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Manchester United’s financial results show something huge is at stake this season

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Man Utd announced their financial results for the second quarter on Wednesday afternoon – and something big is at stake.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting was radical at Manchester United after his acquisition of a minority stake, but club chiefs believe the latest financial numbers vindicate the wide-ranging decisions.

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On Wednesday, United announced their second quarter financial results, revealing an operating profit of £32.6million in the first six months of fiscal 2026, compared to £3.9m operating loss in the same period in 2025.

United believe they have effectively managed their structural cost base to increase profitability, along with putting the club in a strong position should they qualify for the Champions League.

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Omar Berrada said: “We are now seeing the positive financial impact of our off-pitch transformation materialise both in our costs and profitability. We continue to take a football first approach and invest in both our men’s and women’s first teams.

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“On the pitch, our men’s team sits fourth in the Premier League and our women’s team are second in the Women’s Super League, as well as reaching the League Cup final and the quarter-final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

“Today’s results demonstrate the underlying strength of our business as we continue to push for the best football results possible for our men’s and women’s teams.”

United are still burdened with more than £1bn worth of debt. Wednesday’s numbers also confirmed that commercial and matchday revenue are both down on the same period last year, but the Ineos hierarchy feel their decisions have put the club on a firm financial footing.

The Reds must return to the Champions League, though. The press release for the second quarter financial numbers highlighted United’s position in the table, and sources privately mentioned the competition.

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It looks like fifth place in the Premier League will be enough to secure Champions League qualification this season, and United’s win against Everton meant they are three points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool.

Before United’s visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Carrick discussed the prospect of guiding the club back into Europe’s competition, saying: “It‘s good that everyone’s asking that question. It shows that we’ve put ourselves in a good position to start with.

“I think going back to what I’ve just said before really, we’re not getting too carried away now all of a sudden after a few weeks. We know where we’re at, we’re in a good position.

“I’d still like to be in a better position, mind you, but we’re in a good position. We’re positive, I think we should be. I think there’s a lot of good things to take and look forward to. But then again, it’s up to us and putting it into play really. It’s possible, it’s up to us to take the opportunity.”

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When it was put to Carrick that a two-year absence from the Champions League was too long for a club of United’s size, Carrick said: “Yeah, of course, it’s where we want to be. It’s where we want to be. We’ve had success in this competition before, and some great experiences in this competition. For all sorts of different reasons, it’s where we want to be. So it’s definitely what we’re pushing for.”

United need to qualify for the Champions League for commercial and footballing reasons. The best players want to play in the competition, and securing Champions League football will help in the transfer market.

The competition would also provide United with close to £100m from prize money and broadcast revenue. That hefty sum would certainly help to balance the books more kindly.

In the summer, club sources explained a return to Europe was the target for this season. Ruben Amorim refused to outright say Champions League was the target, but Darren Fletcher broke ranks during his stint as caretaker and said United needed to return to Europe’s most lucrative competition.

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Carrick has made a remarkable impact, meaning United are now well-placed to return to the Champions League. Ineos have steadily improved the club’s financial position, but their work would be undermined if United fail to qualify for the Champions League again this season.

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Hannah Cain: ‘Ugly’ social media affects players’ mental health

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“During that time I think that we weren’t playing badly at a club and I wasn’t playing badly but certain people decided to just send abusive messages after pretty much every game and it got to a point where I thought this is not OK,” Cain added.

“It didn’t matter what I did on the pitch and it does affect you at some point.

“You see so much of it you start thinking, are they right? Obviously you know that they’re not but I think it was becoming so much that sometimes you have to speak out.”

Cain believes people can forget that footballers “are actual humans”, with abuse affecting players’ lives away from the pitch as well as family members.

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Therefore, Cain says, she will use her platform to try to prevent further abuse.

“I think when you do say something, people start deleting all the negative comments they’ve made and they think that’s OK,” she added.

“But if I can have a tiny, tiny effect on people maybe thinking before they write something, then I’ll absolutely do that.”

“You have to take the good with the bad sometimes and I understand people can get carried away and let their emotions get away from them, but I think [it is good to have] a reminder that it can have a serious effect on people’s mental health.”

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UFL to introduce four-point field goal in rule change overhaul

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United Football League games will look noticeably different once the 2026 season kicks off. 

The spring football league announced several rule revisions for its upcoming season, including a new twist on field goals. Any team that makes a field goal of at least 60 yards will receive four points instead of the traditional three.

“We want to create an exciting game. We want good flow. We want big plays. We want to promote scoring,” UFL head of officiating Dean Blandino told USA Today Sports.

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A Columbus Aviators UFL football before an introductory press conference at Historic Crew Stadium Oct. 9, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (Jason Mowry/UFL/Getty Images)

Other notable changes center around punting restrictions. Teams will be barred from punting “anywhere inside the 50-yard line,” the UFL said, except after the two-minute warning in either half.

The past couple of seasons in the NFL saw an uptick in field goal tries from beyond the 60-yard mark. Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey, who played spring football in the USFL from 2022-23, connected on a 64-yard field goal last season.

UFL logo on a pylon

The UFL logo on an end zone pylon during the second half of the UFL game between the DC Defenders and the San Antonio Brahmas at Audi Field April 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C.  (Scott Taetsch/UFL/Getty Images)

“Kicking a 65-yard field goal is a lot harder than one from 35,” Blandino added, according to ESPN. “Why should they count the same? So, it promotes excitement. Those are really, really exciting plays, whether it’s an end to half or end of game, and it’s also going to change the strategy of the game as well.”

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Other changes in the rules overhaul included a ban of the tush push. The short-yardage play was nearly banned by NFL team owners in 2025.

UFL logo on the field

The UFL logo on the field before a game between the Memphis Showboats and the San Antonio Brahmas at Alamodome May 16, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. (Tim Heitman/UFL/Getty Images)

Kickers will begin kicking off the ball from the 30-yard line during the 2026 season.

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UFL players have already reported to training camp. The 2026 season kicks off March 27 on FOX.

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Which prison is Elizabeth Holmes housed in? Theranos founder complains about inmates not being able to watch Trump SOTU address inside jail 

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Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes recently complained that her federal prison camp did not allow her and her fellow inmates to watch President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. Holmes is currently incarcerated at Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas after being convicted of three counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in 2022.

On February 25, 2026, Elizabeth Holmes took to her X account to complain about not being allowed to watch Trump’s State of the Union address, which was held the previous day. She further alleged that the system was “broken” as the federal prison camp allowed inmates to “stay up past count” to watch the BET Awards, adding:

“My federal prison camp let inmates stay up past count for the BET Music Awards. Last night they wouldn’t let us watch the State of the Union. The Bureau of Prisons would rather we be entertained than educated. The system is broken.”

In a follow-up post, she added that she had learned her camp leadership was unaware of the State of the Union address, writing:

“Update: I’ve now learned that Bryan Prison camp leadership was not aware there was a State of the Union address last night. They have committed to ensuring we can watch future presidential addresses, debates, and other major political events going forward.”

Update: I’ve now learned that Bryan Prison camp leadership was not aware there was a State of the Union address last night. They have committed to ensuring we can watch future presidential addresses, debates, and other major political events going forward.I’m grateful for the quick response. Access to civic life shouldn’t end at a prison fence, and now it won’t. Hopefully this will extend to the other 121 federal prisons in this country. 🇺🇸🦅🦅

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Elizabeth Holmes is scheduled for release on April 3, 2032

Elizabeth Holmes reportedly dropped out of Stanford University at the age of 19 to focus on developing health care technology and founded Theranos, a blood-testing start-up, in 2003. Her company was funded by the likes of Robert Murdoch, and Holmes became the United States’ youngest self-made billionaire in 2014.

Her company specialized in creating a device, called the Edison, that was believed to conduct conventional laboratory and blood tests with just a finger prick and a few drops of blood. It reportedly offered more than 240 tests ranging from cholesterol to cancer.

However, an exposé by The Wall Street Journal, dated October 16, 2015, cast doubt on the company’s claims. This report instigated a federal probe into Holmes and an indictment that charged Holmes and Theranos executive Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani of misleading and defrauding investors and patients.

Elizabeth Holmes’ trial began in 2022, and she began her sentence in 2023. At the time of her sentencing, U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds said:

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“When fraud is perpetrated on those providing the necessary capital, it staunches investment and can cripple an industry. For almost a decade, Elizabeth Holmes fabricated and spread elaborate falsehoods to draw in a legion of capital investors, both big and small, and her deceit caused the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars. Her sentence reflects the audacity of her massive fraud and the staggering damage she caused.”

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Jury finds Elizabeth Holmes guilty on 4 counts of fraud and conspiracy at her former blood-testing startup Theranos.

Holmes was a new first-time mom before her trial began in 2022, and she gave birth to her second child in 2023, months before she was scheduled to begin her sentencing. She began her sentence on May 30, 2023, and is scheduled to be released on April 3, 2032.

According to a People Magazine interview in February 2025, Elizabeth Holmes maintains her innocence, adding:

“Then it was about forgiving myself for my own part. [And] I refused to plead guilty to crimes I did not commit. Theranos failed. But failure is not fraud.”


Elizabeth Holmes reportedly works as a reentry clerk in prison, earning 31 cents an hour. She also works as a law clerk and teaches French to fellow inmates.

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