Lisa Nandy, the UK secretary of state for culture, media and sport, has accused some members of the Conservative opposition of trying to “kill off” the Football Governance Bill, which is due to introduce an independent regulator for English football.

With the bill still appearing to have cross-party support, it had been expected to sail through the House of Lords, before progressing to the House of Commons, where the Labour government has a huge majority.

However, while that is still the most likely outcome, in the House of Lords several Conservative peers, including West Ham United vice-chair Baroness Brady, have filibustered to delay the process and proposed hundreds of amendments to scupper the bill.

“Wrecking amendment”

Speaking at a dinner co-hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Football and the EFL at the House of Lords on Monday, the minister said: “We’ve had what is known as a wrecking amendment put in front of the House of Lords in recent weeks to turn this bill into a hybrid bill that would bury it in committee for years and years to come.

“I want to say to this handful of peers, who have decided to take that approach, what you are doing is killing off the hopes and dreams and inheritance of fans who deserve far, far better.”

Laporta faces fresh call for vote of confidence from Barça opposition groups

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta is facing a fresh call from fan groups and opposition voices to submit to a vote of confidence following the recent saga over the registration of Dani Olmo and Pau Victor.

Earlier this month, Laporta came under heavy criticism from influential and high-profile socios, with calls for him to resign as many of the fan groups critical of his policies came together in opposition, with potential challengers in Barcelona’s next presidential election closely involved.

Despite the temporary permission for Olmo and Víctor to play, the moves against Laporta have since intensified and a coalition of nine fan groups and pre-election platforms have released a joint statement urging him to call a vote of confidence at the end of the season to avoid a motion of censure.

Advocating for pluralism and open dialogue

The demand follows a press conference earlier this month at which Laporta accused his critics of lacking love for Barça and pursuing personal interests. The coalition criticised his comments and urged him to embrace pluralism and dialogue within the club.

The statement called on the Barcelona chief "to be plural and accept discrepancy", adding: “We are members who live the club with intensity, passion, a critical spirit and we seek excellence.”
 

PSG declare €55 million Mbappé dispute to UEFA as possible Champions League ban looms

Paris Saint-Germain have declared to UEFA the sums involved in Kylian Mbappé’s claim of €55 million in unpaid wages and bonuses against the club, according to a report from L'Équipe.

The French giants were required to provide the information as part of their accounting documentation under UEFA’s licensing procedures. The club could face sanctions, including a potential Champions League ban, but are said to be confident they will avoid any penalties.

UEFA imposes strict rules on the financial viability of clubs participating in its competitions, including the absence of debt towards employees. Rule 82 of its Rules of Procedure states that a club must not have any arrears of payment on 15th July, 15th October and 15th January of the relevant season.

Refusal to pay

Last year, PSG were ordered by the LFP to pay Mbappé the sum owed from his time at the Parc des Princes, but said in October they would refuse to do so on the basis that the player, who moved to Real Madrid last June, had agreed in August 2023 to waive the money.

In November, the French Football Federation (FFF) rejected PSG's request to reconsider the order to pay Mbappé, saying it was submitted a day late. The club has put forward a challenge to both decisions at the Judicial Court of Paris. UEFA will wait for any proceedings in France to be resolved before intervening directly in the matter.

Cumulative revenue for top women’s football clubs in key markets surpassed €100 million for the first time in 2023/24, according to Deloitte’s latest breakdown of 15 of the top revenue generating women’s teams.

The analysis showed that cumulative revenues from those clubs reached €116.6 million in 2023/24, representing year-on-year growth of 35 per cent when accounting for group income.

For a third consecutive year, FC Barcelona Femení were top among the clubs analysed, having generated €17.9 million in revenue, a 26 per cent increase from 2022/23 after accounting for group income.

Arsenal Women a close second

Arsenal Women ranked a close second with revenues of €17.9 million, having generated a 64 per cent and 48 per cent increase in matchday and commercial revenues respectively in 2023/24.

The top five was completed by two other English clubs – Chelsea Women (€13.4 million) and Manchester United Women (€10.7 million) – as well as Real Madrid Femenino (€10.5 million).
 

Italian player union president Umberto Calcagno hints at dialogue with FIFA on match calendar

Umberto Calcagno, the president of the Italian Footballers' Association (AIC), has said the player union may be about to enter discussions with FIFA over the international match calendar as concerns about its impact on player welfare continue to grow.

Speaking to the Italian radio channel Rai Gr Parlamento, Calcagno said: "There are new competitions that will increase the number of matches to be played, both club and national team, and therefore it is a topic that must necessarily involve FIFA and UEFA.

“For some time, through the world trade union FIFPro and also together with the European Union, we have been discussing and hoping to find a meeting point."

“In recent times we have opened a window to have a dialogue with FIFA, until now denied, and we hope that finally importance will be given to our requests to start a dialogue that we hope will be able to put all the institutions at the same table".

Meeting with new Serie A president Ezio Simonelli

The player union chief also revealed that he discussed the issue when he met the new Serie A president Ezio Simonelli for the first time last week.

“Serie A and the national team are the great driving force of our world,” Calcagno said. “It will be necessary to find a way that enhances the national team and the work that Spalletti has to do.”
 

Kay Cossington to leave English FA role to join Sixth Street and set up multi-club group

Kay Cossington is to leave her role as the English FA’s women's technical director to take up a new position at Sixth Street, the global investment firm and majority owner of NWSL side Bay FC.

Cossington will remain in her FA role until 31st May, 2025 in an effort to ensure a smooth transition, before becoming head of global women's football at Sixth Street and CEO of Bay Collective, a new global multi-club organisation being launched by the Bay FC owners, which is set to officially launch later this year.

In her new role, Cossington will focus on creating a player and sport-first model for Bay Collective, leveraging Sixth Street’s resources and expertise in scaling businesses to “redefine what’s possible” in women’s football.

“Better way to develop players”

Cossington said: “For decades, I have studied women’s football at every age and rank, across regions, leagues, and styles. My conclusion is clear: there is a better way to develop players on and off the pitch, build championship clubs, and keep our athletes at the centre of everything we do.”

In charge of the women's technical team within the English FA since 2016, Cossington played a key role in the appointment of England head coach Sarina Wiegman in 2020 and oversaw the team's historic Euro 2022 triumph and run to the 2023 World Cup final.

Fresh concerns have been raised over the financial state of French football after it emerged the DNCG has projected Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs will post combined operating losses of €1.2 billion for the current 2024/25 financial year.

As reported by L'Équipe, the forecast was presented by Jean-Marc Mickeler, the president of the financial watchdog for French football, at the body's board of directors meeting on 18th November.

For 2023/24 the combined operating losses were close to €1 billion, but thanks to exceptional sales in the transfer market, amounting to around €830 million, the figure was reduced to approximately €250 million.

Player sales

For 2024/25, if clubs still manage to generate strong sales from the transfer market, the DNCG hopes the figure can be reduced by more than half, down to between €500 million and €600 million.

Mickeler said: "French professional clubs do not generate as much operating revenue as their counterparts in other major leagues. … Cost control and the sale of players are two essential conditions for balancing the model, which has been particularly tested in recent years.”

Premier League drops outstanding PSR complaint against Everton

The Premier League has confirmed it is not pursing an outstanding Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) dispute with Everton over the club’s 2022/23 accounts.

Everton had already admitted to a breach of £16.6 million for their PSR calculation for the period ending 2022/23 and were deducted two points by an independent commission in April.

However, a dispute had continued in relation to a difference of opinion over the capitalisation of interest payments relating to the club’s new stadium. In a joint statement, both parties confirmed that the dispute has been resolved and as a result the club will face no further action.

All proceedings ended

The statement read: “The Club and the League agree that this brings to an end all proceedings between the League and the Club in relation to the Club’s breaches of the PSR for the financial years ending 30 June 2022 and 30 June 2023.”

An Everton statement added: “The Premier League has formally discontinued the second part of the PSR complaint for the period ending FY23 (financial year of 2023) and has deemed the club PSR compliant for FY24.”

Ratcliffe eyes “fast track” of new 100,000-seat Manchester United stadium

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe could aim to “fast track” delivery of a new 100,000-capacity stadium as the club assess their options over whether to revamp Old Trafford or create a new venue.

It comes after the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force completed its initial feasibility work and determined that a “redeveloped Old Trafford could increase the capacity of the existing stadium to 87,000, whereas a new-build stadium would allow capacity to reach 100,000.”

In a statement, United said: “Both options remain under consideration, with the club set to decide on the preferred approach ahead of the summer. … The vision is for Manchester United to develop a world-class stadium, acting as a catalyst for wider regeneration.”

Repurposing land

According to The Daily Telegraph, United are leaning towards a £2 billion new build, with high-level talks ongoing about repurposing land around Old Trafford to unlock the full potential of a prospective 100-acre site.

There is understood to be an urgency among Ratcliffe and United’s executive leaders around the project. It is estimated it would take around seven years for United to have an operational new stadium, but Ratcliffe is aware the SoFi stadium in Los Angeles, for example, took around four years to build.

AS Roma extend capital increase and add extra €130 million

AS Roma’s owners, The Friedkin Group, have decided to extend the club’s planned capital increase for another year and upped the total amount by a further €130 million from €520 million to €650 million.

As reported by Italian media, the completion deadline for the capital increase, which was first approved back in October 2019, has been extended to 31st December, 2025 following a meeting of the club’s shareholders.

The move comes after Roma reported a loss of €81.3 million for the financial year ending 30th June 2024, with shareholders’ equity standing at a negative position of €407.7 million. The previous year’s loss, for 2022/23, amounted to €102.7 million.

Shareholder financing

To address these difficulties, The Friedkin Group has injected €332.5 million of shareholder financing into the club in the last two years and has irrevocably converted €110.1 million of debts into a “shareholders’ reserve for capital increase”.

The decision to increase the planned capital increase by another €130 million marks a further attempt by the owners to boost the club’s finances following their recent losses.

FFF confirms plans to establish professional Ligue 3 in 2026/27

The French Football Federation (FFF) has confirmed it plans to professionalise the country’s third-tier, with a new Ligue 3 due to be launched in 2026/27 to replace the Championnat National.

The move was part of the campaign commitments of FFF president Philippe Diallo, who was re-elected last month until the end of 2028.

In an FFF statement, Diallo said: "This is a very important innovation that has been requested for a long time by the National clubs. I want this new professional championship to be part of an attractive, innovative, sustainable and regulated model.”

Salary cap

A steering committee led by FFF executive committee member Marc Keller has been tasked with working on the launch of the new professional league, which according to French media reports will include a salary cap and squad size limits.

There are 18 clubs competing in the Championnat National, with AS Nancy currently top of the table and Boulogne in the other automatic promotion place.

English FA set to block Welsh League Cup plan in blow to EFL clubs’ European hopes

The English FA is set to block a proposal to allow the EFL’s Welsh clubs to compete in a new Welsh League Cup next season in what would represent a major blow to European ambitions for teams including Wrexham.

According to a report from The Guardian, the EFL is understood to have raised objections to a request from the FA of Wales for Wrexham, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport to take part in an expanded League Cup.

They hope the competition will generate £3 million a year in additional revenue. Getting bigger clubs into European competition could also improve Wales’s UEFA coefficient.

Qualifying rounds

UEFA has given its approval and confirmed the winners would be granted a place in the qualifying rounds of the Europa Conference League, with the proviso that EFL-based clubs cannot also qualify via English competitions.

The final decision rests with the English FA, however, which is consulting with the EFL and the Premier League over the matter. The issue will be discussed at a meeting of the FA’s Professional Game Board this week but sources involved said they are minded to reject the proposal.

Manchester City have reached a settlement with Superdry over the fashion retailer’s claims that a sponsorship deal the club reached with Japanese brewer Asahi’s Super Dry beer brand infringed its trademark rights.

A trial at the High Court in London had been scheduled to begin on Tuesday, but according to Superdry and Asahi the case was discontinued after the parties reached a deal to drop the proceedings. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Superdry filed its legal claim just over a year ago calling for City to stop showing the beer brand on its sportswear. Lawyers for the retailer argued that the use of the logo was “liable to deceive” members of the public into believing that the training kit was designed or sold by Superdry.

Training kit partner

City announced Asahi’s Super Dry 0.0%, a non-alcoholic beer, as its official training kit partner in 2023, and the brand featured on the front of all men’s and women’s first-team training strips.

Asahi also sponsors City’s Tunnel Club, a premium hospitality lounge with tickets for big matches priced at more than £2,000 per person. This season’s training gear still features the Asahi 0.0% logo, but no longer carries the words Super Dry.

Wrexham owners Reynolds and McElhenney part of group buying Colombian club La Equidad

A US consortium fronted by real estate investor Al Tylis and Club Necaxa executive Sam Porter has completed a takeover of Colombian club La Equidad, backed by investors including actors Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Eva Longoria.

According to The Athletic, the consortium, which also includes MLB pitcher Justin Verlander and his model wife Kate Upton, has acquired over 99 per cent of the Bogota-based club at a valuation in excess of $30 million.

Talks over the acquisition had been ongoing during the second half of 2024, before completing on Wednesday.

Vying for promotion to Championship

The takeover represents the latest foray into football for the Hollywood stars Reynolds and McElhenney after the pair acquired Wrexham AFC in 2021, when the team were playing in the fifth-tier National League. They are now in the third-tier EFL League One and vying for promotion to the Championship.

La Equidad were founded in 1982 by an insurance company, also called La Equidad. The club’s home stadium Estadio Metropolitano de Techo has a capacity of 10,000. The team finished 13th out of 20 teams in the top-flight of the 2024 league phase of the season in Colombia.

FC Barcelona president Laporta faces court over alleged lottery fraud

Joan Laporta, the president of FC Barcelona, is set to appear in court on January 20th to face allegations of fraud involving €4.7 million related to a lottery prize, according to a report by Marca.
 

The case will be heard at the Court of Instruction number 6 in Barcelona at 9:00 AM, where Laporta will testify regarding the accusations. If found guilty, he could face a prison sentence of up to six years.

According to the complaint, the incident dates back to 2014 when a family won €34 million in the Primitiva lottery. The family members, identified as J.M.L., a then-unemployed individual, his wife I.M., a cook, and their daughter D.L., a nurse, intended to purchase a luxury car. At the dealership, they were allegedly advised to invest in companies promoted by Laporta.

Flawed contract

Specifically, they mention an investment in CSSB Limited with a capital of €2.4 million for a three-year period at an annual interest rate of 6%. The plaintiffs claim that the contract was flawed as it was drafted in English without a legible signature and allege that Laporta advised them in his capacity representing CSSB Limited.

Furthermore, they assert that they were invited on several occasions to the Camp Nou presidential box by Laporta himself. After the contractual period elapsed, J.M.L. has reportedly not received the agreed amount and documentation suggests that between 2016 and 2018, the scheme allegedly garnered €4.7 million.

In 2014, Club Atlético Osasuna faced a daunting reality. The club were on the brink of bankruptcy, mired in legal troubles, and struggling in Spain’s second division with just 10,000 members. 

According to Francisco Canal, the election of President Luiz Sabalza in December 2014 marked a turning point. Canal credits Sabalza and his team for beginning to lay the foundation for what Osasuna have become today - competing in the LaLiga for the sixth consecutive season.

“The first thing everybody understood had to be done, was to clear Osasuna’s name from all the legal problems that the entity was involved in through bad management from previous administrations,” explains Francisco Canal, CEO of CA Osasuna. 

According to Canal, this effort was pivotal in re-establishing the club’s credibility and setting the stage for its resurgence.

From LaLiga promotion to financial prudence

The 2015/16 season saw Osasuna earn promotion to LaLiga, a crucial milestone for the club if you ask Canal.

 “It was important because every team in LaLiga and the second division relies heavily on TV contracts, and being in LaLiga meant an influx of money,” he highlights. 

Yet, rather than splurging on new signings, the administration took a conservative path, Canal explains. 

“The administration decided to keep the players that they already had and not bring new players in after the promotion to use the money to heal every debt that the club had, and from there they started building.”

While this decision meant the team faced relegation the following year, Canal notes that it allowed Osasuna to rebuild on solid financial ground. 

“They knew that the team was probably going to get relegated anyways, but at least they were able to start fresh,” he says.

Canal also emphasises Osasuna’s financial approach, which he ties deeply to its identity as a club. 

“Osasuna is a club. It's not a private entity. So, we cannot end the year with a loss because we don't have any resources to hold on to,” he states. 

This philosophy was reflected in their 2023/24 financial results, where the club posted a profit of €2.8 million. The club are also currently competing in its sixth consecutive season in LaLiga, which Canal sees as evidence of their stability and sustained success.

Investing in the future: Tajonar Training Complex

Looking ahead, Osasuna are focusing on developing young talent and infrastructure. 

The club recently unveiled plans to expand their Tajonar Training Complex, which Canal identifies as a key part of their vision.

“We want to bring in young players from other parts of the world, and therefore it's important 

The  complex will have 12 football fields, five with natural grass and seven with artificial grass. The project will involve an investment of €18 million, of which LaLiga Impulso (CVC) funds will cover €13 million.

The new facilities aim to create an environment that retains talent. 

“If we have state-of-the-art facilities, it encourages players to stay with us,” canal adds.

Canal describes the Tajonar project as part of the club’s belief in sustainable growth. 

He emphasises that they have to operate this way because they don’t have affluent owners to rely on.

“We have to go year by year. We don't have private equity or an influx of money that can come from the outside. Our main goal is always to stay in LaLiga, but that doesn't keep us away from dreaming big,” he notes.

Hellas Verona have announced that the takeover of the club by the American firm Presidio Investors has been completed, with the Austin, Texas-based fund acquiring 100 per cent of the shares.

In a statement, the Serie A club said the former AS Roma CEO Italo Zanzi will join the board of directors as executive chairman. Zanzi was also previously managing director of FOX Sports Asia and vice-president of Major League Baseball.

Verona added that outgoing president Maurizio Setti will “remain involved with the club in a new role as senior advisor of football operations, supporting the activities of the football staff and sporting director Sean Sogliano.”

Valued at €120-130 million

According to Italian media, Verona were valued as part of the transaction at €120-130 million in terms of enterprise value, including variable components and debt. The exposure to banks amounted to €90 million as at 30th June, 2024 but has decreased in recent months.

It was previously reported that as part of the takeover agreement, Presidio would want to demolish the current Bentegodi stadium and construct a completely new venue on the same land.

Chelsea in talks with Premier League over financial settlement for undisclosed payments

Chelsea Football Club are currently in discussions with the Premier League to reach a financial settlement over undisclosed payments related to player transfers during the era of former owner Roman Abramovich.

The club's new owners, who took over in May 2022, discovered these irregularities and reported them to both the Premier League and UEFA.

According to a report from The Times, Chelsea are seeking a monetary resolution rather than a sporting penalty, such as a points deduction. This approach is based on the premise that the infractions occurred under previous ownership and were only brought to light due to the new owners' thorough takeover process.

Conclusion by the end of March

The negotiations are expected to conclude by the end of March, with Chelsea hopeful for an outcome akin to the £8.6 million financial settlement reached with UEFA in July 2023.

The Times previously reported that the Premier League was probing alleged irregular payments involving the signings of Willian, Samuel Eto'o in 2013, and Eden Hazard in 2012.

Textor searching for €175 million of extra funds in battle to keep Lyon in Ligue 1

Lyon owner John Textor is battling to secure the club’s top-flight status and must find an extra €175 million for the team to avoid relegation to Ligue 2 at the end of the season, according to a report from L'Equipe.

The club were handed a provisional relegation and immediate transfer ban by French football’s financial watchdog the DNCG last November and it is understood they fell €175 million short of what was required by the body.

Lyon have made a number of player sales in the current January transfer window and Textor is preparing to sell the lease and premises of the club’s academy to Michelle Kang for around €20 million. Kang acquired the women’s team OL Féminin last February.

Period of exclusivity

Lyon could also be set for a further boost after the sports investment group Sportsbank announced last week it has entered a period of exclusivity to invest in Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings company. It is understood the firm has agreed to invest around €240 million.

The move came after it emerged that Textor, whose Eagle Football group owns a 45 per cent stake in Crystal Palace, had granted exclusivity for a separate group from the US and Saudi Arabia to directly purchase Eagle’s shares in Palace.

Cardiff ordered to provide documents over €122.2 million compensation claim in Sala case

Cardiff City have been ordered to provide a series of documents in relation to part of their €122.2 million compensation claim against FC Nantes following the death of Emiliano Sala.

The Argentine striker died in a plane crash en route to Cardiff in January 2019, and the Welsh club and Nantes have been involved in a bitter dispute since the tragedy occurred.

Cardiff are seeking damages for their relegation from the Premier League in 2018/19. The figure of €122.2 million is based on data analysis from Analytics FC, a firm enlisted by Cardiff, which concluded the club had a 54.2 per cent chance of avoiding relegation with Sala due to the expected goals and points gained had he played.

Settlement from insurance broker

As reported by French media, the Nantes Commercial Court has ordered Cardiff to provide documents relating to a €6.8 million settlement from their insurance broker following the death of Sala as the court considers them “useful to the dispute’s resolution.”

However, the court rebuked Nantes’ requests for Cardiff to hand over documents relating to the proceedings carried out against agent Willie McKay, who organised Sala’s doomed flight, as well as documents about Analytics FC’s findings.

Borussia Dortmund shares drop to ten-year low after latest Bundesliga defeat

Borussia Dortmund's share price has fallen to a ten-year low amid growing concerns about the financial impact of the Bundesliga club’s poor start to the season.

Shares in BVB slumped to €2.81 yesterday morning, down ten per cent compared to the previous day, following the 4-2 defeat to Holstein Kiel on Tuesday night, leaving the German giants in ninth place in the Bundesliga.

The price recovered slightly later in the day, rising to just under €3, but the fall reflects weakened confidence in the club after an early exit from the German Cup and with its 2025/26 Champions League qualification in jeopardy.

Marked decline

The last time Dortmund's share price was lower was at the beginning of 2013, although it was on an upward trajectory at that time. The figure is now in a marked decline after reaching €9 in March 2019.

BVB posted a net profit of €44.3 million for the 2023/24 financial year, driven by both record turnover of €509.1 million and record total revenues, including player sales, which amounted to €639 million. Last season, the club reached the Champions League final where they lost to Real Madrid.

Celtic and Rangers Women hold preliminary talks over joining WSL

Rangers and Celtic have held preliminary talks with the Women’s Super League over the potential of joining England’s top-flight, according to a report from The Times.

It is understood discussions between the two clubs and WSL chiefs have been informal and are at a very early stage and there has been no official approach to the Scottish Women’s Premier League or the Scottish FA.

For what would be a groundbreaking move to take place, the Scottish FA would need to be in agreement and any decision would not be in the hands of the Women’s Professional League’s Limited (WPLL), the new company that has taken over the running of the WSL and Championship.

Many options on table

WPLL CEO Nikki Doucet has openly talked about women’s football being able to grow in different ways to the men’s game, and it is believed Celtic and Rangers joining the WSL is one of many options on the table. The possibility of the WSL becoming a closed league has also not been ruled out.

Unlike the WSL, the Scottish top-flight is not fully professional but managing director Fiona McIntyre said last year that the league is closer than ever to becoming full-time.
 

The Premier League has not charged any clubs for breaches of its Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) for the latest three-year period ending 2023/24, but Leicester City remain at risk pending the outcome of their ongoing legal case.

As reported by The Times, the club are still involved in a legal dispute with the league over its jurisdiction relating to the 2022/23 season and that has to reach a conclusion before any new charges can be brought. Leicester won the initial case in September but the league has appealed.

All other top-flight clubs have been declared to be compliant after submitting their 2023/24 accounts before the 31st December deadline.

Interlocking transfers

A number of top-flight clubs who might have been at risk of breaching the PSR limit were involved in a series of interlocking transfers before 30th June, 2024 which enabled them to bank profits.

For example, Chelsea signed Omari Kellyman for £19 million from Aston Villa despite the 19-year-old having made just two Premier League appearances, with Chelsea’s academy product Ian Maatsen, 22, going the other way for £37.5 million.
 

FC Barcelona agree sale of 30-year VIP season tickets for €300 million

FC Barcelona have completed the sale of 475 VIP seats at the revamped Camp Nou for the next 30 years in a move set to generate fresh revenue of around €300 million over the course of the deal.

As reported by Spanish media, the agreement will bring in an initial income of €100 million. At a press conference held yesterday, Barça president Joan Laporta said the new ‘economic lever’ has allowed the club to register Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor.

While not revealing who the investors are, Laporta said one of the parties to purchase a VIP package is from Qatar, paying €30 million, with another from the UAE, paying €70 million.

€200,000 per seat

Laporta said the Middle Eastern clients are paying a rate of around €200,000 per seat. The seating being sold represents 5.5 per cent of the 9,600 premium seats in the new, expanded VIP section at the renovated Camp Nou, expected to be available by 2026.

LaLiga initially refused the registrations of Olmo and Víctor for the second half of the season after the club missed a deadline to provide proof of funds in order to comply with the league’s spending regulations.

Laporta said this had been caused by a delay in some of the new funds arriving from the UAE.

Genoa takeover: A-Cap takes legal action in attempt to block sale to Dan Sucu

Fresh question marks have been raised over the takeover of Genoa by Romanian businessman Dan Sucu after the US insurance firm A-Cap, the largest creditor of the club’s previous owner 777 Partners, launched legal action over the sale.

Following the announcement of the buyout last month, A-Cap claimed it still owns the Serie A club and that it never agreed to sell it. According to Bloomberg, the company is now trying to block the €45 million recapitalisation that preceded the takeover.

A-Cap has filed an injunction in an Italian court over the issue and claim the capital increase was approved last December without its involvement, handing ownership to Sucu and interfering with its rights as a creditor.

€440 million loan

In its complaint, A-Cap mentions it provided a €440 million loan to 777 in 2023, which included rights over voting and other powers related to Genoa.

However, Genoa CEO Andrés Blazquez has refuted A-Cap’s stance, saying the claims are totally baseless and that the club will fight back hard. He insisted everything was done legally and that the deal is set in stone.
 

Textor accuses LFP president Labrune of being Al-Khelaïfi’s “puppy”

Lyon owner John Textor has sparked fresh controversy at the top level of French football after describing LFP president Vincent Labrune as the “puppy” of Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaïfi.

Speaking on French radio station RMC, Textor reiterated his concerns over an alleged influence of PSG and Al-Khelaïfi on the LFP and French football’s financial watchdog the DNCG.

Referring to an LFP meeting last summer, Textor said: "I was completely shocked in July when we discussed alternatives for TV rights.”

Textor claimed that during the meeting, Labrune “barely opened his mouth. It was Nasser who led the debates. And every time someone came up with a different idea, Nasser barked at him. There was a lot of intimidation and the president of the league was just sitting like a puppy. He said nothing.”

The American businessman added: “I was not aware that the [LFP] was so dominated by this man [Al-Khelaïfi]. I was not aware of the influence of PSG on the league and even on the DNCG.”

DNCG and FFF hit back at comments

In response to Textor’s comments, Jean-Marc Mickeler, president of the DNCG – which imposed an immediate transfer ban and provisional relegation on Lyon last November – has refuted any suggestion it is attached to the LFP or influenced by PSG or Al-Khelaïfi in any way.

As reported by French media, Mickeler said: “As an independent regulatory body provided for by law, the DNCG acts within a strictly regulatory framework and is committed to preserving the economic balance of French professional football, with rigour and fairness in the treatment of all affiliated clubs, without exception.”

The French Football Federation (FFF) also released a statement on the matter, saying it “would like to reaffirm its support and full confidence in the DNCG. The latter acts with total independence and integrity in its analyses. It is an essential element of a healthy regulation of professional football.”

The statement added: “The FFF will not comment on the other assertions of this interview.”
 

Saudi Arabia’s PIF in advanced talks to buy 10 per cent stake in DAZN for $1 billion

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is in advanced discussions over investing at least $1 billion in the UK-based streaming platform DAZN, according to a report from Bloomberg.

Sources told the newswire that the potential deal would involve PIF, through its sports investment arm, acquiring approximately a 10 per cent stake in DAZN, valuing the company at between $10 billion and $12 billion.

It is understood that discussions have been ongoing since late 2023, with PIF seeking to expand its influence in European football, where DAZN is a broadcasting partner for Serie A, LaLiga, the Bundesliga, and Ligue 1.

Progression of talks

Last October, PIF stated it was not engaged in discussions with DAZN and had no plans to invest in the company. However, recent reports indicated that talks had progressed, and it is now thought a deal could be announced as soon as this month.

PIF’s sports investments include ownership stakes in Newcastle United and several Saudi Pro League teams. DAZN has been expanding its global presence in sports broadcasting and last month secured a $1 billion deal with FIFA to broadcast the new 32-team Club World Cup globally.
 

Court rules against DFL – Bundesliga clubs must contribute to police costs for high-risk matches

German football clubs must pay their share of increased policing costs during high-risk matches following a ruling by the country's federal Constitutional Court.

The move ends a dispute stretching back more than ten years over who should shoulder the additional financial burden of such games.

The court ruled that a 2014 law of Bremen, whereby clubs must pay their share of such increased costs, was in accordance with the constitution, and rejected a constitutional complaint filed by the DFL.

"Legal clarity"

In a statement, the DFL said the court's decision had now provided "legal clarity", adding that it “will work to ensure the relevant criteria are specified and operational planning is made more transparent for those who could be called upon to pay fees for the additional provision of police forces.”

It added: "Fundamentally, however, there remains a common goal: safe major events with the lowest possible number of police deployment hours."
 

LFP concludes five-year deal with beIN Sports after resolving issues

The LFP has finally agreed a new five-year contract with beIN Sports worth €98.5 million per year, comprised of €78.5 million for TV rights and €20 million in sponsorship, according to a report from L'Équipe.

The signing of the deal, which runs up to the end of the 2028/29 season, comes after the agreement had reportedly been on hold following delayed payments from the Qatari broadcaster.

The deal was initially announced by the LFP last July, with just over a month to go until the start of the new season. It was reported that DAZN and beIN Sports will share the matches for a total of €500 million per year.

beIN Sports felt mistreated

It is understood that beIN Sports felt it was mistreated by the LFP compared to DAZN, which has secured eight out of the nine matches for each gameweek, due to the league’s scheduling.

beIN demanded a completely revised treatment as it felt the quality of the matches sold at the start was not guaranteed, but it is understood the issues have now been ironed out between the two parties, and the broadcaster’s latest payment of €15 million due for January has been completed.

Two LaLiga clubs, Rayo Vallecano and RCD Mallorca, have expressed surprise after being handed a transfer ban for the next three windows by FIFA.

The embargoes, which came into force last Thursday, are listed on the FIFA website, but Rayo noted at their General Assembly that it was their first notification of the matter.

Mallorca told Spanish media that it is "an administrative issue already solved", adding: "it is not true, it is false about the three windows without being able to sign".

Solidarity mechanism

There has been no official explanation from FIFA on the reasons for the transfer bans, but sources at the global governing body told Marca the sanctions are due to non-payment via the solidarity mechanism.

Under the regulation, solidarity payments are distributed if a player moves before the end of their contract, with 5 per cent of the transfer fee due to be paid to the clubs involved in the player's development from the age of 12 to 23.

Nottingham Forest owner Marinakis converts another £72 million worth of loans into shares

Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest, has reduced the club’s debt by converting a further £72 million of loans into share capital.

It comes just 11 days after the Greek businessman wrote off another £82 million of Forest loans. While he has done this on a number of occasions over recent years, the latest tranches are the largest amounts he has converted so far.

In March 2023, Marinakis turned £41 million of loans into share capital. He had converted sums of £12 million and £20 million in the two years prior to that. Just over a year ago, in December 2023, the sum involved was £11 million.

Untroubled by debt

The process should help Forest, who are currently third in the Premier League, remain untroubled by debt. It comes after Marinakis gave the green light to another round of investment in the transfer market last summer.

The shipping and media magnate has ambitions to see Forest make a return to European football and is expected to sanction further transfer business, most notably the addition of a striker, before the end of the current January transfer window.

Textor set to sell Lyon academy to OL Féminin owner Michelle Kang

Lyon owner John Textor is preparing to sell the lease and premises of the club’s academy to Michelle Kang, who acquired a 52 per cent majority stake in the women’s team OL Féminin last February, according to a report from L'Equipe.

The transaction, which would allow Kang to take a larger share in OL Féminin, would bring in around €20 million to the Ligue 1 club and provide a boost to its finances following the transfer ban and provisional relegation imposed by French football’s financial watchdog, the DNCG, last November.

It was also reported that Kang is considering building a stadium at the Meyzieu complex, raising questions about the future of the academy, which is located a few dozen km from Lyon’s Groupama Stadium.

Refocus activities around stadium

Sources close to Lyon’s senior management told L'Equipe that Eagle's desire is to refocus activities around the Groupama stadium and that new buildings could be built in Décines, near the venue, in conjunction with elected officials.

Since the opening of the Meyzieu complex in 2016, its distance from the stadium has been regularly pointed out. The club has said it wants its youth players to be able to be in contact with the first team squad "to see the models they dream of becoming on a daily basis.”

Como post €47.7 million loss for 2023/24

Como have reported a loss of €47.7 million for the year ending 30th June, 2024, following the previous year’s loss of €18.5 million.

The club finished second in Serie B last season, earning promotion back to the Italian top-flight. In the previous campaign they finished in 13th place in Serie B.

Turnover for 2023/24 amounted to €9.8 million, compared to €12 million the previous year, while costs almost doubled to €57.6 million, up from €30.4 million in 2022/23.

The large increase in expenses was driven by the club’s wage bill and other personnel costs, which amounted to €33.5 million, compared with €21.8 million in 2022/23. Depreciation and amortisation expenses totalled €5.7 million, up from €0.8 million in 2022/23.

Commercial income slumps

Commercial revenue slumped to €0.65 million (€1.35 million in 2022/23), while operating grants, including broadcast income, amounted to €7.36 million (€8 million), and matchday income was €1.55 million (€1.16 million in 2022/23).

There was no income from player sales, after the club earned €0.51 million from player trading in 2022/23.

The French Football Federation (FFF)’s appeal committee has decided to uphold the sanctions imposed on Lyon by French football’s financial watchdog, the DNCG, last November.

The Ligue 1 club was placed under an immediate transfer ban and will be relegated unless owner John Textor’s Eagle Football Group can dramatically improve the team’s finances before the end of the season.

According to L’Équipe, the transfer embargo will remain in place despite Lyon appearing before FFF’s appeal committee on Friday in an attempt to overturn the punishment. The provisional relegation to Ligue 2 was not part of the appeal process.

Extensive case

It was reported that a number of Lyon executives, including general director Laurent Prud’homme and club president John Textor, presented an extensive case at the appeal hearing.

Their arguments were said to be based on evidence indicating an improved financial outlook for the club, including fresh cash injections and a number of new player sales.

Leicester City owners launch £2.15 billion lawsuit over fatal helicopter crash

Leicester City’s owners, the Srivaddhanaprabha family, have launched an unprecedented £2.15 billion legal claim against the manufacturers of the helicopter that crashed in 2018 outside the King Power Stadium, killing patriarch Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and a number of others.

As reported by The Daily Telegraph, representatives of the billionaire Thai family said the claim against the Italian aviation company Leonardo, lodged on Friday at the High Court, is the largest of its kind in British legal history.

In an emotional statement, the Leicester chairman, Vichai’s son Aiyawatt, known as Top, said his father had trusted Leonardo with his life. “The conclusions of the [Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB)] report into his death show that his trust was fatally misplaced,” he said. “I hold them wholly responsible for his death.”

Duty free empire

The crash, which occurred in October 2018 after a home game against West Ham United, killed Vichai and four others. The Srivaddhanaprabha family, which owns the King Power duty free empire, alleges that Leonardo was responsible for the deaths.

The claim seeks loss of earnings and damages totalling £2.15 billion calculated on the value of King Power at the time. It is alleged that at the time the company was generating £2.5 billion in annual revenue and annual profits of £237 million. The Srivaddhanaprabha family said it was driven by Vichai’s entrepreneurialism.

LaLiga launches legal action over CSD decision on Olmo and Víctor

LaLiga has filed a new appeal against the decision of Spain's Council for Sports (CSD) to grant temporary permission for FC Barcelona players Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor to be registered.

The Spanish league is reported to be hoping that a Spanish administrative court can take the players’ registrations down again after rival LaLiga clubs led fierce criticism over the ruling.

LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) hadn't been allowed a chance to respond to the CSD’s decision and are now arguing it was mistaken due to the absence of an opportunity to defend their stance before the provisional measure was approved.

The CSD has defended its decision by claiming that preventing the registrations of both Olmo and Victor would cause significant harm to the players, Barcelona, and even the interests of the Spanish national team.

Angry reaction from Spanish clubs

LaLiga’s legal action has come after a number of Spanish clubs reacted angrily to the CSD’s precautionary measure.

Atlético Madrid expressed its “deep concern” over the ruling, saying in a statement: “We consider that this decision jeopardises the current system, questioning the rules of the game. The Sports Law itself includes and protects LaLiga's economic control and yet, with this resolution, it is put at risk.

“This government intervention creates a very dangerous precedent, as it opens the door to circumventing the rules and repeating the serious mistakes of the past.”

Those views were echoed by several other clubs, including Barça’s local rivals Espanyol, who said the decision “poses a threat to the integrity of the competition", and Valencia CF, who said it “puts at risk the fundamental pillars of the economic management of professional football".

Valencia CF announce resumption of work on Nou Mestalla

Valencia CF have announced that work on the construction of the Nou Mestalla stadium has finally resumed, with completion of the 70,044-capacity venue scheduled for the summer of 2027.

In a statement released on Friday, the LaLiga club said: “Since this morning, the club has started the work to definitively complete the works of what will become a reference space at a sports, leisure and entertainment level.”

The construction of the new stadium has been beset by difficulties since being first unveiled back in 2006, but the granting of a building licence last July provided a major boost to the prospects of it hosting matches at the 2030 World Cup.

New contract with construction firm

Earlier this month, Valencia signed a new contract with FCC Construcción to complete the stadium project. The Spanish company has worked on several top sports arenas in the country, including the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, RCDE Stadium and Santiago Bernabéu.

In November, Valencia announced the completion of two major financing agreements to allow it to complete the construction of the Nou Mestalla, with a “long-term corporate credit facility of €121 million” and a “short-term bridge loan of €65 million.”

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), along with Manchester City and Manchester United, is preparing to challenge the Premier League's plans to implement a spending cap starting next season, according to a report from The Times.

This proposed "anchoring" scheme would limit top teams to spending only five times the amount the lowest-earning club receives from TV and prize money on transfers, wages, and agents' fees. The initiative is set to undergo a four-year trial but requires approval from two-thirds of the 20 Premier League clubs.

According to expert analysis commissioned by the PFA from management consultants Oliver Wyman, there are concerns that such a cap could reduce players' earning potential. The PFA has a history of opposing financial restrictions, having successfully blocked an attempt by the EFL to introduce squad salary caps for Leagues One and Two in 2021.

Legal challenge is “almost inevitable”

Sources indicate that if the anchoring system is approved in the Premier League vote, it is "almost inevitable" that a legal challenge from a club will follow.

Additionally, the outcome of Manchester City's ongoing legal case against the Premier League concerning Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules may influence the fate of the anchoring proposal.

Sportsbank enters exclusivity to invest in Eagle Football group

Sportsbank, the sports investment group advised by the former Everton director and experienced football financier Keith Harris, has announced that it has entered a period of exclusivity to invest in John Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings company.

In a statement, Sportsbank said it intends to make a significant financial and management investment in Eagle Football “with the backing of major international financial and strategic management investors,” with the multi-club model proving to be attractive to them.

The move comes after it emerged earlier this week that Textor, whose Eagle Football group owns a 45 per cent stake in Crystal Palace, had granted exclusivity for a separate group from the US and Saudi Arabia to directly purchase Eagle’s shares in Palace.

Both groups are now in the process of demonstrating proof of funds and undertaking the relevant due diligence.

Two Palace supporters

Sportsbank is fronted by two Palace supporters – Zechariah Janjua, who describes himself as a tech investor and entrepreneur, and Navshir Jaffer, whose background is in finance. It is thought to be funded by companies across several countries, including the US and UAE.

According to The Guardian, Sportsbank has agreed to invest around £230 million in Eagle Football. It has been suggested that Textor may now decide to retain his shares in Palace but relinquish his place on the board with a view to Sportsbank eventually attempting to gain control of the club in the long term.

Tebas attacks CSD decision to grant Olmo and Victor permission to play

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has launched a stinging attack on the decision of Spain's Council for Sports (CSD) to grant temporary permission for FC Barcelona players Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor to be registered for the remainder of the season.

The provisional ruling came after the CSD reviewed an appeal from the club and the players against the refusal of their registrations by LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

Tebas responded swiftly to the CSD’s decision and in a post on X claimed the ruling was surprising and that it contravenes the law, while also taking aim at Real Madrid and their official media.

“Economic oversight”

The LaLiga chief wrote: “It is evident that with this precautionary measure, the CSD contradicts what is established in the reasons of the Sports Law, which praises LaLiga's economic oversight.

"For some time now, the CSD - and in particular its president, who is giving the appropriate instructions - seems to be aiming to dismantle the systems that function within LaLiga and have the overwhelming support of the clubs.

“The CSD president appears to listen to a single voice, which does not represent Spanish professional football. And that voice, curiously, remains complicitly silent in this case. Where is Real Madrid TV now?"

Inter and AC Milan to present offer to buy San Siro land by end of February

The plans put forward by Inter and AC Milan to build a new stadium in the San Siro area appear to have moved a step forward after the city’s mayor Giuseppe Sala confirmed that the two clubs are ready to submit an offer to buy the current ground and the surrounding land by the end of February.

As reported by Italian media, Sala said: "We expect that by the end of February Inter and Milan will deliver the new economic and financial plan to us, with observations that must take into account what emerged from the public debate and the resolution of the city council".

He added: “From there we will have to find formulas to get an offer from the clubs. We will do what the lawyer tells us to do. We are fully in line with the idea of being able to sell the area and stadium before the summer holidays.”

Bid based on €197 million evaluation

Sala’s comments followed media reports suggesting the rival clubs will put forward a bid based on a €197 million evaluation to purchase the land from the city of Milan, with the intention of then building a new modern facility on the site which would become their new joint home ground.

The city of Milan has given the clubs a deadline of the end of March to table their bid. However, it is understood the two teams are now keen to accelerate the process and are therefore aiming to present their offer by the end of next month.