The Sports Desk

It’s one of the only major global sports that doesn’t have separate categories for men and women. And yet all the drivers on the F1 starting grid are men. We’ll be asking whether the causes of motor racing’s gender divide are social, physical or financial. And we’ll hear from two leading female drivers – Jamie Chadwick and Michelle Gatting - about the barriers they face on the road to the top. Pan...

Former England winger Claire Rafferty talks to The Sports Desk podcast about her struggles with bulimia and a culture of "fat clubs" and body shaming in English football. With new research suggesting more than a third of top English players show symptoms of disordered eating, we’ll be asking what more needs to be done to protect and educate players. We're joined by psychology lecturer Dr Carolyn P...

With Cristiano Ronaldo signing for Al-Nassr the Sports Desk podcast asks what it could mean for Saudi Arabia’s hopes of hosting the World Cup? The 37-year-old has signed a a two and a half year contract to effectively end his playing career in the Saudi Pro League, where he’ll reportedly receive the biggest football salary in history at more than £177m per year. His new employers believe his arriv...

The World Cup in Qatar has been one of the most controversial and politicised tournaments in history. As the tournament draws to a close, the Sports Desk team ask whether it has managed to leave the world of football more united - or divided. We hear from broadcaster Gary Lineker, Piara Powar, director of anti-discrimination group Fare, Nasser Al-Khater – chief executive of the Qatar World Cup, as...

With the start of the men’s Fifa World Cup just days away, the Sports Desk are in Doha to ask whether with all the off-field issues surrounding the tournament, can we really just focus on the football? They hear from Lise Klaveness, President of the Football Association of Norway and an outspoken critic of the decision to host the tournament in Qatar. Also from former Fifa president Sepp Blatter o...

With reports that Liverpool is up for sale, we’re asking what could the future hold for one of the world’s biggest football clubs. The owners of the nineteen time League Champions and six times European Winners have confirmed they would "consider new shareholders" after the Athletic broke the news that Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have put the club up for sale. In a statement, FSG say they remain “fu...

With rising inflation and an increased cost of living, how does sport survive in the current climate. If people are cutting back on recreational sport, will that have an adverse effect on the nation’s long-term health? And how do professional clubs without billionaire owners keep going? Swim England CEO Jane Nickerson, boxing club founder Mark Reynolds and Cornish Pirates finance director Rebecca...

With the average tenure of a Premier League manager decreasing, what can be done to stop the constant change. Can someone perform to the best of their ability with the threat of losing their job hanging over them? Should managers be given a minimum period to prove themselves, or should there be a transfer-window of sorts for managers – both to stop clubs from dismissing managers after a handful of...

It’s been a devastating month for top-flight rugby in England. First Worcester and now Wasps – the inaugural champions of the professional era – succumbing to financial meltdown. Their downfall has not only left players, coaches and staff looking for work, but also fans and communities bereft. We hear from Wasps and England lock Elliott Stooke - as well as the man who oversaw the club’s two Europe...

Can the Rugby League World Cup provide a much-needed catalyst to help the sport grow beyond its heartlands? The Sports Desk panel are joined by St Helens owner Eamonn McManus to discuss the future of the sport. We hear from the man in charge of the tournament as well as players from the England men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams. We find out about the Jamaican team with its roots in Yorkshire. Pl...

With half the clubs in the Premier League now owned or part-owned by Americans – and more likely to follow - we ask what the growing US influence could mean for our national sport. The American vice-chairman of Leeds United Paraag Marathe tells us about his love for the "jeopardy" of English football. Former Liverpool defender John Scales, now an ambassador for pressure group Fair Game, says more...

A domestic shake-up aimed at taking England’s men to No.1 in all three formats of cricket has sparked a furious response from the county game. In an exclusive broadcast interview, the new man in charge of English cricket Richard Thompson tells us why fewer domestic matches can help safeguard the future of the game and counter the threat of overseas T20 leagues. We hear from one of the leading crit...

Beyond the perfect groundstrokes, snappy outfits and winning smile, what do we know about one of the sporting icons of the 21st century? We speak to two men who’ve followed Federer’s career from close quarters – his former Swiss Davis Cup team-mate Marc Rosset and his biographer Rene Stauffer. You’ll also hear tributes to Federer from rivals Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as one of t...

Crushing tackles and full-on collisions are part of the spectacle of modern day rugby – but at what cost to players’ health? With a new season underway, we’ll be taking a closer look at the concussion cloud hanging over the sport. We hear from former Wales flanker Alix Popham, who was diagnosed with early-onset dementia at the age of 40 and is among of group of former players suing the game’s auth...

As Serena Williams bids farewell at the US Open, we examine the legacy of the African-American girl from Compton, California, who changed the sport of tennis forever. From racial equality and equal pay to fashion and motherhood, we look at Serena’s influence on and off the court and hear how she inspired a diverse new generation of players. We hear about the fun-loving, playful Serena from her for...

With the second season of The Hundred underway now and after Moeen Ali questioned the future of the 50 over game we’re asking is there too much cricket and does something have to give? Presenters: Delyth Lloyd and Henry Moeran Guests: George Dobell from the cricketer magazine, England players Stuart Broad and Alice Davidson-Richards and Daryl Mitchell, chief operating officer of the Professional C...

Following England’s Euro 2022 win we’re asking how that victory can provide real change for the women's game? Sarah Mulkerrins is joined by BBC commentator Vicki Sparks, former England captain Faye White and Fern Whelan, who is the PFA’s first executive for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in women's football. We also hear from FA Chair Debbie Hewitt, Premier League chief executive Richard Master...

Activists, athletes and organisers debate the impact of the Commonwealth Games. In a Birmingham café, influential voices from the city join The Sports Desk panel to discuss the Commonwealth Games. Aftab Rahman from Legacy West Midlands says the Games have not done enough to embrace Birmingham’s diverse communities. Geoff Thompson, deputy chair of the Birmingham 2022 organising committee, argues th...

From Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony, through Super Saturday and a record-breaking Paralympics, 2012 was a golden summer of national pride and sporting success. But to what end? A decade on from London 2012 – with nearly a third of UK adults and children classed as inactive – we explore whether the Olympics and Paralympics really delivered a sporting legacy for our country. We hear from sprinter De...

Despite dominating athletics for generations, the USA hasn’t taken track and field to its heart. So can this week’s world championships on home soil drive a surge in interest ahead of the LA 2028 Olympics or will they struggle to make waves beyond the traditional stronghold in Oregon? We hear from world athletics chief Seb Coe, track superstar Michael Johnson, three athletes who came through the U...

After a professional cycling team was raided by police on the eve of the Tour de France we’re asking can the sport ever clean up its image? Team Bahrain Victorious were raided twice in the week building up to road cycling’s most iconic race - the Tour de France. Authorities visited 14 locations in six countries as part of the same doping investigation launched by French Police into the team during...

It promises to be a summer like no other for women’s football: a home Euros, sell-out crowds and an England team tipped by many to go all the way. However, with attendances in the Women’s Super League declining, can the tournament really have a lasting impact on interest and participation? And could the Football Association have been more ambitious with its choice of stadiums for the showpiece? We...

After her meteoric rise to US Open success and global stardom in 2021, it’s been a bumpy ride back down to earth for British tennis star Emma Raducanu. While a string of injuries have been largely to blame for defeats and retirements on the court, we assess how far her frequent changes of coach and corporate demands have affected her readiness for life at the top end of tennis. On the eve of Wimbl...

As the damning Whyte Review reveals a culture of abuse and fear in British Gymnastics, we’ll be asking what the sport can do to restore its reputation. With many other sports reeling from welfare scandals, we’ll discuss how far coaches should go to push elite athletes, especially when they are children? We hear from Paralympic icon Tanni Grey-Thompson and former GB gymnasts Jennifer McIlveen and H...

Whether you’re a die-hard football fan or just a casual observer, it’s hard to ignore the rise of crypto products within the game. We cut through the jargon and explore whether cryptocurrency, fan tokens and NFTs are a vital new revenue source for cash-strapped clubs or a means for them to squeeze even more money out of fans? We’ll hear from the company producing fan tokens for some of Europe’s bi...