AHEAD OF THE GAME: UEFA are losing MILLIONS on Women's Euro 2022

Euro 2022 is projected to incur losses of several millions despite sell-out crowds across much of the country in an indication of the ongoing financial challenges facing the women’s game. 

UEFA will absorb the losses by dipping into the surplus from last year’s men’s tournament, which generated record revenue of £1.6billion. 

UEFA remain committed to women’s football despite the commercial challenges and have doubled the prize money for the Euros — to £13.5million — from the previous tournament, as well as allotting £3.8m to pay European clubs a release fee of £420 per day for use of their players. 

Amazon’s surprise capture of live Champions League rights for the 2024 to 2027 cycle was built on the success of their coverage of rugby’s autumn internationals, which demonstrated the streaming service’s impressive presence in UK homes.

Amazon keep their viewing figures secret, but Sportsmail has learned that England’s 32-15 win over Australia last November was watched by a peak audience of around three million, which is almost six times the size of Sky Sports’ average audience for international rugby.

Amazon have secured the first pick of Tuesday night Champions League matches after 2024 and will be confident of attracting more large audiences.

Crystal Palace face losing out on tour fees and commercial bonuses due to their players’ vaccine hesitancy after embarking on a pre-season trip to Singapore and Australia with a weakened squad. 

Organisers of games against Liverpool — which Palace lost 2-0 yesterday — Manchester United and Leeds were assured Palace would bring a full-strength side but only eight senior outfield players have made the trip, leaving the club at risk of not fulfilling their obligations. 

The vaccine