win over the high-flying West Indies on Thursday.
A whirlwind 95-run opening partnership between captain Aiden Markram (82 not out) and Quinton de Kock (47) in eight overs made short work of the chase. Ryan Rickelton added 45 not out and South Africa motored to 177-1 in 16.1 overs and stretched its unbeaten record in the tournament to six games.
West Indies reached 176-8 from 83-7.
South Africa could top Group 1 in the Super Eights if it beats Zimbabwe in its last game on Sunday, when the West Indies, which lost its first game in the tournament, also faces co-host India.
India played Zimbabwe later Thursday in a must-win game for both.
Markram set the tone for the chase by smashing seven boundaries and four sixes in 82 off 46. De Kock hit four sixes and four boundaries in his 24-ball 47. Rickelton maintained the express scoring with 45 off 28 balls. He and Markram shared an unbeaten 80 off 50 and South Africa won with more than three overs to spare for a fourth time in Ahmedabad.
The lone wicket was taken by spin bowling allrounder Roston Chase, who was drafted into the playing XI in place of spinner Akeal Hosein.
Pacers Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder couldn't bowl West Indies to victory after batting their side to respectability.
Shepherd (52 not out) and Holder (49) lifted West Indies from an embarrassing 83-7 with a remarkable 89-run stand. Shepherd notched his maiden T20 half-century.
In a frenetic powerplay, West Indies lost four wickets in 10 balls and was down to 52-4. South Africa also dropped three catches in the first six overs.
Kagiso Rabada (2-22) got a faint edge off West Indies captain Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer, who top-edged a pull to wicketkeeper de Kock in the third over. Lungi Ngidi (3-30) took out Brandon King and Chase in the fourth over.
Holder and Shepherd pushed the accelerator in the death overs. Holder smashed Marco Jansen for 23 runs in the 18th over before he was run out in the final over. Shepherd completed his half-century with an inside edge off the final ball of the innings but South Africa kept the score under-par at its favorite ground in Ahmedabad.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
West Indies' Romario Shepherd plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and West Indies in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
South Africa's Corbin Bosch, left, celebrates with teammate Keshav Maharaj the wicket of West Indies' Matthew Forde during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and West Indies in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
South Africa's captain Aiden Markram plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and West Indies in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
South Africa's captain Aiden Markram, right, and batting partner Quinton de Kock run between the wickets during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and West Indies in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
South Africa's captain Aiden Markram, left, and West Indies' captain Shai Hope move to shake hands after the coin toss of the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and West Indies in Ahmedabad, India, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
