Over Before it Began: Pemsel Outed as Premier League CEO Prior to Commencing Role

Following reports from various UK outlets such as the Guardian and the Daily Mail, incoming Premier League CEO David Pemsel has resigned.

The 51-year-old, who has previously worked at ITV and Shine TV, was set to begin his new role in early 2020.

But recent allegations claim that Pemsel had been in contact with a woman in her 20’s, with the conversations supposedly anything but business related.

The League went through a tumultuous time in their bid to find a successor to Richard Scudamore, who had been CEO prior to the turn of the new millennium.

Scudamore had been the backbone of the League for nearly 20 years, doing a fantastic job to keep everything in order.

He is a founding member of the Football Foundation, the UK’s largest sport charity which uses funds from the League and the FA to help the less fortunate realise their dreams (developing football pitches, funding community clubs etc).

When he retired, the League had the tough and almost unenviable task of replacing him. It’s comparable to Manchester United and Arsenal’s attempts to replace Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, respectively.

It’s no mean feat and unfortunately for those in power, they chose the wrong man for the job.

However, with Pemsel out of the picture, now is an opportune time to rewrite those wrongs and hire someone who they can bank on.

They not only need to hire someone they can trust, they need to hire someone and make a statement that they will no longer tolerate the mistreatment of women in the media.

Pemsel is not an outlier when it comes to this and the League need to buck the trend.

Hiring a woman for the job is the immediate thought that springs to mind, but they shouldn’t limit themselves to that.

If they can find someone who has a firm grasp of what can and can’t be said or done to women in the media, then they are on the right track to regaining some faith from the public.

The League has come under fire for this debacle and it’s not hard to see why. But while people won’t forget Pemsel and his legacy as CEO, if they can take a stand and get back on the right path, then this is definitely repairable damage.

The League should also look to Scudamore and his legacy as CEO. He never took a backwards step and helped build the Premier League into the most respected top flight in European football.

He was responsible for the punishments handed down to Ashley Cole, Jose Mourinho and the Chelsea Football Club following Cole’s controversial transfer from fierce London rivals Arsenal.

He was also a part of the ‘Game 39’ proposal that immediately turned away fans. But he noticed this and quickly shut it down, knowing just how little the fans were on board with the idea.

They need to reflect on the lasting impact Scudamore left and realise the duty they have to not do him a disservice again.

Interim CEO Richard Masters is set to continue in the role until the screening process is concluded.

 

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The Athlete Management System changing the Data Game

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Image Credit: Teamworks

In today’s high-performance sports landscape, data is a game-changer, and the Teamworks AMS has been regarded as the gold standard in Athlete Management Systems (AMS)

Teamworks is a company dedicated to helping athletes, and the people who support them, reach their full potential through innovative technology.

The company is built by athletes, for athletes, and exists to serve and support the world of sport.

Since its founding in 2006, Teamworks has experienced strong and steady growth.

By continually investing in its team and bringing together top-tier tech companies through strategic acquisitions, Teamworks has been able to offer even greater value and service to its customers.

What started in Durham, North Carolina, has now grown into a global presence—spanning 11 countries and supporting athletes and elite sports organisations around the world.

As of 2025, the company has grown to over 450 employees and has secured $165 million in funding.

The company offers a variety of products and services, however, it’s one of their products, the Teamworks AMS that is changing the data game.

Teamworks AMS is part of the Teamworks Performance lineup, which also includes Teamworks Nutrition (formerly Notemeal).

Together, these connected tools help practitioners and sports scientists provide personalised, well-coordinated care for athletes—boosting performance while helping to prevent injuries.

Teamworks’ AMS helps integrated and multidisciplinary sports performance teams deliver personalised and unified support to elite athletes.

By bringing all the data into one place, it gives coaches and specialists a clear, real-time picture of each player and the team as a whole—so they can make smarter decisions that drive performance every single week.

Teamworks AMS focuses on three key areas to support athlete performance: keeping athletes ready, reducing injuries, and driving long-term development.

Keep Athletes Ready to Perform

By bringing together data on workload, fitness testing and nutrition, users can create tailored programs that help each athlete stay healthy, prepared, and performing at their best.

Reduce Injury Risk and Support Recovery

Integrating performance and medical data makes it easier to identify athletes at risk or in recovery. Foster collaboration to speed recovery and help the athlete return to peak performance.

Develop Each Athlete’s Potential

Leverage data to create personalised development plans built around each athlete’s strengths and areas for improvement—supporting growth both physically and mentally.

Teamworks AMS aggregates performance, health, and medical data from over 100 connected wearables and technologies—giving users more time to focus on analysis and action.

Through the use of the Teamworks AMS app, athletes can build custom, visually rich dashboards to spot trends, make smarter decisions, and help boost performance while reducing injury risk.

So why should Australian soccer clubs and organisations use Teamworks AMS?

In a sport where every detail matters—player readiness, injury prevention, and long-term development—Teamworks AMS offers a cutting-edge solution that will Australian soccer clubs elevate performance and stay competitive at all levels.

Soccer is fast-paced, physically demanding, and leaves little room for unpreparedness.

Teamworks AMS pulls together data to create tailored programs that keep players fit, fresh, and ready for matchday.

With a long season and tight schedules, injury risk is constant.

Teamworks AMS integrates medical and performance data to help identify early warning signs and streamline return-to-play strategies.

This collaborative approach ensures better communication at clubs between coaches and medical staff—minimising downtime and maximising impact on the field.

Whether nurturing academy talent or refining senior players, Teamworks AMS helps coaches and performance staff build data-driven Individual Development Plans.

These plans are tailored to each player’s strengths and weaknesses, supporting both physical growth and mental resilience—critical for consistent performance in competitive soccer.

With the A-Leagues, NPL, and youth academies continuing to grow in professionalism and player expectations, Australian soccer clubs need tools that keep pace.

In a world where performance is defined by precision, Teamworks AMS stands out as the gold standard in athlete management—empowering teams with the data, tools, and insights they need to unlock peak potential and stay ahead of the game.

Inaugural Female Referee Mentoring Program Launched by Football NSW

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Credit: Football NSW

Football NSW has launched the Female Referees Mentoring Program, a groundbreaking initiative which aims to support and develop  female referees throughout the state.

This unique program builds on the groundwork set by recent NSW Football Legacy scholarship initiatives, continuing to create opportunities and support greater gender diversity in football officiating.

It’s another strong example of Football NSW’s ongoing commitment to developing and supporting female referees.

Football NSW’s Referees Development & Education Manager Emma Kocbek highlighted the organisation’s commitment to empowering female referees through mentorship, fostering inclusion and strengthening the game with greater diversity.

“Football NSW is committed to creating an inclusive environment that encourages women to thrive in all aspects of the game,” Kocbek said in a press release.

“This mentoring program is a significant step forward in empowering female referees, providing them with the tools, confidence, and mentorship needed to succeed at higher levels.

“We believe that diverse refereeing panels lead to a more dynamic, fair, and engaging game for everyone.”

The Mentoring Program is designed to support Level 3 and Level 4 female referees by connecting them with experienced mentors.

Through tailored guidance, real-world advice, and ongoing support, participants will grow their skills, build confidence, and develop as leaders on and off the field.

This support will help them advance in their refereeing careers while also playing a part in encouraging more women to get involved in officiating—across NSW and beyond.

This innovative initiative is part of Football NSW’s wider commitment to increasing female involvement and leadership at all levels of the game.

By backing and developing female referees, Football NSW hopes to inspire more women to take up officiating and help build a football community that is more inclusive, diverse, and representative of everyone who loves the game.

Football NSW’s Head of Women’s and Schools Football Hayley Todd emphasised that ongoing government funding is vital to grow mentoring programs, boost referee numbers, and build a stronger, more supportive sporting community.

“Government funding plays a crucial role in the successful implementation and growth of the mentoring programs,” Todd said in a press release.

“As participation numbers continue to rise, sustained investment is essential to ensure we are not only increasing the number of referees but also enhancing their skills and confidence.

“By prioritising this investment, we can build a more robust and well-supported sporting community that benefits players, coaches, and referees alike.”

In the coming weeks, Football NSW will be working closely with Referee Branches to identify both mentors and mentees for the program.

This project is proudly backed by the NSW Office of Sport through the NSW Football Legacy Program, and by the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care through its Play Our Way Program.

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