What exactly is amortisation?

Amortisation is a creative accounting practice that can be used by clubs as a way of balancing the books. It is merely a process of gradually writing off the initial cost of a player over the course of their contract.

How have Chelsea used it to their advantage?

It explains why Chelsea, who are trying to ensure their wild spending does not breach financial fair play regulations, handed out eight-and-a-half year deals to Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernández. Mudryk joined for a potential £89m but that fee will be recorded at around £10m a year for Uefa’s FFP calculations.

BRUCE ALMIGHTY

“I am very disappointed and saddened to see Steve go, having made personal attempts to make him stay. But given the divisions within Sheffield United this has not been possible” – chief suit Carlo Colombotti, May 1999.

“We have mutually agreed that it is in both [Huddersfield]’s and Steve’s best interests that this amicable agreement has been reached” – chief suit Barry Rubery, October 2000.

“He told me that he had thought about the move for over a week and it was an offer he couldn’t refuse. We didn’t even have the chance to offer him a package with Wigan” – chief suit Dave Whelan, May 2001.

“The very…

Before this series, if you’d asked most people who would advance to the NBA Finals between the Lakers and their nameless opponents, they would have responded with a rhetorical question. “Do you know who they’re playing?” Not literally. The Denver Nuggets aren’t in witness protection, but just a few days ago the hubris of picking them over LeBron and Anthony Davis in the Conference Finals would have been astounding. It’s never wise to doubt LeBron James, especially when his opponents are lambs for slaughter. To the outside world, the Denver Nuggets are the same team L.A. swept in The Bubble. Since then, they’ve been swept in the postseason by Phoenix and manhandled by the Warriors in six. The Lakers, however, were the real apple of everyone’s playoff eye. They just disman…

This story has been corrected. See below. St. Bonaventure was all set to pull off a 66-65 victory over VCU yesterday, thanks to a winning three in the game’s last seconds. But, alas, it wasn’t to be. Fans stormed the court with 0.4 seconds still left to play, making it near-impossible for the teams to finish out that final half-second and causing the officials to give St. Bonaventure a technical once the fans finally got off the court. (Courtesy of NCAA Rulebook Article 8, which is pretty explicit in its condemnation of early court-storming: “Team followers [fans, bands, cheerleaders and mascots associated with either team] shall not commit an unsportsmanlike act, including, but not limited to, the following: … delaying the game by preventing the ball from being promptly made liv…

There are now only a few months to go until the biggest sporting event of 2014—the FIFA World Cup in Brazil—and questions are being asked. Will the stadiums be ready? Are the airports ready for the crowds? But one matter rises above all others, and may have an impact on the destiny of the cup itself: How will the ball move through the air? A version of this article originally appeared The Conversation. The words "Love me or Lose me" appear beside Adidas's new World Cup football— the Brazuca—on billboards the world over. They implore the reader to accept the football for what it is, and are a not-so-subtle nod to the controversy which dogged the Brazuca's ancestors, the Jabulani and Teamgeist. Since 1970, every World Cup football has been made by Adidas, …

The rumors are true. It seems that the new Lions logo that " leaked" awhile back is legit and a new typeface and squiggly lines will soon usher in a glorious new era of Detroit football. A new coach, new GM, a new No .1 draft pick QB waiting in the wings ( grumble, grumble) and now these snappy new unis—oh, yes this team is destined for greatness … as soon as they shake off the five decades of failure that weigh down the hopes and dreams of a troubled populace like a rusty anchor. The leaping lion appears more fierce, while the team name features an italicized slant. The team says the changes are consistent with its "sense of mission and direction." Yes, he does seem more fierce. Having a face will do that to a mascot. Is it possible for Lions fans to be energi…