The 2024/25 winter transfer window saw total spending across all leagues reach €2.3 billion, an increase from €1.7 billion in the 2023/24 winter window. This marks a significant rise in transfer activity compared to last year.

Premier League clubs were the biggest spenders, investing €500.55 million in new signings. This is a sharp increase from last season’s €134.10 million, when they ranked third in total spending.

Ligue 1, which led the 2023/24 winter window with €266.43 million, dropped to third place this season with €201.80 million spent.

Serie A surges, Bundesliga climbs, while LaLiga spending plummets

Outside of the Premier League and Ligue 1, Serie A ranked second this winter with €229.00 million in spending, increasing from last year’s €110.28 million. The Bundesliga ended this year as number five, with German clubs spending €169.85 million, from €105.85 million in 2023/24.

LaLiga clubs significantly reduced their investment in players, spending only €26.13 million compared to €86.25 million last year.

The Brazilian Serie A, which was among the top-spending leagues in both seasons, saw a decrease from €208.00 million last year to €174.53 million this winter.

Todd Boehly linked to controversial Premier League ticket resale platform

The Telegraph has uncovered that Todd Boehly, co-owner of Chelsea Football Club, is also a director and investor in Vivid Seats, a US-based website involved in the controversial resale of Premier League tickets.

According to the report, Vivid Seats allows foreign users to resell tickets at exorbitant prices, potentially reaching tens of thousands of pounds. The platform reportedly takes a 10 per cent commission and a service fee ranging from 20 to 40 per cent of the original ticket price.

This practice, which is illegal for fans based in Britain, has been denounced by Chelsea FC and other Premier League clubs. Chelsea has actively committed to combating ticket touting, both online and offline, as stated on their official website.

"unauthorised ticketing website"

Vivid Seats is listed as an "unauthorised ticketing website" by the Premier League, which warns fans against using such platforms due to risks including being denied entry or purchasing counterfeit tickets.

On Monday, tickets on the site for current leaders Liverpool’s final-day game against Crystal Palace were priced between £1,622 and £17,672.

Newcastle edges closer to £1.2bn, 70,000-seat stadium plan

Newcastle United's board is edging towards proposing the construction of a new £1.2 billion stadium next to their current St James’ Park home according to a report from The Telegraph.

The potential new stadium would have a capacity of just under 70,000, making it the second-largest club stadium in the Premier League after Old Trafford.

While the final decision rests with the majority stakeholder, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, there is increasing support for the new stadium plan over the alternative option of expanding St James’ Park.

Keeps city-center roots intact

The location shift would keep Newcastle in their city center location, with only a short walk from the current Gallowgate End. The design envisages a bowl-shaped stadium that would stand taller than St James’ Park.

It is anticipated that Newcastle could continue playing at St James’ Park during construction, although temporary relocation has not been ruled out. The club's role as a host city for the European Championship in 2028 adds another layer of complexity to the planning process.

U.S. Soccer and MLS triumph in antitrust lawsuit

In a legal victory for U.S. Soccer Federation and Major League Soccer (MLS), a federal jury in New York ruled on Monday that the U.S. Soccer Federation did not engage in antitrust violations in its dealings with the North American Soccer League (NASL).

The NASL, which was active from 2011 to 2017, had accused U.S. Soccer and MLS of conspiring to deny it recognition as a Division II league.

According to the report from Sportico, NASL can challenge the decision at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. However, the current ruling is an endorsement of U.S. Soccer's authority to enforce regulations within the soccer industry in the United States and Canada.

The trial saw testimonies from prominent figures such as Clark Hunt, CEO and co-owner of the Kansas City Chiefs and a founder of MLS, and Rocco Commisso, chairman and CEO of Mediacom and owner of the former NASL team New York Cosmos. The lawsuit also put more than $500 million in damages at stake.

U.S. Soccer and MLS welcome ruling

U.S. Soccer Federation expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating: "This decision validates U.S. Soccer’s commitment to fostering a broad and healthy ecosystem of professional soccer leagues across all divisions."

MLS also commented on the verdict, emphasising their dedication to growing soccer in North America and dismissing NASL's case as an attempt to shift blame for its own shortcomings.

Belgium's Pro League considers Champions League-style transformation

Belgium's top flight, Belgian Pro League, is on the brink of a significant transformation, with clubs set to vote by February 10 on a new competition format that could mirror the Champions League's Swiss model.

The league may see a radical shift in its structure starting next season. The current proposal suggests reducing the regular season from 30 to just 16 games, followed by an extensive play-off system to decide the league champion and European competition qualifiers.

This change comes after last season's adjustment from four to six teams in the playoff system.

Led by top clubs

The push for reform is led by some of Belgium's top clubs, including Club Brugge, who believe that fewer domestic matches could improve their performance in European competitions.

Additionally, a 10 per cent decrease in the value of the Jupiler League's domestic TV rights, recently acquired by DAZN in a five-year deal worth approximately £78 million, has prompted clubs to consider this significant overhaul.

Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, a Costa Rican football club, have escalated their dispute with FIFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), alleging that FIFA violated its own rules by allowing two Mexican clubs with the same ownership to participate in the upcoming Club World Cup.

The club's lawyers have filed an appeal against FIFA and the Mexican clubs, Club de Fútbol Pachuca and Club León, both owned by the Pachuca Group, according to The Times.

According to Alajuelense, this situation breaches FIFA's competition regulations, specifically article 10.1, which aims to protect the integrity of the competition by prohibiting clubs from holding shares in other participating clubs. Alajuelense believes they should be included in the tournament based on their continental ranking and are seeking a resolution that could potentially see one of the Mexican teams replaced by them.

Criticises FIFA’s inconsistencies in legal proceedings

FIFA acknowledged Alajuelense's initial complaint but indicated that it does not automatically make the club a party to any proceedings. Alajuelense have not received further communication from FIFA since their last correspondence on January 16.

The club's lawyers have pointed out inconsistencies in FIFA's handling of their case compared to previous legal matters, such as Chile's involvement in legal proceedings against Ecuador during World Cup qualifying over an ineligible player.

DR Congo urges Arsenal, Bayern & PSG to drop 'Visit Rwanda' sponsorship

The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DR Congo's ) Foreign Minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, has called on prominent football clubs Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain to terminate their sponsorship agreements with "Visit Rwanda" due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in her country.

According to a report from L'Équipe, Wagner wrote to the three clubs, challenging the morality of their sponsorship agreements and citing a United Nations report that suggests there are 4,000 Rwandan soldiers active in the DRC.

She highlighted the dire situation in the city of Goma, where thousands are trapped with limited access to food, water, and safety.

Clubs earn millions

Visit Rwanda began sponsoring Arsenal in 2018 in a deal worth over €12 million annually. Bayern Munich signed a five-year partnership for football development and tourism promotion with Rwanda in 2023, while PSG has been sponsored by Visit Rwanda since 2019.

PSG's deal is set to expire in 2025 and brings in approximately €15 million each year.

Ariel Investments launches fund for women’s sports, joins NWSL’s Denver expansion

Ariel Investments, a Chicago-based firm managing $13.8 billion in assets, is launching a new fund named Project Level, aimed at investing in women's sports, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The fund is set to make one of its initial investments in an expansion team for the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), located in Denver. Ariel Co-Chief Executive Officer, Mellody Hobson, announced this strategic move in a letter to clients, highlighting her role as an alternate governor of the team, with Rob Cohen, CEO of IMA Financial Group, serving as the controlling owner.

The NWSL confirmed the Denver team's introduction on Thursday, along with an agreement on a $110 million expansion fee for the ownership group.

Highlights rapid growth and potential in women's sports

According to Hobson, the market for women's sports has experienced significant growth, with global revenue increasing by 300 per cent over the past three years and projected to reach $1.28 billion by 2024. The U.S. has been a major contributor to this surge, generating more than half of the revenue.

Hobson's existing sports investments include stakes in the White Sox, Denver Broncos, and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). John Rogers, Ariel’s founder and co-CEO, also holds an interest in the WNBA's Sky.

Bournemouth are set to expand their influence through a multi-club ownership model orchestrated by American owner Bill Foley's investment group, Black Knight Football Club.

Foley is on the verge of acquiring Moreirense, a team in Portugal's top league, adding to a portfolio that includes French side Lorient, New Zealand's Auckland City FC, and a 25 per cent stake in Scotland's Hibernian.

According to an interview with the US-based Men in Blazers media network, Foley outlined his strategy to emulate Bournemouth's successful high-energy, high-pressing style across all clubs within his ownership. This approach has been effective under Bournemouth's Spanish head coach, Andoni Iraola.

"About to sign a deal"

Foley stated: "We are following through on the multi-club model that we talked about. We’re just about to sign a deal on a Portuguese team in their Premier League, and we have one other one that we’re fooling around with."

Foley believes that the acquisition of Moreirense will be particularly transformative, providing direct access to Brazilian talent. He affirmed: "I think our Portuguese club is going to be a game-changer for us because it gives us direct access to Brazil."

Tebas warns against A22’s ‘Unify League’

La Liga President Javier Tebas has issued a stark warning about the potential threat of A22's latest proposal for a European Super League, the so-called Unify League, as reported by The Guardian.

Despite the lack of evidence that A22 could initiate a significant breakaway from existing continental competitions, Tebas is concerned that misunderstanding could allow the "elitist" concept to gain momentum.

According to Tebas, A22's Unify League proposal, which includes four divisions and 96 clubs in its men's division without promotion or relegation, is not a serious project but rather an attempt to sow instability and uncertainty in European football. He urges leagues to actively address this issue and clarify that the project lacks seriousness to prevent clubs from being misled.

Tebas Links Pérez to A22 Plan

Tebas also reiterated his belief that Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez, a key architect of the original Super League plans in 2021, is behind A22's current plan. He argues that UEFA should demand clarification on A22's economic model and governance before considering any form of agreement.

UEFA, which has previously blocked super league proposals, had to modify its rules for authorizing new competitions following a European court of justice ruling in December 2022. A22 believes UEFA will be compelled to authorise their plan in principle.

According to reports from Italian Media, Spezia Calcio are on the brink of a ownership change, with the Platek family set to hand over the reins to the MCO group, FC32.

While there are no direct confirmations the Platek family had previously expressed their intention to conclude their involvement by February. Among the competing consortia, FC32 appears to have emerged victorious.

A binding agreement for the sale of 100 per cent of the Platek family's Westchester shares to the new ownership group has reportedly been signed. FC32 is led by Paul Francis, alongside three other American investors and a European fund.

Their third acquisition

FC32 is an investment platform focused on involving athletes in the ownership and management of football clubs. Their primary goal is to create a model where athletes are not just players but also investors and stakeholders in football.

They have already acquired Austrian club St Polten and Irish football club Cobh Ramblers and were previously involved in negotiations to buy Australian side Newcastle Jets. .

International player transfers reach record high in 2024, FIFA report reveals

International player transfers hit a historic high last year, with a record 78,742 moves across men’s and women’s professional and amateur football, According to FIFA's Global Transfer Report 2024.

The report details that while spending on transfer fees in 2024 decreased to $8.59 billion from the previous year's record of $9.66 billion, it was still over 15 per cent higher than the 2019 record of $7.33 billion.

The data reveals that nearly 40 per cent of all spending in men's professional football came from the top 2.5 per cent of transfers, each involving fees of at least $20 million.

England spend most, Brazil lead volume

English clubs led the way in spending ($1.88 billion on incoming transfers), as well as in receiving transfer fees ($1.34 billion for outgoing transfers).

Brazilian clubs topped the charts in terms of transfer volume, with 1,102 incoming and 1,113 outgoing transfers.

Spain to call RFEF elections if Louzán’s conviction stands

Spain's Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Pilar Alegría, has confirmed that new elections for the presidency of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), will be called if the Supreme Court ratifies the malfeasance conviction against current president Rafael Louzán.

Louzán, who was elected on December 16 for the 2024-2028 period, received 90 votes out of 138 assembly members, defeating Salvador Gomar, president of the Valencian Federation.

Louzán's position is under scrutiny due to an appeal to the Supreme Court concerning his involvement in a case of malfeasance in office during his time as president of the Provincial Council of Pontevedra. He was convicted for improperly granting a subsidy of nearly €87,000 for stadium renovations.

Will act according to the law

Minister Alegría stated in an interview that if Louzán's seven-year disqualification sentence is upheld on February 5, the government will act according to the Sports Law and call for new elections.

The RFEF assembly members did elect Louzán despite his 2022 sentence for disqualification from public office. The election took place after the Administrative Court of Sport annulled a previous electoral process scheduled for October 7.

Official: NWSL grants 16th franchise to Denver with record expansion fee

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has officially granted its 16th franchise to the city of Denver, Colorado. The franchise will be the first women's professional team in a major national league to be based in Denver.

According to NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman, Denver's vibrant sports culture and fan base made it an ideal choice for the league's expansion. Berman emphasized the commitment to excellence with plans for a purpose-built stadium and state-of-the-art training facilities for players and fans.

It was reported that Denver's ownership group paid a record $110 million expansion fee to join the NWSL. This fee is more than double what was paid by other recent expansion teams and is the highest ever in American women's sports history.

Outpaced Cleveland and Cincinnati

Denver's bid outpaced those from Cleveland and Cincinnati, with a diverse ownership group led by finance executive Rob Cohen. Cohen, who has previously attempted to bring a WNBA team to Denver, is joined by Project Level, Molly Coors, and others in this venture.

Cohen expressed excitement about bringing professional women's soccer to Colorado and emphasized the intention to build a club with integrity and excellence.

Reading FC owner claims Rob Couhig engaged in 'unlawful' actions

The legal dispute between Renhe Sports Management, owned by Reading FC's Dai Yongge, and Redwood Holdings, led by American Rob Couhig, has escalated with new details emerging in court documents.

The Reading Chronicle reports that after Couhig's initial claim against Yongge for over £12.3 million due to alleged breaches of exclusivity and lost potential earnings, Renhe has now filed a counterclaim.

According to the Defence and Counterclaim document, Yongge accuses Couhig and Redwood Holdings of 'unlawful' actions by not releasing security over Bearwood and shares of the club despite being paid back in full.

Renhe alleges coercion, disputes claims

Renhe alleges that Couhig was not acting honorably during negotiations and was seeking repeated price reductions, leading Yongge to lose faith in him for the future development of the club.

Renhe's representatives argue that the refusal to release security is being used coercively to pressure a sale to Couhig. They also deny producing an investment proposal document intended for circulation among potential purchasers, which Couhig claims was given to an unnamed broker.

Furthermore, Renhe disputes Redwood Holdings' claim of a '200 percent return on investment' as the basis for their loss of earnings claim. Renhe's counterclaim states that this refusal to release security is causing them loss, including the chance to sell the club to another buyer.

Despite a majority of Norwegian clubs and the collective fan organisation desiring to abolish Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), has decided to continue with the technology in Norwegian football.

The NFF held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the future of VAR in Norwegian football, where they announced their decision to retain the controversial technology. This stance goes against the wishes of most Norwegian clubs and the national fan organisation.

The decision follows a meeting last week by the Norwegian league association, where a majority of clubs voted in favor of a proposal to scrap VAR. The vote resulted in 19 clubs against continuing with VAR, while 13 clubs were in favor of keeping it.

Frustrated fans

The fan organisation Norsk Supporterallianse (NSA), expressed frustration over the NFF's announcement.

"NFF has made a mockery of the fans. They asked people to use the democratic method in their clubs. They did, and it ended with a large majority against VAR. Therefore, NFF must change course, and the clubs must get going," said NSA spokesperson Ole Kristian Sandvik.

The final decision on VAR's future in Norwegian football will be made at a larger meeting of the federation board in early March.

Court sides with LaLiga in 'El Clásico' trademark dispute

In a significant legal ruling, the Madrid Provincial Court has sided with LaLiga in its dispute with Real Madrid and FC Barcelona over the trademark for 'El Clásico'.

The court has denied the two football giants the right to register the trademark in Spain, citing "high similarity" in terms of denomination, phonetics, and concept with LaLiga's already established brand 'ELCLÁSICO', as reported by Spanish media 2Playbook.

This decision supports the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (Oepm), which had previously rejected the clubs' request to trademark 'El Clásico' in May 2023. The Oepm determined that there was a risk of confusion between the clubs' proposed trademark and that of LaLiga, leading to an overturning of the registration in all classes sought by Real Madrid and Barcelona.

An ongoing dispute

The battle over the brand has been ongoing for years, with both clubs attempting to block LaLiga's registrations. In 2022, they filed a trademark application featuring the term 'El Clásico' alongside their respective crests, aiming to distinguish their brand from LaLiga's, which focuses solely on the word.

However, LaLiga contested this move, claiming it is "the legitimate owner" of the trademark and had previously registered it in numerous countries. A Gfk study was presented to reinforce the association between the term commonly used for the match and the Spanish competition.

Vitesse Arnhem presents their new owners

Last Friday, Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem announced its takeover by five minority investors, appearing to take a major step towards securing its future.

In a statement on Wednesday, the club presented their new owners. Among the notable names is Dane Murphy, an American former professional player and current CEO of DMV Vista, one of the minority shareholders.
Murphy's career includes playing for teams like New York Cosmos and D.C. United, and executive roles at Barnsley FC and Nottingham Forest FC, where he saw the latter promoted to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.

By each investor holding less than 25 per cent of shares, Vitesse avoids the KNVB licensing committee's approval process. However, the comittee will still review whether the investors are independent and not proxies for Parry, with whom they have negotiated a deal regarding Vitesse's €17 million debt.

Different investors

Leon Mueller, another investor, is a former footballer turned Berlin entrepreneur who expanded his family's automotive business into one of Berlin's largest mobility providers. He also co-hosts a football podcast and maintains close ties to the sport.

The investment group also includes Flint Reilly, an American with a background in commercial sports and sponsorship who has worked with the NBA and Liverpool FC; Timo Braasch, a German entrepreneur involved in real estate and sports & entertainment; and Bryan Mornaghi, an Italian lawyer and investor experienced in complex legal matters and capital contracts within the Dutch offshore wind sector.

Eagle Football Group have announced that Lyon’s accounts for the year ending 30th June 2024 are now in the process of being certified by the club’s auditors in what appears to be an important step towards avoiding the provisional relegation imposed on the Ligue 1 team by the DNCG.

In November, prior to the DNCG’s decision, Lyon recorded a net loss of €25.7 million for 2023/24 and financial debt of €505.1 million as at 30th June 2024. Eagle stated at the time that Lyon’s “statutory auditors are considering issuing a qualified opinion with an inability to certify the Eagle Football Group's parent company and consolidated financial statements.”

However, in a fresh statement released on Monday evening, Eagle said an “amendment to the Universal Registration Document is currently being finalised”, and that the group’s “statutory auditors intend to issue an unqualified opinion and to certify” Lyon’s 2023/24 accounts.

Sale of Crystal Palace stake

Eagle said Lyon’s new financial statements for 2023/24 were approved by its board on Monday, based on assumptions including an injection of up to €40 million from the planned sale of Eagle’s stake in Crystal Palace and up to €100 million from its planned IPO on the New York Stock Exchange.

Last friday Eagle announced it had generated fresh funds of €83 million for Lyon over the past four months, including €21.3 million from Michelle Kang, the owner of Lyon women’s team OL Féminin, and €62.3 million from player sales in January.
 

Serie A president Ezio Simonelli hints at tax break to boost youth development

Ezio Simonelli, who was elected as the new Serie A president just over a month ago, has said his top priorities in the role include finding new ways to support clubs on youth development and the revamping or building of new stadia.

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Simonelli said he wants to help clubs boost their development of young talent by obtaining fresh incentives, potentially through measures such as a tax break.

“A tax exemption to incentivise work on young players would be a more than sensible measure, with the aim of rewarding clubs that focus on young players or in infrastructure for academies.”

“Bureaucratic difficulties”

On stadia developments, the Serie A chief said he wants to help clubs “overcome the bureaucratic difficulties”, adding: “It is clear that something is not working. I would like to be able to provide standard models to those who have to build a stadium, obviously with variations, and entrust the league with a single direction that would generate cost savings.”

Simonelli said a further key aim is to increase the value of the Italian top-flight’s broadcast rights. He also called for an end to the ban on Italian football clubs agreeing sponsorship deals with gambling firms, describing the regulation introduced in 2019 as “absurd and counterproductive”.
 

Bundesliga 2 share of media rights to remain at 20 per cent

The DFL has announced that the proportion of German football clubs’ broadcast rights income distributed to the 18 teams in Bundesliga 2 will remain the same for the next cycle at 20 per cent.

The rights for German football’s top two divisions for the period running from 2025/26 to 2028/29 were sold in December for just under €4.5 billion, equating to €1.1 billion per year, marking a 2 per cent increase in their value.

In a statement issued on Monday, the DFL said its executive committee had agreed on a distribution system according to its tried and tested principle in relation to TV money, with no major changes.

“Proven system”

The DFL statement read: “The new distribution key is based on key points of the proven system. As before, national and international media revenues will be distributed to the clubs according to a separate system."

“In terms of national media revenues, the four pillars of equal distribution, performance, interest and young talent, including their previous weighting, will remain.”
 

Manchester United stadium: Local authority backs ‘Wembley of the North’ plan

Manchester United’s plans for a new 100,000 capacity stadium have now received the backing of the local authority as well as the UK government, with officials describing the regeneration project as “transformational”.

It comes after chancellor Rachel Reeves offered her public support at the weekend, describing a state-of-the-art Old Trafford and the redevelopment of the surrounding area as “a shining example” of the government’s policy for promoting economic growth.

As reported by The Times, the executive at Trafford council has also given its unanimous support, with officials revealing plans to appoint a “top-class consultant team” to collaborate with United and the other relevant parties on the project.

“World-class setting”

At a meeting on Monday night, councillor Liz Patel, an executive member for economy and regeneration at Trafford council, said: “This is a hugely exciting project and working with our partners and private developers, we will be looking to create thousands of new homes, new neighbourhoods, and a world-class setting for the Manchester United stadium.”

United are expected to make a final decision at the end of the season over whether to build a new stadium or redevelop their existing Old Trafford home with an increased capacity to 87,000, but are now leaning very much towards a new build dubbed the ‘Wembley of the North’ which could cost over £2 billion.

Lyon owner John Textor’s Eagle Football Group has said it has generated fresh funds of €83 million for the Ligue 1 club over the past four months as it battles to secure its top-flight status following the provisional relegation imposed by the DNCG in November.

In a statement, Eagle Football said the additional finances were generated “during the 4th quarter of 2024 and January 2025.” The amount includes €21.3 million from the American businesswoman Michelle Kang, who acquired the Lyon women’s team OL Féminin last February.

The Lyon owners said that of Kang’s latest injection, €11 million is for an increase in her 52.9 per cent shareholding in OL Féminin and another €10.3 million in the form of additional investment in the project.

Player sales bring in €62.3 million

Eagle Football said it has also generated €62.3 million in player sales in the January transfer window from teams across its group. More than half the total has come from Brazilian right winger Luiz Henrique’s move from Botafogo to FC Zenit St Petersburg for €33 million.

Eagle said it has also made savings on player wages of €5 million following the transfer deals involving Lyon and other teams across its portfolio completed in January, as well as the termination of several player contracts and loan agreements.

Ex-Roma president James Pallotta faces prospect of trial over capital gains case

Former AS Roma president James Pallotta is facing the prospect of going on trial over the club’s use of capital gains from player transfers after the Italian Prosecutor's Office requested his indictment in relation to the case.

As reported by Italian media, the prosecutor Renata Cerasa has also asked to try five other former Roma executives: ex-CEOs Umberto Maria Gandini and Guido Fienga, former general manager and executive vice president Mauro Baldissoni, and two former accounting executives, Francesco Malknecht and Giorgio Francia.

The defendants are accused of false accounting and violation of the consolidated law on financial intermediation. According to investigators, evidence of those crimes were found in five player transfers.

The current ownership of Roma, represented by the Friedkin family, is not part of the investigation. Although investigated in a first phase, the prosecutor asked for the Friedkins to be dismissed.

Reopening of investigation

The latest developments have come after Italy’s financial police, the Guardia di Finanza, last year concluded its investigation into Roma’s financial statements from 2016 to 2021, following the reopening of the investigation into the use of capital gains in Italian football.

A number of transfer deals were examined over suspicions that exchanges were disguised as sales and of excessive devaluation of player fees. Among the deals under scrutiny was the swap of Luca Pellegrini and Leonardo Spinazzola between Roma and Juventus.

West Ham win £3.6 million legal battle with London Stadium landlords

West Ham United have won a court battle with their stadium owners over a £3.6 million payment they were obliged to make after the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky bought a 27 per cent stake in the club in November 2021.

As reported by The Times, The High Court ruled that an “expert determination” the club had to pay the money as part of their lease agreement with E20 Stadium contained two “manifest errors”.

The court ruling states it was an error for the expert to regard three share transactions and a share option by West Ham’s co-owners, David Sullivan and the late David Gold, as one single transaction.

Lease penalty clause

West Ham’s parent company, WH Holding (WHH), contested £3.6 million of the £6.5 million it paid to E20 in March 2023 under the stadium lease penalty clause.

The clause was included so that any increase in the value of the club as a result of their deal for the London Stadium should be reflected in a payment to the stadium’s owners.

E20 Stadium was set up by the publicly-owned London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) to manage the stadium. The £3.6 million will now be repaid to West Ham, unless E20/LLDC appeals.
 
 

Paris FC stadium move talks stall as Arnault family look to share rugby venue

French billionaire Bernard Arnault's family is struggling to secure a deal on a new stadium for Paris FC, with compensation and other costs proving a sticking point in discussions, according to a report from Reuters.

The Arnault family, which owns the luxury goods giant LVMH, completed its takeover of the Ligue 2 club alongside Red Bull in early December and have since been in talks with rugby team Stade Francais over sharing their Jean-Bouin stadium.

The aim is to replace Paris FC's current venue, a run-down athletics stadium, but there has been no headway in the discussions. It is understood the talks centre on compensation for replacing Jean-Bouin’s synthetic pitch, which will result in higher maintenance costs and some lost revenue for Stade Francais.

Ferracci confident of securing deal

Last week, in an interview with AFP, the Paris FC president Pierre Ferracci expressed his confidence over securing a deal with Stade Français to share their stadium from next season, and said he hopes to conclude an agreement “in February.”

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Ferracci told the Spanish international news agency EFE he expects the Arnault family to invest "several hundred million euros” in the coming years as they look to deliver on ambitious plans to rival Paris Saint-Germain.

Manchester United’s plans for a new 100,000 capacity stadium as the focal point of a major regeneration of the Old Trafford area have been given a huge boost after the UK government announced its support for the proposals.

In a statement on Saturday evening, the UK Treasury department said Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, was championing the project as “a shining example” of the government’s plans to promote economic growth.

United released a statement on Sunday morning saying it “welcomed the announcement of government support” for the plans, which are forecast to generate £7.3 billion annually for the UK economy and create around 90,000 jobs nationally.

Transport infrastructure and housing

The club added that while it would be responsible for the stadium development, “support from public bodies would be needed to unlock the wider regeneration opportunity, including improved transport infrastructure and housing.”

United are expected to make a final decision at the end of the season over whether to build a new stadium or redevelop their existing Old Trafford home with an increased capacity to 87,000, but are now leaning very much towards a new build dubbed the ‘Wembley of the North’ which could cost over £2 billion.

English clubs highlight concerns over financial viability of women’s football

A number of English football clubs are concerned that having a women’s professional team may no longer be financially viable in the future, according to a report from Bloomberg.

The newswire reported that several men’s domestic teams are questioning whether it’s worth continuing to subsidise their women counterparts, with at least two clubs, who declined to be named, saying the continuing rise in costs risks making it unviable for them to even own a women’s team.

A source told Bloomberg that Women’s Professional League’s Limited (WPLL), which runs the WSL and Championship, is negotiating new arrangements that may force clubs to spend at least £650,000 a year on salaries for their women’s teams next season.
It comes as subsidies worth around £200,000 a year from the English FA are being replaced by as yet unspecified income distribution and grants.

Fresh sources of money

Kelly Simmons, a former director of the Women’s Professional Game, said clubs have either got to do more to generate income or find fresh sources of money. The option is “to put more focus on growing revenue and the fan-base to help offset the costs or to attract private equity investors,” she said.

Christina Philippou, an associate professor in accounting and sport finance at the University of Portsmouth, added: “Women’s football is still essentially a start-up with a lot of potential if a certain amount of resources are pumped into it. But there’s an unwillingness at various levels to put in a large resource because priorities often lie elsewhere.”

DAZN owner Sir Leonard Blavatnik injects further $827 million into group

Sir Leonard Blavatnik, the owner of DAZN, has made a fresh injection of $827 million into the UK-based sports streaming service, taking his total investment in the group to more than $6.7 billion, according to a report from The Financial Times.

The latest outlay from Blavatnik comes as DAZN prepares to post its financial results this week, which will reportedly show more heavy losses for the company. According to the FT, total group losses widened to US$1.4 billion, up from US$1.2 billion the previous year.

DAZN disclosed to SportsPro that revenue increased 30 per cent year-on-year to $2.9 billion, driven by subscriber growth, increased average revenue per user (ARPU), new products and services and expanding advertising revenue. It added that operating losses were reduced from $1.1 billion to $830 million.

Profitable in most of top-ten markets

DAZN CEO Shay Segev told the FT that, although not reflected in the 2023 financial results, the company is now profitable in most of the top-ten markets in which it operates.

Earlier this month it was reported that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) was in advanced discussions over investing at least $1 billion in DAZN. The platform is a broadcasting partner for Serie A, LaLiga, the Bundesliga, and Ligue 1, and last month secured a $1 billion deal with FIFA to broadcast the new 32-team Club World Cup globally.

Vitesse Arnhem announce takeover by five minority investors

Vitesse Arnhem appear to have taken a major step towards securing their future after announcing that five new shareholders have taken over the troubled Dutch club with immediate effect.

In a statement, Vitesse said the new owners have agreed to take over the debt of the US-based investment firm the Common Group and convert it into shares, also giving the club a positive equity balance.

Vitesse said all five shareholders hold a minority interest in the club, with each owning a stake of less than 25 per cent. It said this means it is not necessary to go through the approval process of the Dutch FA (KNVB)’s licensing committee.

Communication with KNVB

Vitesse said they have informed the KNVB about the share transfer, and the association told Dutch media it has received the message from Vitesse. A KNVB spokesperson said: “It is now up to the licensing committee to see whether the deal is correct in accordance with the rules and the agreements previously made with Vitesse.”

It has not yet been announced who the new owners of Vitesse are. The club, who have suffered a series of heavy points deductions over recent months and are currently bottom of the Dutch second-tier, said the new shareholders will soon announce themselves personally to the Vitesse supporters and stakeholders.

A legal panel consisting of three retired senior judges is set to reconvene next week to deliver a verdict on the Premier League's associated party transaction (APT), which could significantly influence the future of the competition, according to a report from The Times.

The panel previously ruled in October that certain APT regulations were unlawful, prompting Manchester City to argue that all APT rules should be declared void. In contrast, the Premier League contends that revisions made to the rules, which were approved by 16 of the 20 clubs in November, should allow the regulations to remain as they currently stand.

The hearing, scheduled for two days, will culminate in a final ruling on the regulations governing commercial deals between clubs and related companies. This decision will essentially determine the extent to which companies affiliated with clubs can sponsor them.

Result is highly anticipated

APT rules are designed to ensure that commercial agreements and player transfers reflect fair market value, thereby maintaining competitive balance within the league.

Manchester City initiated their legal challenge after the Premier League rejected a substantial new sponsorship deal from Etihad Airways. The outcome of this legal battle is highly anticipated as it has the potential to reshape financial dynamics within English football's top tier.

Man Utd admit risk of PSR breach amid financial struggles

Manchester United have acknowledged the potential risk of breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability (PSR), indicating that ticket prices may increase to mitigate financial losses.

The club has suffered pre-tax losses of £312.9 million over the past three seasons, prompting cost-cutting measures under Sir Jim Ratcliffe's management, including the elimination of 250 jobs.

United have already taken steps to boost revenue by introducing a flat rate £66 ticket for members mid-season without consulting fans. Ratcliffe has hinted at further ticket price increases for the upcoming season.

A letter to the fans

While the Premier League has not charged any club with PSR breaches for the last season, United's precarious financial situation was highlighted in a letter to The 1958 fans group, which expressed concerns about rising ticket costs. The club did not dismiss the possibility of hiking prices.

In their correspondence with The 1958 and FC58 Coalition, United stated: "We are determined to ensure that our current fans can continue to afford to attend games and that tickets are accessible for future generations of fans."

However, they also emphasized the need for financial sustainability and compliance with PSR/FFP regulations, which may necessitate "difficult choices" including workforce reductions and spending cuts.

Real Madrid break €1 billion barrier to top Deloitte Money League

Real Madrid became the first football club to generate €1 billion across a single season in 2023/24, according to Deloitte's latest Football Money League.

The Spanish giants, who won LaLiga and the Champions League last season, retained top spot in the ranking, with revenue of €1.05 billion. Manchester City, who won a record fourth successive English league title, were again in second place after earning €837.8 million.

Paris St-Germain (€805.9 million), Manchester United (€770.6 million) and Bayern Munich (€765.4 million) completed the top five. Aston Villa entered the top 20 after competing in Europe for the first time since 2011.

Nine Premier League clubs in top 20

Lyon were the only other new club, with Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt dropping out. Nine Premier League teams were in the top 20, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Newcastle United and West Ham United retaining their places.

Deloitte said revenues for the top 20 clubs rose by 6 per cent to a record €11.2 billion. Matchday income was once again the fastest growing revenue stream, rising by 11 per cent to €2.1 billion, helped by an increase in stadium capacity, ticket prices and premium hospitality.

Norwegian clubs vote to scrap VAR “as soon as possible”

The use of video assistant referees (VAR) in Norwegian football could be about to stop after clubs in the country’s top two divisions voted to discontinue the system in their domestic leagues.

In a statement, Norsk Toppfotball (NTF), which represents the 32 clubs in Norway’s Eliteserien and First Division, said the teams have passed a motion that “requests the Norway Football Federation (NFF) board recommend, and the Federal Assembly adopts, the discontinuation of VAR as soon as possible.”

NTF revealed that 19 clubs voted in favour of scrapping the technology, with 13 voting against. The vote does not discontinue the use of VAR with immediate effect, and the decision will be made at the Federal Assembly at the beginning of March.

Alternative motion

A proposal for VAR to be scrapped for the 2025 Eliteserien season was not passed, before the alternative motion to scrap the technology “as soon as possible” was adopted.

VAR was introduced into Eliteserien in 2023 but has attracted frequent supporter protests. NTF chairman Cato Haug said: “We see the technology has potential, but we see through today’s discussion and subsequent voting that the majority of our clubs believe the current version of VAR does not work well enough.”

Manchester City have been threatened with legal action after being accused by Real Valladolid of tapping up the teenage Sierra Leonean defender Juma Bah.

In a statement, Valladolid expressed their “great disappointment and indignation” at what they claim to be City’s attempts to encourage the 18-year-old to break his contract with them.

The Spanish club, who are currently bottom of LaLiga, claim they exercised a purchase option on Bah on 1st January, having initially loaned the 6ft 5in centre-back from AIK Freetong in Sierra Leone last summer.

Attempts to leave

Valladolid claim City have been behind Bah’s subsequent attempts to leave and revealed that the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) had confirmed on Wednesday that the defender – who did not appear for training – has “deposited the amount for the unilateral termination of the contract”.

In their statement, Valladolid added: “In this regard, Real Valladolid reports that it reserves the right to resort to the appropriate legal and sporting jurisdictions to exercise its rights and defend its interests.”

FC Barcelona release 1,500 VIP Ring Seats at revamped Camp Nou

FC Barcelona have launched their latest premium seating package at the revamped Camp Nou, with the release of 1,500 VIP Ring Seats, located in the corner sections of the ground’s new VIP ring.

In a statement, the Catalan club said each seat will cost between €5,500 and €9,000 per season, and will come with access to hospitality suites and VIP areas within the stadium.

Barcelona also confirmed that in total there will be 9,400 premium seats available at the renovated Camp Nou and that 60 per cent of the stadium’s premium allocation has now been sold since the first seats were put on sale in October 2023.

Three times the space

Barça said the club “has adapted its VIP proposal for the new stadium to the new market trends, with boxes and seats of much higher quality”, and with three times the space available in the old ground.

The expanded VIP section is expected to be available by 2026. The club anticipates the revamped venue will generate around €120 million in annual revenue, including the sale of premium seats and new sponsorship agreements.

French clubs push for return of Coupe de la Ligue

The Coupe de la Ligue, France’s League Cup, could be set for a return following calls from a number of presidents of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs to revive the competition.

The trophy was initially removed in 2020 to ease fixture congestion for elite teams, particularly those competing on the European stage, but according to L'Équipe it now appears to have some backers.

Defenders of the cup's reinstatement argue there is now room for a revived competition as there are fewer league matches in a season, following Ligue 1 and Ligue 2's reduction to 18 teams ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

New revenue stream

Clubs facing financial difficulties due to the drop in the value of the Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 broadcast rights are also said to be eyeing a new revenue stream through the potential return of the Coupe de la Ligue.

It is understood a working group of five club presidents and executives has been proposed to discuss the issue, including Marc Keller (Strasbourg), Laurent Prud'homme (Lyon), Waldemar Kita (Nantes), Pascal Robert (Brest), and Arnaud Pouille (Rennes), although they are yet to convene.