Mark O'Neill
@moneill94.bsky.social
Sports Law Academic, newly qualified lawyer, cricket tragic, often found playing football manager in whatever spare time I have
Honoured to join @TheSIpod to talk about childhood sporting memories, sporting idols, and football club ownership 😊
The Sports Initiative Podcast shows.acast.com/thesportsiniti… via https://t.co/V4HYiWgcR9
The Sports Initiative Podcast shows.acast.com/thesportsiniti… via https://t.co/V4HYiWgcR9
https://shows.acast.com/thesportsinitiativepodcast/episodes/220-mark-oneill-the-history-and-future-of-football-ownership
t.co
October 17, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Honoured to join @TheSIpod to talk about childhood sporting memories, sporting idols, and football club ownership 😊
The Sports Initiative Podcast shows.acast.com/thesportsiniti… via https://t.co/V4HYiWgcR9
The Sports Initiative Podcast shows.acast.com/thesportsiniti… via https://t.co/V4HYiWgcR9
The end of an informative & impactful @playthegame-org.bsky.social conference here in Tampere.
It certainly made me think about issues that I hadn't really considered, the last session on illegal gambling raised some interesting questions for football & it's relationship with betting companies
It certainly made me think about issues that I hadn't really considered, the last session on illegal gambling raised some interesting questions for football & it's relationship with betting companies
October 8, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The end of an informative & impactful @playthegame-org.bsky.social conference here in Tampere.
It certainly made me think about issues that I hadn't really considered, the last session on illegal gambling raised some interesting questions for football & it's relationship with betting companies
It certainly made me think about issues that I hadn't really considered, the last session on illegal gambling raised some interesting questions for football & it's relationship with betting companies
A rather meaty subject to get stuck into on day 2 of @playthegame-org.bsky.social conference....
Does culture shape practice, or does practice shape culture?
Does culture shape practice, or does practice shape culture?
October 6, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A rather meaty subject to get stuck into on day 2 of @playthegame-org.bsky.social conference....
Does culture shape practice, or does practice shape culture?
Does culture shape practice, or does practice shape culture?
Fascinating talk on sports washing by @julesboykoff.bsky.social at @playthegame-org.bsky.social
Challenged my traditional thinking on the topic!
Challenged my traditional thinking on the topic!
October 5, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Fascinating talk on sports washing by @julesboykoff.bsky.social at @playthegame-org.bsky.social
Challenged my traditional thinking on the topic!
Challenged my traditional thinking on the topic!
Dodgy owners are hardly a modern day phenomenon either - the scandal at Bristol Rovers in 1950 when a greyhound racing company took control & tried to take control of the ground/land is an eerily familiar example of some undesirable modern day practice & loophole exploitation!
#football #sportslaw
#football #sportslaw
August 27, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Dodgy owners are hardly a modern day phenomenon either - the scandal at Bristol Rovers in 1950 when a greyhound racing company took control & tried to take control of the ground/land is an eerily familiar example of some undesirable modern day practice & loophole exploitation!
#football #sportslaw
#football #sportslaw
one thing I've found since starting my PhD is that I love getting stuck into archive research, learning about the history, looking for the those hidden snippets that shaped the game
Looking at the history of club ownership in the minutes & board meetings of clubs in early/mid 1900s
#PhD #Research
Looking at the history of club ownership in the minutes & board meetings of clubs in early/mid 1900s
#PhD #Research
August 27, 2025 at 8:19 AM
This is a decision that really smacks of a literal approach (i.e. this is what the rules say & you must stick to them) to interpreting rules and regulations rather than a purposive one (interpreting them in a way to ensure they achieve the underlying purpose of them).
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Crystal Palace lose appeal against demotion from Europa League to Conference League
Crystal Palace are unsuccessful in their appeal against being demoted from the Europa League and will play in the Conference League this season.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 11, 2025 at 3:11 PM
This is a decision that really smacks of a literal approach (i.e. this is what the rules say & you must stick to them) to interpreting rules and regulations rather than a purposive one (interpreting them in a way to ensure they achieve the underlying purpose of them).
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Absolutely - it's hard to come up with a cogent reason as to why he's doing this. If it's to squeeze a bit of extra money out of Panjab, then its extreme bad faith negotiating. Makes it look like Whittingham has read the Art of the Deal and uses that as his bible....
None of which is to deflect attention from the villain here.
Morecambe has almost no players, can't host matches, isn't insured for training, has no money, hasn't paid its Vat and risks its still unpaid staff losing their homes.
Jason Whittingham is a man entirely without honour or decency.
Morecambe has almost no players, can't host matches, isn't insured for training, has no money, hasn't paid its Vat and risks its still unpaid staff losing their homes.
Jason Whittingham is a man entirely without honour or decency.
August 1, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Absolutely - it's hard to come up with a cogent reason as to why he's doing this. If it's to squeeze a bit of extra money out of Panjab, then its extreme bad faith negotiating. Makes it look like Whittingham has read the Art of the Deal and uses that as his bible....
Reposted by Mark O'Neill
"I think it's sensible they didn't pick Archer for this game, you don't want to rush him too soon." @moneill94.bsky.social
🏏 England vs India 2nd Test Preview ▶️ youtu.be/WDhZUSIv6MY
#ENGvIND
🏏 England vs India 2nd Test Preview ▶️ youtu.be/WDhZUSIv6MY
#ENGvIND
July 1, 2025 at 11:25 AM
"I think it's sensible they didn't pick Archer for this game, you don't want to rush him too soon." @moneill94.bsky.social
🏏 England vs India 2nd Test Preview ▶️ youtu.be/WDhZUSIv6MY
#ENGvIND
🏏 England vs India 2nd Test Preview ▶️ youtu.be/WDhZUSIv6MY
#ENGvIND
Reposted by Mark O'Neill
"Is Ollie Pope a long term number three? I'm not so sure he is. Longer term, Bethell will be that guy." @moneill94.bsky.social
Watch our England v India Test series preview here ▶️ youtu.be/hkptX9Y_hz0
#cricket #england #india
Watch our England v India Test series preview here ▶️ youtu.be/hkptX9Y_hz0
#cricket #england #india
June 19, 2025 at 10:20 AM
"Is Ollie Pope a long term number three? I'm not so sure he is. Longer term, Bethell will be that guy." @moneill94.bsky.social
Watch our England v India Test series preview here ▶️ youtu.be/hkptX9Y_hz0
#cricket #england #india
Watch our England v India Test series preview here ▶️ youtu.be/hkptX9Y_hz0
#cricket #england #india
My latest blogpost on the developing situation at #crystalpalace and their potential exclusion from UEFA competition.
- Explain the MCO rules
- What are the considerations with MCO arrangements
- How they could apply to Palace
#UEFA #Football #SportsLaw
sportlawmusings.com/post/crystal-p…
- Explain the MCO rules
- What are the considerations with MCO arrangements
- How they could apply to Palace
#UEFA #Football #SportsLaw
sportlawmusings.com/post/crystal-p…
https://sportlawmusings.com/post/crystal-p…
June 9, 2025 at 9:05 PM
My latest blogpost on the developing situation at #crystalpalace and their potential exclusion from UEFA competition.
- Explain the MCO rules
- What are the considerations with MCO arrangements
- How they could apply to Palace
#UEFA #Football #SportsLaw
sportlawmusings.com/post/crystal-p…
- Explain the MCO rules
- What are the considerations with MCO arrangements
- How they could apply to Palace
#UEFA #Football #SportsLaw
sportlawmusings.com/post/crystal-p…
Here for day 1 of the @fairgameuk.bsky.social conference at @afcwimbledon1889.bsky.social - looking forward to an exciting couple of days talking all things football and how to make the game fairer for the whole pyramid
#fgc25
#fgc25
May 28, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Here for day 1 of the @fairgameuk.bsky.social conference at @afcwimbledon1889.bsky.social - looking forward to an exciting couple of days talking all things football and how to make the game fairer for the whole pyramid
#fgc25
#fgc25
Great to see Zimbabwe playing test cricket in England again. In many ways the result is irrelevant, what's more important is that Zim give a decent account of themselves & help the smaller test playing countries get more opportunities against the big teams #ENGvZIM
May 23, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Great to see Zimbabwe playing test cricket in England again. In many ways the result is irrelevant, what's more important is that Zim give a decent account of themselves & help the smaller test playing countries get more opportunities against the big teams #ENGvZIM
Safe to say that this isn't one that anyone had on their 2025 bingo card - great news for Swansea fans though!
Does raise an interesting question as to whether current players should have the ability to invest in other clubs while they're still playing?
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Does raise an interesting question as to whether current players should have the ability to invest in other clubs while they're still playing?
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Luka Modric: Ballon d’Or to boardroom – why has Real Madrid legend invested in Swansea City?
With Luka Modric investing in Swansea City, BBC Sport asks why? How did it happen? What will his role be? And what does it mean for the Welsh club?
www.bbc.co.uk
April 15, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Safe to say that this isn't one that anyone had on their 2025 bingo card - great news for Swansea fans though!
Does raise an interesting question as to whether current players should have the ability to invest in other clubs while they're still playing?
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Does raise an interesting question as to whether current players should have the ability to invest in other clubs while they're still playing?
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Reposted by Mark O'Neill
"Jonny Bairstow has got a point to prove this year. But whether he can manage the demands of captaincy, the gloves and being one of the key batsman remains to be seen" @moneill94.bsky.social
🏏 Watch our 2025 County Championship preview here ➡️ youtu.be/i1EegpWdDMs #Bairstow
🏏 Watch our 2025 County Championship preview here ➡️ youtu.be/i1EegpWdDMs #Bairstow
April 3, 2025 at 4:58 PM
"Jonny Bairstow has got a point to prove this year. But whether he can manage the demands of captaincy, the gloves and being one of the key batsman remains to be seen" @moneill94.bsky.social
🏏 Watch our 2025 County Championship preview here ➡️ youtu.be/i1EegpWdDMs #Bairstow
🏏 Watch our 2025 County Championship preview here ➡️ youtu.be/i1EegpWdDMs #Bairstow
Reposted by Mark O'Neill
This post reminded me of another good measure of what type of person you should have in your life
March 4, 2025 at 10:39 AM
This post reminded me of another good measure of what type of person you should have in your life
Fun Fact: In 1906, Liverpool and Manchester United proposed a change to league rules that would have required all teams to have played in either red or white shirts
Thankfully it was voted down.....
Can you imagine if that had got voted through??
Thankfully it was voted down.....
Can you imagine if that had got voted through??
February 27, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Fun Fact: In 1906, Liverpool and Manchester United proposed a change to league rules that would have required all teams to have played in either red or white shirts
Thankfully it was voted down.....
Can you imagine if that had got voted through??
Thankfully it was voted down.....
Can you imagine if that had got voted through??
Fascinating talk at the @BASL_Sport_Law Conf on the concept of consent to criminality in sport, and where the line is drawn on this relating to acts on the field of play
I wrote about this topic myself a couple of years ago (feel free to check it out)....
www.sportlawmusings.com/post/crossin...
I wrote about this topic myself a couple of years ago (feel free to check it out)....
www.sportlawmusings.com/post/crossin...
https://sportlawmusings.com/post/crossing-…
February 27, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Fascinating talk at the @BASL_Sport_Law Conf on the concept of consent to criminality in sport, and where the line is drawn on this relating to acts on the field of play
I wrote about this topic myself a couple of years ago (feel free to check it out)....
www.sportlawmusings.com/post/crossin...
I wrote about this topic myself a couple of years ago (feel free to check it out)....
www.sportlawmusings.com/post/crossin...
Looking forward to an engaging and interesting day here at the British Association for Sport and Law Annual Conference at the Royal Automobile Club
Some real thought provoking topics on the agenda, and looking forward to learning and meeting some great people in the sports law space
Some real thought provoking topics on the agenda, and looking forward to learning and meeting some great people in the sports law space
February 27, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Looking forward to an engaging and interesting day here at the British Association for Sport and Law Annual Conference at the Royal Automobile Club
Some real thought provoking topics on the agenda, and looking forward to learning and meeting some great people in the sports law space
Some real thought provoking topics on the agenda, and looking forward to learning and meeting some great people in the sports law space
This is a massive indicator for why there needs to be independent regulation of the game, the PL is effectively seen as a lame duck regulator as a result of this ruling.
Will be interesting to see the details of the judgment once it's released...
www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Will be interesting to see the details of the judgment once it's released...
www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Man City victory as Premier League sponsorship rules declared void
Rival clubs could now seek compensation after legal ruling, with top flight facing legal costs in excess of £10m
www.thetimes.com
February 14, 2025 at 6:27 PM
This is a massive indicator for why there needs to be independent regulation of the game, the PL is effectively seen as a lame duck regulator as a result of this ruling.
Will be interesting to see the details of the judgment once it's released...
www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Will be interesting to see the details of the judgment once it's released...
www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
Excellent example of how these autocratic states react when being held to account for alleged crimes - no idea if allegations are true, but that is what a court is for (unless you're so rich that you can threaten to bankrupt a club just to get your way)
www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2025/qatar-t...
www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2025/qatar-t...
Qatar threatens to withdraw investment from PSG & BeIn Sports over Nasser Al-Khelaifi indictment - Get French Football News
A bombshell has hit the French capital this morning. According to a report from Agence France Presse, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was
www.getfootballnewsfrance.com
February 13, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Excellent example of how these autocratic states react when being held to account for alleged crimes - no idea if allegations are true, but that is what a court is for (unless you're so rich that you can threaten to bankrupt a club just to get your way)
www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2025/qatar-t...
www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2025/qatar-t...
My podcasting debut on @padspadspads.bsky.social - thoroughly enjoyed setting the world to rights about England's test match cricket in 2024
Give it a watch and like and subscribe!
youtu.be/buUwTGupwQg?...
Give it a watch and like and subscribe!
youtu.be/buUwTGupwQg?...
2024 England Test Review | Jimmy Anderson retirement, Atkinson heroics, concerns over Bashir 🏏
YouTube video by Pads Pads Pads Cricket
youtu.be
February 8, 2025 at 12:37 PM
My podcasting debut on @padspadspads.bsky.social - thoroughly enjoyed setting the world to rights about England's test match cricket in 2024
Give it a watch and like and subscribe!
youtu.be/buUwTGupwQg?...
Give it a watch and like and subscribe!
youtu.be/buUwTGupwQg?...
@uglygame.bsky.social wonder if islamophobic comments from a shareholder will get the same reaction from the ownership....
www.bbc.com/sport/footba...
www.bbc.com/sport/footba...
Crawley Town: League One club to ban fan for antisemitic abuse of owners
Crawley Town intend to hand out a lifetime stadium ban to a supporter who aimed antisemitic abuse at the club's Jewish owners.
www.bbc.com
February 6, 2025 at 7:13 AM
@uglygame.bsky.social wonder if islamophobic comments from a shareholder will get the same reaction from the ownership....
www.bbc.com/sport/footba...
www.bbc.com/sport/footba...
Reposted by Mark O'Neill
COMING SOON!!
Fair Game Conference 2025
At AFC Wimbledon
28-29 May
Building a fairer future for football
⚽️ Workshops on football's problems
⚽️ High-profile speakers
⚽️ Stalls from football's great and good
Sponsorship packages now available. Message us to find out more
Fair Game Conference 2025
At AFC Wimbledon
28-29 May
Building a fairer future for football
⚽️ Workshops on football's problems
⚽️ High-profile speakers
⚽️ Stalls from football's great and good
Sponsorship packages now available. Message us to find out more
February 4, 2025 at 7:03 AM
COMING SOON!!
Fair Game Conference 2025
At AFC Wimbledon
28-29 May
Building a fairer future for football
⚽️ Workshops on football's problems
⚽️ High-profile speakers
⚽️ Stalls from football's great and good
Sponsorship packages now available. Message us to find out more
Fair Game Conference 2025
At AFC Wimbledon
28-29 May
Building a fairer future for football
⚽️ Workshops on football's problems
⚽️ High-profile speakers
⚽️ Stalls from football's great and good
Sponsorship packages now available. Message us to find out more