Leicester City have won their appeal against a decision that could have led to a points deduction for an alleged breach of Premier League profit and sustainability rules (PSR).

The Premier League initially referred Leicester to an independent commission in March over the alleged PSR breach for the three-year period ending 2022/23, but Leicester subsequently questioned the commission’s authority to hear the case.

Leicester’s challenge was based on the fact the club was no longer in the Premier League following relegation in 2022/23, but it was dismissed by the commission in July. However, an independent appeal board has now overturned that decision, ruling in favour of Leicester.

“How the rules are actually written”

In a statement, Leicester said they welcomed the decision, adding that they have “simply sought to ensure … that the rules are applied based on how they are actually written.”

The Premier League also issued a statement, saying it was “surprised and disappointed” with the ruling, and arguing that it “fails to take into account the purpose of the rules, all relevant parts of the PSRs and the need for effective enforcement of alleged breaches to ensure fairness among all clubs.”

FIFA report: International transfer spending falls to US$6.46 billion for 2024 summer window

The total amount spent on international transfers in men’s football fell by around US$1 billion (13 per cent) to US$6.46 billion in the 2024 summer window compared with the previous year, according to FIFA’s latest International Transfer Snapshot.

However, the figure was still the second highest, following the US$7.43 billion reached in the 2023 summer window, and was 31 per cent up on the US$4.94 billion spent in 2022.

The number of international transfers in the men’s game reached an all-time high of over 10,900, up from 10,490 in 2023. English clubs again led the way, with the highest number of incoming transfers and the largest total spend of more than US$1.6 billion.

Women’s transfer spending doubles

FIFA’s analysis also showed that in women’s football, US$6.8 million was spent on international transfers, more than twice the amount spent in the 2023 summer window.

Over 1,100 international transfers were registered in the women’s game – also a new record and an increase of more than 30 per cent compared to 2023.

SPFL CEO Neil Doncaster: Sixteen-team Premiership 'would halve TV revenues'

Neil Doncaster, the CEO of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), has dismissed calls for an increase in the number of Scottish Premiership clubs from 12 to 16, and warned that the loss of broadcast revenue would be the main barrier to clubs backing an expansion.

A Scottish FA report released last week highlighted the lack of 16 to 21-year-old players being produced in Scotland and the lack of minutes they are getting at top-flight level.

One recommendation was increasing the number of Premiershipteams to 16, taking away some of the risk of relegation and encouraging managers to select young players more often, in theory under less pressure to get results.

“Fundamental issue … is 30 games”

However, speaking to BBC Sportsound, Doncaster said: "The fundamental issue of going to a 16-team league, which is once at home, once away, is 30 games. It's a nicer number of games, but the financial implications would be huge and would effectively halve the value of our TV deal.

"You're halving the number of games. At the moment we've got the potential for four Edinburgh derbies, four Dundee derbies and four Glasgow derbies. You're halving that if you go once home, once away.”

UEFA has announced that ticket prices for away fans across its three club competitions are to be capped, starting from the current 2024/25 season.

In a statement, UEFA confirmed that away match tickets will be capped at €60 in the Champions League, €40 in the Europa League and €20 in the Conference League this season.

These caps will be further reduced in the 2025/26 campaign, to a maximum of €50 in the Champions League and €35 in the Europa League, with the Conference League remaining at €20.

Decision taken with ECA and FSE

The decision to limit ticket prices for supporters of away clubs was taken by UEFA alongside the European Club Association (ECA) and Football Supporters Europe (FSE).

FSE said the average away ticket prices in the 2023/24 season for a Champions League match were €47.15, in the Europa League €29.32 and in the Conference League €21.13.

LFP presidency campaign to include Cyril Linette

LFP board member Cyril Linette will finally be able to run for the presidency of the organisation later this month despite recent moves against him, French media have reported.

It comes after the presidents of France’s 46 professional football clubs had voted last Thursday to sponsor both Linette and current president Vincent Labrune.

Doubts over Linette’s involvement emerged, however, after the Union of Football Actors (UAF) dismissed his candidacy, apparently paving the way for a re-election of Labrune, without opposition.

Pressure from authorities

As reported by L'Équipe yesterday, the UAF has now agreed to give a sponsorship to Linette after coming under pressure from the public authorities. Voting for the new president will take place at the LFP’s elective general assembly on 10th September.

The French minister of sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra has said that Linette will resign from the LFP board of directors if he is not elected president. Linette is the former managing director of the French betting firm Pari Mutuel Urbain.

The summer transfer window for Europe’s top five leagues has now come to a close, and the key insights are quite telling. The Premier League has once again outspent the other top European leagues, with a total spend of €2.33 billion.

This figure is more than two times that of Serie A (€1.0 billion), the second-highest spender, and represents 45 per cent of the total expenditure across the top five leagues.

However, this year’s spending by Premier League clubs reflects a notable decline, with a 16.8 per cent decrease compared to last summer. This reduction is likely influenced by the Profitability and Sustainability Regulations (PSR), which appear to have curbed the free-spending tendencies of previous years.

Similarly, both Ligue 1 (€772.8 million) and the Bundesliga (€600.5 million) have seen decreases of more than 15 per cent compared to last summer, cementing this transfer window as one of the slower ones in recent memory.

Saudi Pro League is absent

Of the top five European leagues, only Serie A and LaLiga has seen a surge in spending compared to last summer. While last year’s standout signing in LaLiga was Jude Bellingham for a hefty €103 million, this summer’s most expensive transfer in La Liga, Julián Álvarez's move to Atletico Madrid for €75 million, comes close, marking the biggest transfer of this window across all leagues.

Interestingly, the Saudi Pro League, last year’s second-biggest spender, is notably absent from the top five biggest spenders this time around.

After making headlines last year by splashing nearly a billion euros, the Saudi Pro League’s expenditure has plummeted to a more modest €327.0 million, a sharp 65.6 per cent decline. This summer, Moussa Diaby and Ivan Toney stands out as the only really significant arrival in the SPL, a stark contrast to last year when the league attracted a host of high-profile transfers such as Neymar among others.

San Siro set to lose 2027 Champions League final over new plans to revamp stadium

The San Siro is in danger of missing out on hosting the 2027 Champions League final amid new plans for Inter Milan and AC Milan to renovate the stadium, according to Italian media reports.

The two clubs who share the venue have been working on separate stadium projects, but it is understood Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala is keen to keep the clubs at the San Siro through a new potential refurbishment project.

The cost of the proposed revamp is estimated at around €0.5 billion, to be divided between the two teams, and the ownership of the San Siro would eventually pass on to the two Serie A clubs.

Detailed study

Construction company WeBuild has recently presented Inter and Milan with a detailed study of the plans and is currently awaiting their official responses, but it is understood the project could now cost the San Siro the hosting rights of the Champions League final in 2027.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has written to the City Council of Milan to ask for a guarantee there won't be any construction work in progress at the stadium in May 2027, but it is thought they are not hopeful of a positive answer.
 

The UEFA Executive Committee will make a final decision on the 2027 final host on 24th September.

Reading issue update on Rob Couhig takeover as delays continue

Reading have released an update on the protracted takeover of the EFL League One club by American financier Rob Couhig as completion of the deal continues to be delayed following approval of the proposed buyout from the EFL.

Couhig, who previously owned another League One side, Wycombe Wanderers, is leading a consortium to acquire Reading from Chinese businessman Dai Yongge, with the deal understood to be worth around £30 million.

A statement from Reading released on Friday read: “Over several months the owner and potential purchaser, alongside the EFL, have been working extensively on ensuring the completion of the deal – with the prospective owner cleared by the governing body to take over the club.”

“Complexities of the deal”

The statement added: “All parties had hoped to have the takeover completed ahead of the transfer window deadline this evening. However, the complexities of the deal have prevented this from happening.

“The takeover has involved the transfer of multiple properties, both physical and intellectual. In addition to these assets in question, the stakeholders involved are located across 14 time zones worldwide, with multiple local laws and legislation needing to be abided by.”

Chelsea are facing a challenge to comply with UEFA’s financial rules after the European governing body confirmed it does not allow clubs to register income from selling assets to sister companies.

The spotlight has fallen on Chelsea after the club sold two hotels to a sister company for £76.5 million last June, while its women’s team was taken over by the club’s parent company in June this year.

As reported by The Times, UEFA confirmed that its rules did not allow for such transactions, but stressed that all cases would have to be assessed individually by its independent panel.

Potential ban from Europe

UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) has a range of sanctions at its discretion, ranging from a warning or fine up to excluding a club from European competition.

Any sanction or settlement for a breach of UEFA’s financial rules would not affect Chelsea in this season’s Conference League, but would be applied before next season.

Panathinaikos given green light to build new €115 million stadium

Panathinaikos have been granted permission to build their new €115 million stadium in Votanikos, Athens, the city’s mayor Haris Doukas has announced.

As well as obtaining a permit to build the new venue, a license was also required for the demolition of Panathinaikos’ old stadium, located near central Athens. Both have now been obtained.

Mayor Doukas said: “With the issuance of the building permit for the construction of the new state-of-the-art stadium, a well-coordinated effort, which has been running at an unprecedented pace over the past eight months, is sealed.

Additional financing of €6.8 million

A local authority statement added: “The financing of €115 million for the construction of the stadium was secured, with its approval by the Ministry of the Interior on June 20, 2024.

“Additional financing of €6.8 million has been secured and the ground clearance of the stadium pit is ‘running’, so that in a few weeks the first stones will ‘fall’ on the stadium’s foundations.”

The project also includes the development of a large park in Eleonas, near the new stadium, designed to enhance Athens’ green spaces.

According to The Athletic, senior UEFA sources says, that clubs participating in this season's Champions League are set to see a significant 20 percent increase in earnings due to higher broadcasting rights and sponsorship income.

This financial boost is expected despite the competition's expansion from 32 to 36 teams under its new format.

The average earnings for each club across Europe last season were €65 million (£54 million), with English clubs averaging €95 million (£80 million).

Possibly exacerbate concerns

This figure is projected to rise by 20 percent, potentially adding an extra £23 million a year to an English club's revenue. For context, Manchester City earned €135 million (£114 million) in TV and prize money from UEFA when they won the Champions League in the 2022-23 season.

This revenue increase is likely to exacerbate concerns among some Premier League clubs about the widening financial gap between teams that qualify for Europe's top-tier competition and those that do not.

UEFA faces legal challenge over new "league phase" format

UEFA is facing a legal challenge over its adoption of a new "league phase" format for its club competitions, which sports consultant Leandro Shara claims infringes on his copyrighted system.

The Athletic reports that Shara has sent a cease-and-desist notice to UEFA, alleging "unauthorised and unfair use" of a format he says he created and copyrighted in Chile in 2006.

The new format, often referred to as the "Swiss model" and inspired by chess tournaments, will rank teams in three 36-team leagues, with each team playing eight matches against different opponents. Unlike a true Swiss system, the fixtures won't be redrawn after each round due to the impracticality for cross-border football competitions with global TV audiences.

Wants recognition

According to Shara, he has presented this hybrid system to UEFA numerous times since 2013 and has worked with football authorities in Chile and Peru on competitions using the format.

In his legal notice, Shara demands recognition of his format at UEFA's draw and subsequent publications, an invitation for him and his colleagues to attend the draw, communication of his ownership rights to UEFA's member associations and commercial partners, and a commercial agreement with his company MatchVision before the league phases begin next month.

Trabzonspor opts for capital increase over loan agreement

The Turkish football club Trabzonspor is taking a significant financial step by opting out of its loan agreement with the Banks Association of Turkey in favor of a capital increase.

The club's president, Ertuğrul Doğan, announced this strategic move on the official club website, highlighting the substantial interest burden the club has been shouldering.

According to Doğan, Trabzonspor has been grappling with an annual interest payment of around 500-600 million Turkish lira (nearly €15.7 million). "In an environment where interest rates are at 55%, we will provide great financial relief for our club with the successful completion of our process," Doğan stated.

A plan for debt

The president emphasized that this capital increase is not only about alleviating bank loan pressures but also addressing other debts. He expressed confidence that these steps would significantly strengthen Trabzonspor's financial structure and bring the club's equity capital into positive territory.

Doğan also mentioned that this move would help the club comply with UEFA's Positive Equity Rule and other financial criteria. Furthermore, he outlined plans for Trabzonspor to establish a serious payment plan for its tax debts and highlighted the club's commitment to a zero-debt policy as part of securing its future stability.

Premier League urged to boost financial support for PGMOL

The Premier League is under pressure to increase its financial support for the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), which is facing a cash shortfall, The Guardian reports.

PGMOL's reserves have significantly decreased from around £4m to nearly zero due to rising costs, particularly with the implementation of VAR.

With an annual budget of about £25m, PGMOL is expected to manage this season, but will require additional funds next year. The Premier League contributes the majority of the budget, with the English Football League and the Football Association also contributing.

Can have consequences

Failure to secure extra funding could lead to cuts in training programs, which would impact the development of top referees and efforts to increase diversity among officials.

The geographic distribution of referees is also a concern, with most being from Yorkshire and the north-west. PGMOL is working on initiatives like the Elite Referee Development Plan and schemes to fast-track former players into refereeing to address these issues.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC), following Serie A's lead, is advocating for the transfer market to close before the start of national championships.

According to Calcio Finanza, the FIGC is against playing early championship matches while the transfer market is still open. To change this, they aim to make their stance the majority at the UEFA assembly. FIGC President Gabriele Gravina plans to meet with UEFA and other federations to seek a collective agreement that would ensure stability for the commencement of sports competitions.

Gravina emphasized the importance of collaboration with other federations to avoid unilateral decisions that could disadvantage Italian clubs. The goal is a shared approach that would provide certainty about player rosters before the season kicks off.

Serie A's stance

Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Serie A, recently shared that efforts were made this year to align the schedules, but consensus among all parties was not reached due to opposition from the Spanish League.

De Siervo mentioned that "It is not utopian to start after the transfer market" and revealed ongoing discussions with the Saudi League about delaying the start of championships until after the market closes. However, this year's closure was ultimately set for August 30th.

EURO 2024 set to generate €7.44 billion economic impact for Germany

According to a study by Nielsen Sports, UEFA EURO 2024 is projected to generate an economic impact of €7.44 billion for Germany and its ten host cities.

The majority of this sum will come from the expenditure of the 2.7 million ticket holders, with significant contributions from accommodation, travel, and food and beverage purchases.

"UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany was an outstanding tournament... the tournament had a significant economic and social impact on the host country," said UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, emphasising the broader benefits of hosting such events.

Tourism and Pride

Key findings from the study include high attendance with a substantial international presence, a strong desire among international ticket holders to revisit Germany, and a positive perception of UEFA EURO 2024 among attendees.

Additionally, residents in host cities expressed pride and reported increased sports participation inspired by the event.

Dutch football association calls for negotiations following police strike

The Dutch Football Association (KNVB), in a press release on Tuesday, has called for the Dutch police and government to commence negotiations following the cancellation of the highly anticipated match between Feyenoord and Ajax, known as 'De Klassieker', due to a police strike.

According to the KNVB, the government and police are crucial partners in football, and it is imperative that football does not become an obstacle between these entities. The association's statement urges both parties to start discussions promptly, with the hope that 'De Klassieker' can proceed as scheduled on Sunday.

The KNVB highlights that the absence of police presence poses significant challenges for match scheduling. The statement notes that using football as leverage in police actions has occurred in recent years, and if the strike persists, many games will be unable to take place as planned. These games would then need to be rescheduled, likely to midweek evenings.

Complicated rescheduling

‘De Klassieker’ was set to take place at De Kuip in Rotterdam on Sunday at 14:30. However, the KNVB acknowledges that rescheduling this major fixture would not be ideal for fans or the police due to the intricate planning involved with authorities for such events. The limited availability of alternative times further complicates the potential rescheduling.

The KNVB's appeal stresses the need for a swift resolution to avoid further disruptions to the football schedule and ensure that fans can enjoy one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the season.

Bordeaux's management decisions questioned by Social and Economic Committee

The Social and Economic Committee (CSE), representing employees of the Girondins de Bordeaux football club, has reached out to the Bordeaux Commercial Court with pressing concerns over the club's management decisions amid its judicial recovery process.

L'Équipe reports that the CSE sent an email on Monday to various judicial figures, including the President of the Commercial Court and the Attorney General, expressing their alarm over the lack of clarity regarding the club's sports project and a forthcoming Employment Protection Plan (PSE).

The CSE is particularly worried about recent recruitments, such as Bruno Irles as the new coach and John Williams as sporting director, questioning whether these appointments have been approved by the Commercial Court. They fear these decisions may not align with efforts to safeguard employment or utilize existing internal expertise.

Salary and safety concerns

Moreover, the committee is seeking details on the PSE's budget and whether October salaries will be paid. They also raise safety concerns for an upcoming home match against Poitiers, citing potential dangers for both the public and employees due to inadequate security arrangements.

Highlighting deteriorating working conditions, psychosocial risks, unpaid service providers, and terminated pension plans, the CSE is urging for an emergency meeting with management. They hope for the Commercial Court's intervention to ensure this meeting occurs promptly.

Galatasaray issues stern warning to critics of the board

Galatasaray, one of Turkey's most prominent football clubs, has issued a stern warning to critics of its board through a press release on their official website. The club has taken a strong stance against what it perceives as unfair criticism and baseless accusations directed at its board members.

According to the press release, Galatasaray states: "If they cannot prove anything, we declare that we will give them the same problems that we give to enemies of Galatasaray." This message sets a clear tone of intolerance towards unproven allegations against the club's leadership.

The press release further elaborates on the club's position, expressing concern over the nature of recent criticisms: "At present, we see that the criticism against our board and our colleagues has crossed the line and turned into unfair accusations and immoral slander."

Will reveal measures

Galatasaray calls for those who have spread these speculations and slanders to present evidence promptly. The club also announces its intention to disclose the measures it has taken and will take in response to these allegations: "Tomorrow we will share with the public which measures we have taken and will take in this connection."

The club emphasizes the need for unity and focus ahead of this decisive encounter.

Premier League clubs have significantly reduced their spending in the current transfer window, with expenditures down by £800 million compared to last summer's record of £2.3 billion.

As reported by the BBC, with the deadline approaching, clubs have so far spent £1.5 billion, and the total spending for 2024 is also lower at £1.6 billion compared to £3.1 billion in 2023.

The decrease in spending has been attributed to compliance with profit and sustainability rules (PSR), which restrict clubs from losing more than £105 million over three years.

Premier League still outspends

The number of deals completed by English top-flight clubs matches that of La Liga, with both leagues seeing 105 transfers. However, this is less than Serie A's 115 and Bundesliga's 135, but more than Ligue 1's 78.

Despite this, the Premier League's total spending still surpasses that of Italy (£617m), France (£529m), Spain (£435m), and Germany (£462m).

Amanda Staveley targets 25% stake in Tottenham

Amanda Staveley, who recently sold her minority stake in Newcastle United, is reportedly eyeing an investment in Tottenham Hotspur, according to The Sun. Staveley, alongside a consortium of Middle Eastern investors, is interested in acquiring a minority stake in the North London club.

Staveley and her husband Mehrad Ghodoussi previously played a key role as intermediaries in the Saudi Arabian government fund PIF's acquisition of Newcastle United, where they held a 6% share before selling it back to PIF last July.

The potential investment in Tottenham would follow a similar pattern to the Newcastle deal, with Staveley and Ghodoussi possibly acting as intermediaries once again. However, unlike the majority takeover at Newcastle, the consortium led by Staveley is initially looking to secure a 25% stake in Spurs.

£590M Raised

Forbes currently values Tottenham at £2.8 billion, which would place the value of a 25% stake at approximately £715 million. Staveley's investment fund, PCP Capital Partners, has reportedly already raised £590 million for the venture.

While the current strategy seems to be focused on a minority stake, it is not dismissed that this could be a stepping stone towards seeking a majority share in the future.

According to a report by French newspaper L’Equipe, Olympique Lyonnais, has placed the majority of its squad on the transfer market. This move is part of an effort to meet the club's financial sales target before the transfer window closes.

Lyon's goal is to generate 100 million euros ($111 million), and as per L’Equipe, they still require 75 million euros to achieve this objective. The club has been active in the transfer market, spending 134 million euros over the past two months, which is more than any other French club.

Reuters reached out to Olympique Lyonnais for comment on the report, but a spokesperson for the club stated that they do not comment on market rumors.

Pledges €100M Sales

Last month, Lyon assured the financial authority of Ligue 1 that it would reach 100 million euros in player sales this summer, thereby avoiding additional scrutiny from the league's financial watchdog.

In December of last year, Lyon raised over 300 million euros to refinance its debt. The club is part of Eagle Football Group, an investment holding company listed in Paris with stakes in several football clubs across different countries.

Guardiola calls for swift resolution to Manchester City's financial charges

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has called for a prompt resolution to the club's 115 charges of alleged financial breaches, as reported by several media.

The Premier League is set to hear the case next month, and Guardiola has expressed his desire for the matter to be settled quickly to avoid derailing the team's season.

"Deep in my heart, I want this sorted quickly," Guardiola stated, emphasizing his hope that the independent panel will soon deliver its findings. He also noted that many have already passed judgment on the club before the hearing.

Accept ruling

According to the Independent, Guardiola also insisted that Manchester City will accept the results of the hearing.

“I wish, from the deep in my heart, go to the trial, the independent panel - and I say again, independent panel - and as soon as possible, release what happened and we will accept like always we have done,” he said according to the newspaper.

The charges against Manchester City include a range of alleged financial irregularities spanning several years.

Reports of an imminent deal for John Textor to buy Farhad Moshiri’s majority shareholding in Everton are understood to be premature according to multiple sources connected to a possible transaction, reports senior correspondent, James Corbett.

Textor was reported by the Guardian to have held talks with Everton owner Farhad Moshiri in London on Tuesday and again in Liverpool on Wednesday, with “an agreement expected by end of week”.

It has also been reported that Textor has been granted exclusivity in takeover talks, although this has not been confirmed by Everton.

However, any deal to buy the Mersey giants is dependent on a £200 million loan to the Friedkin Group (TFG) being repaid in full.

No contact from Textor

TFG pulled out of takeover talks last month after uncertainty over a legal battle pertaining to existing loans to previous suitors, 777 Partners. However, TFG advanced the club around £200 million in loans to refinance debt and enable Everton to complete construction of their new stadium. The loans are secured against the new development.

Sources close to the Friedkin family told Off The Pitch that they have not agreed anything with Textor, nor even “approached by Textor with any kind of proposal.”

“They need to be paid out in full for any change of ownership to happen.”

Textor, who is owner of Crystal Palace, is still be evaluating any potential deal. It is understood that talks with existing lenders would only occur later in the timeframe.

Serie A blackout in France to enter second week with no rights deal in sight

The coverage blackout of Serie A matches in France is set to continue into this weekend’s round of fixtures, with the Italian league still yet to reach an agreement on the sale of the rights, according to a report from L'Équipe.

Negotiations between Serie A and broadcasters in France are yet to be concluded, with the distance understood to be still too great between the demands of Serie A and the stance of the French channels.

DAZN and beIN Sports have positioned themselves in the talks and a third suitor is also said to be interested in acquiring the rights.

Parma vs AC Milan

With a deal still yet to be struck, it means that matches in the second gameweek, beginning on Saturday at 6:30pm with Parma vs AC Milan and Udinese vs Lazio, will not be broadcast on any channel in France.

Serie A has sold its broadcast rights for the 2024/25 season in England, Spain and Germany, with only France now missing among the major European markets.

American businessman John Textor is reported to be in Liverpool to hold further talks with Everton owner Farhad Moshiri over a proposed takeover of the club, and a deal is now expected to be agreed by the end of this week.

According to The Guardian, Textor is understood to have arrived in London on Tuesday before travelling to Liverpool yesterday to meet Moshiri, with sources close to the deal anticipating it could be agreed in the next few days.

The terms are the same as in the offer made on 1st June in the previous round of bidding, and Textor is said to be confident that arranging a financing deal for Everton’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock could allow him to delay completing the takeover until as late as January.

Crystal Palace stake

Textor, who owns French Ligue 1 side Lyon, Botafogo in Brazil and RWD Molenbeek in Belgium through his company Eagle Football Holdings, became the third party to be granted a period of exclusivity by Everton last week.

A potential complication could be the requirement of the US billionaire to sell his 45 per cent stake in Crystal Palace in order to comply with Premier League rules. A bid from compatriots Josh Harris and David Blitzer, who already own 18 per cent stakes in Palace, for around £100 million is thought to have been rejected.

Tottenham Hotspur top English club in 2024 Fair Game Index

Tottenham Hotspur have been named as England’s best-run football club by the annual Fair Game Index, as four other Premier League clubs made the English top 10 for 2024 – Manchester United (second), Brentford (fourth), Fulham (seventh) and Liverpool (tenth).

Tottenham had an overall score of 68.2 out of 100, and there were five clubs from the EFL in the English top 10, with League One Cambridge United leading this contingent as the third-placed team and the top-ranked club in the EFL.

However, in the combined English and Scottish rankings, Scottish clubs dominated the top ten. Celtic were top with a score of 80.6, with Tottenham in second. Hearts were third, followed by Manchester United, Hibernian, Aberdeen, St Mirren, Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Cambridge United.

Financial sustainability

Now in its third iteration, the Fair Game Index analyses the financial sustainability, good governance, equality and ethical standards, and fan and community engagement of English and Scottish men’s football clubs.

In 2023, the Fair Game Index examined the 92 clubs from the top four divisions in England. This year, 206 fell under the spotlight, with the National League, National League North and National League South, and the top four divisions in Scotland now included.