Are defamation claims in sport on the rise?
16th January, 2026
Several high-profile incidents hit the headlines towards the end of 2025 related to controversial public statements made by one party against another.
From Jamie Redknapp’s comments about Lord Sugar during a Sky Sports broadcast, to the fiasco surrounding Brendan Rodgers’ recent departure as Celtic Manager, there have been countless recent high-profile examples of potential defamatory statements, within the world of sport and beyond.
So, what is defamation?
In essence, there are three core elements that make a defamatory statement. It must be: (1) made / published to a third party about another (although it does not have to specifically name them); (2) false; and (3) cause (or be likely to cause) “serious harm” to the claimant.
There are two types of defamation claim in England and Wales, being:
- libel – generally related to a permanent form of publication (e.g. written / printed or broadcast); or
- slander – usually spoken words or gestures.
There are of course defences available, which in the above scenarios could be based on truth (i.e. the statement is factually correct) or, more likely, honest opinion (i.e. it was a statement of opinion that an honest person could have held based on the facts that existed at the time). Defences related to public interest are also common in high-profile cases.
Recent examples of potentially defamatory statements
First there were Jamie Redknapp’s comments about Lord Sugar. Redknapp initially claimed that Tottenham were left “in a complete mess” by Lord Sugar after he left as Chairman in 2001. Lord Sugar immediately responded on ‘X’, denying the claim and stating that Redknapp (and Sky) would be hearing from his lawyers. Redknapp subsequently apologised live on Sky Sports and made a charitable donation.
More recently, following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation from Celtic and his recent criticism of the club over its footballing operations and lack of investment in the squad over the summer, major shareholder Dermot Desmond issued a controversial statement, labelling Rodgers as “divisive, misleading, and self-serving“. Rodgers is yet to respond publicly, but no doubt many will be thinking about the potential ramifications of this public feud.
What is to come?
With the continued use of social media, instant and round the clock news, the rise of influencers and clamour for air-time and viewership, are these types of legal cases a sign of things to come? Could we see a growth in defamation claims over the next few years and beyond?
Time will of course tell. High-profile defamation claims have always existed, but historically people seem to have tolerated matters more and were prepared to sweep such statements under the carpet. Now however, perhaps because of the increasing publication and awareness of high-profile cases (e.g. the infamous ‘Wagatha Christie’ case), it appears high-profile individuals and companies are becoming more inclined to take action.
Whilst the Redknapp/Sugar and Rodgers/Desmond incidents may not go any further, this year there have been a number of high-profile cases in the world of sport (e.g. Warren v Eubank Jr and Aluko v Barton) and beyond (Clarke v Guardian and Taylor v Coogan & Others) that point towards a growing trend of highly publicised defamation claims.
Final remarks
The outcome of the Sugar v Redknapp/Sky episode was perhaps surprising and may encourage others who dislike opinions expressed about them to take action to try and procure high profile retractions and apologies.
There is a commercial, philosophical and legal debate to be had about whether that is a world we want to live in. TV broadcasters, for one, will certainly not be keen on the idea of their presenters and pundits having to moderate their language and be more nuanced in what is, ultimately, an entertainment industry, where ‘lively’ speech and opinions are part of the attraction for some subscription paying viewers.
Others, however, may want to see this go a step further, to discourage the expression of any potentially defamatory opinions, regardless of whether they are defendable or not.
If you have any questions regarding defamation and reputation management, please get in touch with our specialist team.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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