The new independent regulator for English football is set to be given “new powers", including over parachute payments, under the UK government’s Football Governance Bill.

The bill was introduced yesterday in the House of Lords in an attempt to speed up the legislation. In "major changes" to the bill, the Labour government is set to strengthen the regulator's remit, which will oversee clubs in the top five tiers of the game.

As reported by the BBC, as with the original legislation, the regulator will have 'backstop powers' to mediate a financial settlement if the Premier League and EFL continue to fail to reach agreement on a new funding deal.

But it will now be able to consider parachute payments when deciding how much money the Premier League should redistribute. The payments, which are given to relegated clubs, were excluded from the regulator's scope in the initial draft bill.

However, the sports minister Stephanie Peacock has insisted that parachute payments “can’t be abolished”. Whitehall sources told The Daily Telegraph that despite the new powers to potentially review the system, the regulator would intervene only if evidence emerged that “the system was destabilising and compromising financial sustainability”.

“Foreign and trade policy” clause dropped

In a further change to the initial bill, The Daily Telegraph also reported that the government has dropped a clause forcing the new regulator to “have regard to the foreign and trade policy objectives” of the government.

It follows a warning from UEFA over concerns that the clause could amount to state interference in football, leading to the England team being threatened with expulsion from Euro 2028, which will take place in the UK and Ireland.

Norwich City shareholders approve deal for Mark Attanasio to gain majority control

Norwich City have confirmed that joint majority shareholder Mark Attanasio will gain control of the club next year with an increase in the stake held by his group Norfolk FB Holdings to around 85 per cent.

In a statement, the EFL Championship club said the change, first announced in August, was approved by the “relevant shareholders” at an extraordinary general meeting on Wednesday evening and will go through on 1st March, 2025.

Under the agreement, longtime owners Delia Smith and husband Michael Wynn Jones will cut their shareholding in the club to 10 per cent and step down as directors. They first joined the club’s board in 1996 and will become honorary life presidents.

Loss of £14.4 million for 2023/24

Norwich reported a loss of £14.4 million for the year ending 30th June, 2024 following the £27.3 million deficit suffered in 2022/23. The team were relegated from the Premier League in 2021/22.

Turnover for 2023/24 fell to £73.1 million, down from £75.6 million the previous year, primarily due to the club moving to the second and final year of parachute payments from the Premier League. However, profit on player sales climbed to £13.4 million, up from £3.6 million.

The Premier League has reiterated its concerns about the new independent regulator for English football following yesterday’s publication of the UK government’s Football Governance Bill.

In a statement, the league said it remains “concerned about the regulatory framework,” pointing in particular to what it described as “rigid banking-style regulation, and the regulator’s unprecedented and untested powers to intervene in the distribution of the Premier League’s revenues.”

The Premier League claimed this “could have a negative impact on the league’s continued competitiveness, clubs’ investment in world-class talent and, above all, the aspiration that drives our global appeal and growth.”

While the league said it “recognises that key elements of the Bill can help make the English game stronger,” it added that “the collective challenge now is to ensure an effective model of regulation which can work in practice.”

EFL welcomes new Bill

EFL Chair Rick Parry said in a statement that they welcomed the new Football Governance Bill:

“It has been our long-held view that there is a requirement for Independent Regulation, and we believe the Bill has been framed in a way that will enable the new Regulator to protect and achieve the sustainability of Clubs across the entire football pyramid.

"We have always been clear throughout this process that our intention is not to harm or hinder the strength of the Premier League, and the value which it generates for the wider pyramid, including the EFL and our competitions. Rather, this is about creating a framework for a sustainable and competitive pyramid which fosters sporting jeopardy without financial catastrophe, underpinned by better regulation and fairer redistribution.”

New independent regulator to have powers to block Premier League stadium sales

The UK government is preparing to give the new independent regulator for English football powers to prevent Premier League clubs from selling their stadiums to related or third-party companies, according to a report from The Guardian.

In June the Premier League attempted to close the loophole, which enables clubs to use one-off profits from the sale of property to escape Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) charges, but failed to gain the support of enough clubs.

Eleven of the 20 teams voted in favour of the league’s proposal at their AGM last summer, three votes short of the two-thirds majority required to secure a change in the rulebook.

Last June, Chelsea sold two hotels at Stamford Bridge to a sister company for £76.5 million in a move that appeared to help the West London club avoid a breach of PSR. The sale was cleared by the Premier League.

Prohibited by EFL

Stadium sales to related companies are prohibited by the English Football League (EFL) and it is understood the government will empower the regulator to impose similar restrictions in the top-flight.

Under proposals set to feature in the Football Governance Bill – which covers the top five divisions in English men’s football – any club wanting to sell their stadium would need approval from the independent regulator.

AS Roma new stadium plans emerge after meeting with city mayor

New details have emerged of AS Roma's plans for the area surrounding their new stadium following a meeting last week between club representatives and the mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri.

According to Italian media reports, the meeting concluded with the promise that the final draft of the plans, which were initially due to be presented to the City of Rome in the first months of 2024, will arrive by the end of the year.

It is understood that a number of details are still being considered, including references to classical architecture and ancient Rome such as arches and water in a large urban green park outside the stadium.

Pedestrian bridges

Roma have also opened a dialogue with Italian State Railways over the construction of pedestrian bridges which could be built alongside the stadium.

It comes after delays to the project caused by the summer break and a complicated legal dispute between the municipality and two residents. Heavy machinery returned to the construction site earlier this month.

FIFA accused of not paying out £3.09 million to 420 European players

FIFA has been accused of not paying the final part of agreed sums to players across Europe whose contracts have not been honoured by their clubs, in a fresh blow to player relations with the global governing body.

Sources from different countries with knowledge of the situation told the BBC that while some payments were made by FIFA, the final one has not been. It is understood 420 players are owed a total of £3.09 million.

Many of the affected players are either unemployed or now retired and the sums are said to be vital. The money was due to come out of FIFA’s Fund for Players,which was set up in 2020. The outstanding payments were due in September 2023.

Financial difficulties

An email sent to FIFA from one national union, seen by the BBC, highlighted more than 30 named players and stressed the financial difficulties being faced, with a plea to release the outstanding sums.

The report comes after global players' union FIFPro and the European Leagues launched legal action against FIFA last week over what they allege is abuse of a dominant position in relation to the international calendar, including a lack of consultation over the new Club World Cup, which FIFA has denied.

Liverpool are expecting to make more than £60 million a year from their new kit deal with Adidas, which will come into effect from the start of the 2025/26 season, The Guardian has reported.

The German sports brand is to replace Nike as Liverpool’s kit supplier when the American giant’s five-year contract expires. Adidas, which last supplied the Merseyside club’s kit between 2006 and 2012, won a tender process for a five-year deal against Nike and Puma.

Liverpool believe it will bring their kit earnings into line with Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea, who all receive around £60 million to £65 million from deals with Adidas, Puma and Nike respectively.

Guaranteed base figure

In their current deal with Nike, Liverpool receive £30 million a year as a guaranteed base figure. However, the total can be closer to £60 million a season due to the structure of the agreement.

The contract includes commercial tie-ins, performance-related bonuses and 20 per cent royalty payments on net sales of replica sportswear, promoted most prominently by the basketball star and minor Liverpool shareholder LeBron James.

Arsenal explore Emirates Stadium expansion to match rivals’ matchday income

Arsenal have begun exploring how they could upgrade and expand the Emirates Stadium to try to catch up with their rivals’ matchday income, The Times has reported.

The North London club’s matches regularly sell out and they realise that they need to keep pace with the huge demand for tickets, as well as adapt to supporters’ changing catering and corporate needs, for example by improving internet access.

It is not clear how Arsenal could increase their capacity beyond the current 60,704 in a cost-effective way, having added 780 seats in 2018. Experts have suggested they could consider changing the gently sloping elliptical roof, which was shaped to help airflow and sunlight reach the grass.

Surpassed by Tottenham

The Emirates’ capacity was the biggest in London when Arsenal moved from Highbury in 2006, but the stadium’s size, catering and corporate facilities have since been surpassed by those of Tottenham Hotspur, who earn close to £6 million from each match at their 62,850-capacity venue.

Arsenal earned £102.6 million in matchday income in 2022/23, which is estimated to increase to more than £120 million for 2023/24 as the team reached the knockout stage of the Champions League.

Inter and AC Milan look to push on with new stadium plan after key meeting

Inter and AC Milan are seeking to push forward with their fresh idea for the construction of a new stadium in the San Siro area following a meeting with senior officials and politicians held yesterday.

As reported by Italian media, the two clubs, together with the mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala and superintendent Emanuela Carpani, met the minister of culture Alessandro Giuli and minister of sport Andrea Abodi.

After the meeting, the City Council of Milan confirmed that the clubs are proposing to buy from it the areas surrounding the current San Siro and build a new modern facility on the site which would become their new joint home ground.

Expression of interest

The council added that it will hire experts to assess how much the package is worth and should be sold to the clubs for. It is understood that Inter and AC Milan will soon present a formal expression of interest for the project in order to move it to the next stage.

The developments are the latest in a saga stretching back five years. Last month the two clubs rejected a plan to revamp the San Siro while reviving their proposals to build a new jointly owned stadium in the area.

FIFA Club World Cup: Players may refuse to promote tournament

FIFA is facing a fresh challenge over its expanded Club World Cup, with top players in Europe considering refusing to help promote the 32-team competition due to take place next summer, according to a report from The Times.

It comes after the European Leagues and global players' union FIFPro launched legal action against FIFA last week over what they allege is abuse of a dominant position in relation to the international calendar, including a lack of consultation over the new Club World Cup, which FIFA has denied.

Sources have told The Times that players’ unions in England, France and Italy are now considering other protests around the tournament, including refusing to take part in promotional activities for the tournament or any sponsors.

Relations between FIFA and FIFPro are now said to be at rock bottom, with FIFPro insiders believing FIFA has responded to the legal complaint by withdrawing co-operation over a fund for players whose clubs have gone bust and over the World XI award selected by professionals from across the globe.

Inter Miami to take part

FIFA president Gianni Infantino this week announced that Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will be included in the 2025 Club World Cup, which will be staged in the US, despite the global governing body not previously revealing the qualification pathway for that place.

FIFA has so far failed to secure any sponsorship or TV deals for an event less than eight months away, and Messi’s involvement is seen by many within the game as a way of trying to enhance interest.

LaLiga proposes hosting FC Barcelona v Atletico Madrid in Miami in December

LaLiga is looking to stage FC Barcelona's fixture against Atletico Madrid scheduled for 22nd December in Miami and is seeking approval from FIFA for the proposed plan, Spanish media have reported.

It would be the first time a LaLiga match has been played in the US. The move comes after FIFA’s withdrawal in April from a legal challenge by match promoter Relevent, which is seeking to stage overseas league matches in America.

The following month, FIFA announced it was setting up a working group to look at the potential impact of competitive domestic matches being played abroad. The global governing body will make the final decision on LaLiga’s proposal.

Barcelona v Girona plan dropped

Barcelona planned to stage a LaLiga match against Girona in Miami in January 2019, but the idea was dropped in the face of opposition from FIFA, UEFA, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Spanish players' union.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has spoken of his desire to take games to other countries. Barcelona and Atletico are both scheduled to play in a four-team Spanish Super Cup in early January, which is being held in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi takeover of Newcastle United is set to come under fresh scrutiny after The Daily Telegraph reported that leaked WhatsApp messages suggest Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, personally controlled the purchase of the club.

The messages from Amanda Staveley, who brokered the club’s sale to the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which was completed in October 2021, raise questions over guarantees made to the Premier League to secure the deal.

The cache of WhatsApps suggest the Crown Prince was signing off key decisions. At one point, Staveley warns the sellers that “the Crown Prince is losing patience”, and when the deal hit trouble, she said the governor of PIF was “trying to…convince the Crown Prince not to pull out”.

Political involvement

The messages shed new light on the extent of political involvement in the takeover, with Staveley enlisting the help of the Saudi ambassador to the UK to rescue the deal and also being in direct contact with Lord Grimstone, then the minister for investment.

In April 2021, Boris Johnson, the then UK prime minister, said his government “was not involved at any point in the takeover talks on the sale of Newcastle” in a written parliamentary answer.

Via lawyers, Staveley said she only ever referenced the Crown Prince in his capacity as chairman of PIF. To suggest that her messages cast doubt on whether assurances about independence from the Saudi state have been adhered to subsequently “is as illogical as it is misconceived,” she added.

Premier League meeting over Manchester City-APT rules case to take place today

The Premier League is to hold its emergency meeting with clubs to discuss the legal dispute with Manchester City over its Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules today.

The meeting, originally scheduled for last Thursday, was postponed after planned meetings with the league’s legal advisory group and financial controls advisory group had been delayed.

As reported by The Daily Telegraph, in the week after the findings of the City tribunal were published, several of the other 19 clubs shared details around their shareholder loan agreements – considered one of the most significant elements of the landmark verdict – with the Premier League.

Significant variation

Inevitably, there is significant variation in terms attached to those deals, which has complicated preparations for a new arrangement. It is understood the Premier League is now ready to discuss next steps with the clubs around tightening its rules.

The clubs were due to meet last week to discuss three potential amendments to the APT rules, but it was never the plan to vote on any law change that day. There will be further meetings of the league’s legal advisory group and financial controls advisory group before a final vote can be scheduled.

Udinese takeover interest sparked by Russian billionaire Sergey Lomakin

Fresh speculation has emerged about a possible takeover of Udinese, with Italian media reporting that the Russian billionaire Sergey Lomakin is interested in acquiring the Serie A club.

Lomakin – who already controls Latvian club Riga FC, Russian side Rodina Moscow, and Cypriot team Pafos – has reportedly contacted the Pozzo family, who have owned Udinese since 1986, to begin talks over a potential acquisition.

However, it is understood that the Pozzos, who also own the EFL Championship club Watford, do not want to disengage from football and especially from Udinese and would prefer a partnership to develop the Italian club in the future in which they were guarantors of the project.

“Eastern Europe's answer to CFG”

Lomakin, who has a personal fortune of $1.7 billion, has been described by the New York Times as "Eastern Europe's answer to the City Football Group" due to his ownership of clubs in the region.

He holds a Cyprus passport, allowing him to avoid being blacklisted despite being Russian, although he lives in the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. His core business is retail. He is the founder of Fix Price, a discount chain with around 4,000 locations in Russia, Georgia, Belarus, Latvia and Uzbekistan.
 

UEFA has won a major ruling against FC Barcelona over its financial fair play (FFP) rules which looks set to have an impact on spending controls across European football.

Barcelona lost an appeal against the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB)’s decision to fine the Catalan club €500,000 for submitting revenue from the sale of future broadcast rights as FFP-compliant income.

The judgment on the case, delivered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), was scathing about Barcelona’s attempt to redefine the nature of €267 million of revenue against even the advice of the club’s auditors.

Deal with Sixth Street

CAS noted that in June and July 2022 Barcelona sold off 25 per cent of their future broadcast rights income from LaLiga for the next 25 years over two tranches to US investor Sixth Street for a total of €667.5 million.

However, only part of that – the first sale in June, a 10 per cent tranche worth €267 million – was included in Barcelona’s FFP submission for the 2022/23 season.

It now appears likely that Barcelona will fail to comply with their FFP requirements for the 2023/24 season, with UEFA having withheld its judgment pending the result of the CAS arbitration.

The judgment will also empower UEFA to look closely at what it calls the “disposal of non-tangible assets” to raise FFP-compliant revenue in other clubs.

Laporta defends record as FC Barcelona 2023/24 accounts approved by members

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has staunchly defended his management of the Catalan club as members approved its accounts for the year ending 30th June, 2024 during its annual general meeting on Saturday.

Of the members in attendance, 452 voted in favour and 156 against the board’s accounts for 2023/24, which included a net loss of €91 million due largely to the failed sell-off of the club’s digital business Barça Vision.

In a speech ahead of the vote, Laporta, who was elected for his second spell as Barcelona president in 2021, backed his board's handling of the club, saying: "We haven't reached the end of the road, but it's true that we're better off in a financial and sporting sense than in 2021.”

Barça Vision value

The Barcelona chief also insisted that the 2023/24 accounts do not need to be revised, after Spanish media reported earlier this month that Grant Thornton, which audited the club’s financial statements for the year, had said the net loss should be higher than €91 million.

Barcelona recorded around €208 million in assets derived from 51 per cent of Bridgeburg Invest, the holding company which controls Barça Vision, as at 30th June, 2024, but it was reported that Grant Thornton believes "the value of the investment registered at the end of the year should be subject to deterioration".

Laporta said there are reasons to justify the current value of Barça Vision, such as the investment made by club sponsor Aramark this summer, adding: “The technology business is very new and it’s agreed, and we are calm because in the future it will be one of the main sources of income for the club.”

New Bundesliga broadcast rights auction set to begin on 25th November

The DFL is to hold a fresh partial auction of the Bundesliga’s domestic broadcast rights next month as it looks to resolve its dispute with DAZN, Kicker has reported.

It is understood the date set for the start of the new bidding process is 25th November, with the DFL informing Germany’s 36 first and second division clubs of the development last Friday morning according to Kicker’s report.

Back in April, the DFL was forced to suspend the auction process for the next five-year cycle, running from 2025/26 to 2028/29, after DAZN claimed the league had unlawfully awarded the deal for the largest bundle of games to rival Sky.

Rights package B

Following an arbitral award delivered last month, the DFL must re-conduct the controversial partial auction of the rights package B, which includes 196 live Bundesliga matches on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons as well as the promotion/relegation play-offs.

The DFL has previously stated that it conducted the original tender process “in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner”, and that DAZN’s complaints had “no basis and no justification”.

FIFA opens dialogue with ECA, FIFPro and World Leagues Association on Diarra case

FIFA has announced the opening of discussions over its transfer regulations with stakeholders across the game following the ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on the case of former French player Lassana Diarra.

In a statement, football’s global governing body said that “as an initial measure” it has “already invited key stakeholders, including representatives from the European Club Association, FIFPro and the World Leagues Association, to analyse the conclusions to be drawn” from the CJEU’s decision.

FIFA added that it has also “established a platform that will enable all interested parties (groups or individuals) to submit feedback by 15 November 2024 as part of the consultation process.”

Conflict with EU law

Earlier this month, the CJEU ruled on the Diarra case in favour of the player, stating that specific FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) conflicted with EU law. It pointed in particular to article 17.2, which dictates how compensation is paid when a player terminates their contract without just cause.

In its statement, FIFA said it “welcomes constructive proposals in relation to its regulatory framework around article 17 of the RSTP and considers the judgment in the Diarra case an excellent opportunity to collectively discuss and identify possible improvements to the current regulatory framework.”

French billionaire Bernard Arnault, chairman of luxury goods group LVMH, and energy drinks company Red Bull are in exclusive talks to acquire a majority stake in Paris FC, the club says in a statement.

The negotiations are being conducted through the Arnault family's holding company, Agache, with Red Bull seeking a minority holding.

While financial details of the proposed deal have not been disclosed, the takeover would represent Arnault's latest venture into sports. This follows LVMH's recent 10-year sponsorship agreement with Formula One and its support for the Paris Olympics.

“Elite of French football”

Agache and Red Bull aim to provide Paris FC “with the necessary resources to permanently establish the men's and women's teams among the elite of French football and within the hearts of the Parisians,'" Agache stated.

Paris FC has a history dating back to 1969 and currently leads Ligue 2.

Opposition groups challenge FC Barcelona president Laporta

Several opposition groups, including club members and former presidential candidates, are challenging FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta's administration over concerns of transparency in the club's financial management, Spanish media reports.

They are calling for a reformulation of the accounts for the 2023-2024 season, insisting that the current figures do not accurately reflect the club's economic reality.

These groups have also requested a new date for the assembly of delegates, initially scheduled for this Saturday, advocating for a hybrid or in-person format to facilitate direct interaction between members and the club's leadership.

Question board’s actions

According to a statement from the opposition, there is significant dissatisfaction with Laporta's board of directors.

The statement reads: "The groups of members and signatories have joined together to express our concern about the current management of the board of directors of FC Barcelona, a management with much room for improvement and with little proactive behavior when it comes to promoting the real participation of members, especially at the headquarters of the assembly of delegates."

The opposition has raised questions about the legitimacy of the reported €91 million in losses. They are pushing for a more transparent and participative model at FC Barcelona.

Premier League expands global reach with Beijing office

The Premier League is expanding their global footprint by opening a new international office in Beijing, aiming to capitalize on the growing Chinese interest in English football. This strategic move is designed to enhance the league's popularity and strengthen ties with Chinese fans and partners, according to a statement from Premier League.

In addition to establishing a physical presence in China, the Premier League has entered into a collaborative agreement with the Chinese Football Association. This partnership focuses on the development of elite players, coaches, and match officials, as well as providing training for grassroots coaches and referees.

China's ambition to become a major footballing nation has seen its domestic league attract high-profile international players with substantial contracts. Despite a recent slowdown due to Beijing's restrictions on foreign investments, teams like Wolverhampton Wanderers remain under Chinese control.

Broader strategy

The Beijing office is part of the Premier League's broader strategy to secure its international revenue streams, which have been challenged in the past. In 2020, the league faced difficulties when Suning Holdings Group Co.’s PPTV terminated a significant broadcasting contract.

The Premier League's first international office was opened in Singapore in 2019 to combat content piracy and support broadcast partners. It also maintains an office in New York.

Bordeaux to lay off 97 employees

FC Girondins de Bordeaux are set to lay off 97 employees on November 6th as part of an Employment Protection Plan (PSE), reigional media France Bleu Gironde reports.

The layoffs come in the wake of the club's relegation from Ligue 2 to National 2, a demotion that occurred after failing to demonstrate financial stability to the DNCG, French football's financial watchdog.

The affected employees, some of whom have dedicated their entire careers to the club, were notified this week, albeit without any formal communication from the club's management. The news has been met with dismay by the local community and fans who have long-standing ties with the club.

MP calls for fairness and transparency

Local MP Marie Récalde expressed her concern about the significant human impact of these layoffs, stating to France Bleu, "Behind a club like the Girondins de Bordeaux, there are dozens of people, families, real fans who have given years and years. It is a real tragedy with serious human consequences."

Récalde also called on the club's owner, Gérard Lopez, to fulfill his moral and legal responsibilities towards the employees facing unemployment. She emphasized that the PSE should be executed fairly and transparently, with adequate compensation provided to assist those affected in moving forward after such a challenging event.

La Liga President Javier Tebas has openly criticized FIFA's plans for an expanded Club World Cup, urging FIFA President Gianni Infantino to abandon the tournament.

Speaking at the European Professional Football Forum in Brussels, Tebas argued that the tournament lacks support from broadcasters, clubs, players, and sponsors.

According to a report by The Athletic, Tebas's remarks come in the wake of a formal complaint lodged by FIFPro and European Leagues with the European Commission against FIFA's anti-competitive practices. This move prompted La Liga to rejoin European Leagues after leaving last year due to disagreements.

Message to the FIFA president

Tebas accused FIFA of failing to consult domestic leagues on key decisions, such as scheduling the Club World Cup every four years, moving the 2022 World Cup to winter, and expanding the men's World Cup from 2026.

He directly addressed Infantino during his speech: "Mr President (Infantino), you know you have not sold the broadcast rights for the Club World Cup, you know you have not sold any sponsorship rights," Tebas said. "Scrap the Club World Cup. It is not needed by the players, the clubs or FIFA."

He also called on FIFA to engage in proper negotiations with leagues and players' unions regarding the international match calendar.

Investigation into PSG's alleged ethnic profiling reopens

A new judicial investigation has been launched into Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)'s alleged ethnic profiling of players during the 2010s, following a complaint by the Human Rights League (LDH), reports French newspaper L'Équipe.

This development comes after an initial probe into the matter was closed without further action in August 2022. The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed the opening of this new investigation last May.

According to the club, which is represented by lawyer Antoine Maisonneuve, "PSG did not commit any discrimination" and the prosecution has already concluded the case without further action.

However, in late 2018, reports by media including Mediapart and Envoyé spécial exposed that PSG's recruitment unit had listed ethnic criteria in their evaluation sheets for young players between 2013 and 2018, categorizing them as "French", "North African", "Caribbean" and "African".

Blames Profiling on Individual

Initially, PSG claimed that this profiling was an individual initiative by the head of the recruitment unit for territories outside the region Île-de-France.

Yet, a document produced by L'Équipe suggested that ethnic criteria were also used by the Île-de-France unit. An internal investigation by PSG found no proven cases of discrimination but acknowledged ethnic profiling and led to a fine of 100,000 euros from the LFP's disciplinary committee in January 2019.

Inter Milan make strategic expansion into Saudi Arabia

Inter Milan is making a strategic move into the Saudi Arabian market by acquiring the MISA-license, which is crucial for any foreign entity looking to operate commercially in the country.

The club announced this expansion during a ceremony at the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA), with high-profile attendees including Vice President Javier Zanetti and CEO Corporate Alessandro Antonello.

According to the club's statement, this initiative will support Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 by promoting sports culture and talent development.

For the brand presence

Inter aims to extend its brand presence in the Middle East, grow its fanbase, and contribute to the country's sporting sector while also promoting Italian values and traditions.

The club plans to open several Inter Academies across Saudi Arabia, support youth and women's football development, and organize unique experiences to engage with the country’s young population. This expansion is also expected to involve local businesses as part of Inter's global network.

Benfica have acknowledged they are being investigated for match-fixing between 2016 and 2019 but have claimed the accusations are "unfounded" after local prosecutors called for a ban of up to three years if the club was found guilty.

Portuguese media reported that the public prosecutor's office has issued an indictment, which would be the third corruption case against Benfica in just over three years.

According to the local media reports, the public prosecutor's office believed that Benfica granted financial advantages to rivals Vitoria Setubal, who in return deliberately made life easier for the Lisbon club during matches between the two teams.

The main defendant in the trial would be former president Luis Filipe Vieira, who was in charge at the club for 18 years until his arrest in July 2021, in a case involving breach of trust and fraud.

Club “will defend itself”

In a statement, Benfica said the club and its lawyers “will analyse in detail the accusation of which they were notified," noting that the suspicions related to "acts allegedly imputed to its ex-president and a former advisor".

The club added: "Benfica will defend itself, without hesitation, from all unfounded accusations," adding that "from what has already been analysed, these are unfounded".

Premier League meeting over Manchester City-APT rules case postponed

The Premier League’s emergency meeting with clubs scheduled for tomorrow to discuss the legal dispute with Manchester City over its Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules has been postponed.

As reported by The Times, on Monday night clubs were informed that the planned meetings with the league’s legal advisory group and the financial controls advisory group, which were due to take place yesterday, have now been cancelled.

Those key discussions were essential before the emergency meeting in London and clubs have now been told there has been a postponement of that gathering too.

Delayed by a matter of days

According to The Daily Telegraph, the emergency meeting is likely to be delayed by a matter of days rather than weeks.

The newspaper reported that in the week after the findings of the City tribunal were published, several of the other 19 clubs shared extensive levels of detail around their shareholder loan agreements with the competition.

It is understood that the significant variation in terms attached to those deals has played some part in complicating preparations to thrash out a new arrangement.

Manchester United end Sir Alex Ferguson’s ambassadorial contract

Manchester United are to end their ambassadorial deal with Sir Alex Ferguson as the cost-cutting measures at the club driven by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS Group continue.

Ferguson has been a global ambassador and club director at Old Trafford since his decision to end his 27-and-a-half year reign as manager and retire in May 2013.

The Scot, who is the most successful manager in United’s history, has been paid an annual salary for his ambassadorial duties but will now step away from that role at the end of this season.

Salary of £2.16 million

The only official reference to Ferguson’s services as an ambassador for United came in the club’s accounts for the 2013/14 financial year.

Under a section about related party transactions, United stated that Ferguson signed an agreement on 17th October, 2013 – less than five months after retiring as manager – to become a global ambassador on a salary of £2.16 million.

The European Leagues and global players' union FIFPro have launched legal action against FIFA over what they allege is abuse of a dominant position in relation to the international calendar.

The two organisations have filed a legal complaint against football’s global governing body with the European Commission after announcing the action back in July. They claim that FIFA has abused its role under European competition law.

The European Leagues represents 39 leagues and 1,130 clubs in 33 countries, including the Premier League, Serie A and Bundesliga. LaLiga is not a member of the European Leagues but is joining the action.

As reported by the BBC, FIFPro expects the European Commission to open a preliminary investigation which could take 12 months. The expectation is that there would then be a decision on whether to open a formal investigation.

Club World Cup

FIFA has previously denied accusations of a failure to consult over recent changes to the calendar, such as the introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup. It has also accused some leagues of "hypocrisy" by sending their players on global pre-season tours.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has conceded "the match calendar has reached full capacity" but has also said he believes complaints over the issue are from a minority of players.

FIFA to open dialogue on transfer rules after CJEU verdict on Diarra case

FIFA has announced the start of negotiations with stakeholders across the game on its transfer regulations following the ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) earlier this month on the case of Lassana Diarra.

The CJEU ruled in favour of the former French player, stating that specific FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) –particularly article 17.2 – conflicted with EU law. This article dictates how compensation is paid when a player terminates their contract without just cause.

In a statement FIFA said: "In the coming days, FIFA will formally invite stakeholders to comment on and propose ideas in relation to article 17 of the RSTP (“Consequences of terminating a contract without just cause”) with a view to consolidating the proposals and identifying the best way forward.”

At present, under article 17, a player who terminates a contract before its term "without just cause" is liable to pay compensation to the club, and where the player joins a new club they will be jointly liable for payment of compensation.

Regulatory framework
FIFA’s chief legal & compliance officer Emilio Garcia Silvero said: “FIFA looks forward to developing its regulatory framework further, obviously taking into account views and input from all relevant and affected parties.”

While Diarra's legal team claimed the whole transfer system would change following the CJEU’s ruling, FIFA argued that only part of the regulations would be affected.

beIN Sports ‘owes €27 million to UEFA’ for Euro 2024 broadcast rights

Fresh concerns have emerged over missed payments by beIN Sports after L'Équipe reported that the Qatari-based network is yet to pay UEFA money owed for its broadcast rights to Euro 2024.

According to the French newspaper, beIN Sports owes around €27 million to UEFA after it aired all 51 matches in France during the summer tournament hosted by Germany, 25 of which were broadcast jointly with TF1 or M6.

According to L'Équipe, beIN Sports acknowledges that the payment has still not been made and is justifying it by explaining that a contract has not yet been signed with UEFA due to points waiting to be finalised over a deal that also includes Euro 2028.

Champions League rights

The case is especially sensitive as beIN Sports holds the rights for other UEFA competitions, including the Champions League in various territories, and because the president of beIN Media Group, Nasser al-Khelaïfi, is also president of Paris Saint-Germain, chairman of the European Club Association and a member of the UEFA Executive Committee.

The L'Équipe report follows the revelation earlier this month that beIN Sports has fallen behind on its payments to the LFP for its rights to show Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches in France for the new five-year cycle running from 2024/25 to 2028/29.