The case involving FC Barcelona’s €7.3 million payments to a former refereeing official could be about to take a hugely significant turn after the Spanish Civil Guard concluded that the technical advice described by the club has never been discovered.

Barcelona have repeatedly claimed they paid an external consultant for “technical reports related to professional refereeing”, which they said was common practice among professional clubs.

However, El Mundo has reported that the Civil Guard believe no such written reports may ever have existed, referring to “phantom reports”, and fuelling speculation Barcelona may have acted secretly.

Payments made over 17 years

The case relates to payments made by Barcelona to the former vice-president of the Spanish FA’s refereeing committee, José María Enríquez Negreira, over 17 years.

According to El Mundo, the Civil Guard said they have also found €3 million in the accounts of Negreira’s wife, which they say cannot be accounted for. Barcelona have consistently denied any wrongdoing or conflict of interest over the payments.

Maresca urges Premier League to change financial rules to protect academy players’ futures

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has called for a change in the Premier League’s financial rules as he believes clubs “feel compelled” to sell academy players to comply with PSR.

As reported by The Independent, the Italian manager, who joined Chelsea this summer, was speaking after the club agreed a deal to sell midfielder Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid for £33 million.

Gallagher is one of seven Chelsea academy graduates who have been sold in the last 12 months, with Mason Mount (£55 million), Lewis Hall (£28 million), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£15 million) and Ian Maatsen (£35 million) among the others.

World-record transfer spend

It is widely expected that Gallagher will be followed by Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah as Chelsea look to balance their books. The West London club have spent a world-record sum of well over £1 billion in the past four transfer windows.

Maresca argued that a change is needed to help protect the futures of academy players. “All the clubs at this moment are compelled to sell players from the academy because of the rules,” he said. “It’s all of the Premier League clubs’ problems.”

EFL fine former Barnsley directors Paul Conway and Chien Lee

The English Football League (EFL) has fined former Barnsley directors Paul Conway and Chien Lee for failing to disclose full details of their proposed ownership structure of the club.

In a statement, the EFL said an independent disciplinary commission found that Conway and Lee “failed to properly disclose a private investment agreement they concluded shortly prior to their purchase of Barnsley in 2017. That agreement was not disclosed to the league until January 2022.”

Barnsley were charged with multiple breaches of EFL regulations last year in relation to the period they were under the ownership of Conway and Lee, who bought the South Yorkshire club in December 2017 and left in May 2022.

Warned over future conduct

Barnsley said at the time that the charges were "the result of an investigation initiated by the club" and the EFL said they had "co-operated throughout". Conway was fined £100,000 and Lee £75,000 and both were warned as to their future conduct.

The League One club accepted the charges and there will be no further action taken against them, other than contributing towards the EFL’s legal cost of the proceedings.

The Premier League is considering a fresh bid to close a loophole that lets clubs use one-off profits from the sale of hotels, training grounds or other tangible assets in their PSR submissions, according to a report from The Times.

An attempt to close the loophole, which has allowed Chelsea to sell two hotels to a related company, enabling them to comply with the league’s financial rules, was narrowly defeated at its AGM in June.

Eleven of the 20 clubs voted in favour, short of the two-thirds majority needed, and some clubs are said to have felt the wording of the proposal in June was too broad. It is understood there are now moves to push for a new vote.

With new financial rules coming in from the 2025/26 season, there is a feeling all the loopholes should be closed before they are introduced, and consideration is being given to a new proposal that could be put to clubs as early as next month.

Hotels sold for £76.5 million

Chelsea sold their two hotels to a sister company for £76.5 million. The sales took place on June 29th, 2023, but it is believed the deal has still to be signed off by the Premier League as being of “fair market value”. The league is also reviewing the takeover of Chelsea’s women’s team by the club’s parent company on 28th June this year.

Manchester United sponsor Snapdragon keen on Old Trafford naming rights

Manchester United’s new front-of-shirt sponsor, the US company Snapdragon, is interested in securing naming rights for Old Trafford should the club use that route to help fund a new stadium, The Athletic has reported.

United are understood to be working on plans for a new 100,000-seater Old Trafford on the same site as the current ground, but with the cost estimated to be at least £2 billion several options for raising finance are on the table.

One of those is naming rights and Snapdragon, which sealed a three-year shirt sponsorship deal with United worth £180 million last month, would like to expand its association with the club.

“Reimagining of Old Trafford”

Don McGuire, chief marketing officer of Qualcomm, which owns Snapdragon, said:
“We are working very closely with the team on the reimagining of Old Trafford from a technology and innovation standpoint, and Carrington [the club’s training ground].

“So if that leads to something bigger, where it would make sense for us to go even bigger … if it makes sense, we are always looking out for opportunities.”

McGuire was speaking at Snapdragon Stadium, home to San Diego State University’s American football team, where United faced Real Betis in a friendly last week.

Bayer Leverkusen look to cut ties with kit sponsor Castore over supply issues

Last season’s German double winners Bayer Leverkusen are looking to end their kit sponsorship deal with Castore early due to supply issues, as well as the prospect of striking a more lucrative deal elsewhere, according to a report from Kicker.

The British-based sportswear brand is said to be struggling with supplying the kits, which are in high demand following Leverkusen’s triumphs in the Bundesliga and German Cup.

Leverkusen jerseys, especially the away kit, have been out of stock in all or most sizes for several weeks, leaving many fans frustrated at being unable to get hold of a shirt as yet.

New Balance front-runner

As a result, Leverkusen have the option of terminating their contract with Castore after just two years, and it is expected the club will pursue a change of kit supplier, especially as they look to cash in on last season’s success.

New Balance and Adidas are understood to be in contention to take over from Castore, with New Balance the front-runner. The US company makes kits for Porto and Lille and previously had a long-term partnership with Liverpool.

Real Betis complete €42.9 million capital increase

Real Betis are set for a significant boost to their finances after completing the capital of increase of €42.9 million launched in May and approved by the club’s shareholders last summer.

In a statement, the LaLiga club said it has “successfully closed” the capital increase, and did so “with the incorporation into the shareholding of the 766 partners who requested it and formalized the required procedures within the established period.”

The statement added: “These 766 Betis shareholders join the 582 new shareholders who were finally able to subscribe shares in the first round by having assignments of preferential subscription rights from other shareholders.”

1,348 new members

In total, the club's new minority shareholders have subscribed 2,590 new shares and 1,348 new members have been admitted. The fourth round ended on 31st July with the subscription, by 172 shareholders, of 1,824 shares out of the 5,434 offered (33.56 per cent).

Betis previously said the two principal aims of the capital increase were to balance the club’s equity, following cumulative losses of €81.2 million in three years during the pandemic, and to "face the new challenges" of the 2022-2026 strategic plan “with guarantees”.

Tottenham Hotspur have been granted permission to hold up to 30 non-football events at their stadium per calendar year, having previously been restricted to 16 such events each year.

In a statement, the club confirmed that the cap was lifted to 30 following a meeting of Haringey Council’s planning committee last Thursday. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has hosted music concerts, as well as NFL, boxing and rugby matches.

Under the new rules, subject to a S106 agreement, Tottenham can almost double the number of these events, while the restriction on the number of concerts has also been lifted.

Cap on boxing events

However, as reported by The Athletic, there will be a cap on the number of boxing events per year (two), the number of consecutive events in a row (four) and the number of events in any week (five).

In addition, there can only be two weeks every year when there are either four consecutive events or five events in any week.

LFP confirms agreements with DAZN and beIN Sports for Ligue 1 media rights

The LFP has confirmed it has struck deals with DAZN and beIN Sports for the Ligue 1 domestic broadcast rights for the next five-year cycle, beginning with the 2024/25 season that starts on 16th August.

DAZN has secured all 306 Ligue 1 matches each season, with eight to be broadcast live and exclusively on the platform each matchday and the other shown live and exclusively by beIN and aired on a delayed basis by DAZN.

DAZN will also broadcast the Trophée des Champions and play-off games, while beIN’s deal also includes Ligue 2, international rights and the men’s and women’s French Cup.

€50 million bonus payment

The LFP did not give details of the total value of the deals, which have been reported to be worth a combined €500 million per year, with DAZN understood to be paying around €400 million and beIN Sports €100 million.

However, the LFP did confirm it has agreed “flexible exit clauses” with DAZN and that an automatic bonus payment of €50 million will be triggered if the UK streaming service achieves the 1.5 million subscriber threshold to its platform within the partnership’s first season.

Stoke City chairman John Coates becomes club’s owner after bet365 demerger

Stoke City have announced that chairman John Coates has become the "outright" owner of the EFL Championship club following a demerger implemented by bet365.

In a statement, the club said all debts have been cleared as part of the transaction, with the Clayton Wood training ground and bet365 Stadium now owned directly by the club.

The Coates family, initially through John's father Peter, first became majority shareholders in the 1980s and did so again in 2006 when their bet365 group bought the club back from an Icelandic consortium.

“Structural change”

The club confirmed that Stoke City Holdings Limited, which holds a 98.1 per cent stake in the club and owns Stoke City (Property) Limited in its entirety, has now “been demerged from bet365” in what it described as a "structural change.”

John Coates said future investment and development plans are unaffected by the change. “My family and I remain steadfast in our commitment to Stoke City, so it’s very much business as usual,” he said.

Gary Neville acquires Peter Lim's Salford City stake

Salford City have announced that Gary Neville has bought fellow co-owner Peter Lim's stake in the League Two club to "pave the way for a new strategic partner.”

Neville, along with Manchester United 'Class of 92' team-mates his brother Phil, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and David Beckham, bought the club in 2014 alongside Lim.

Singapore-based billionaire Lim – who has also been the owner of Valencia CF since 2014 – took a 50 per cent shareholding in Salford upon the takeover of the club, who were in the eighth tier of English football at the time.

“Unique ownership”

In a club statement, CEO Nicky Butt said: “Peter’s support has allowed us to become an established League Two club with a unique ownership.”

He added: “We continue to explore options to potentially work with additional new strategic partners to assist us in achieving our ambitions for the club.”

West Brom transfers to be restricted by EFL business plan amid financial concerns

The EFL have placed West Bromwich Albion under a business plan limiting their transfer activity in the current window amid concerns they are on course to breach the league's financial rules, Sky Sports News has reported.

There is not thought to be an issue with the financial health of the Championship club, or any danger of them being unable to pay their bills. The threat is instead centred around whether the club can stay within the league’s financial guidelines.

The issues are said to be linked to the club's previous owners. Bilkul Football WBA – a company owned by Florida-based entrepreneur Shilen Patel and his father Kiran Patel – acquired an 87.8 per cent shareholding in Albion in February, and are working through the issues directly with the EFL to ensure they comply with the rules.

Player wage and trading issues

It is understood Albion officials have been working closely with the EFL for the past 18 months on all player wage and trading issues, to try to make sure they are compliant with the rules.

Under those rules, any club at risk of breaching PSR limits is given strict new guidelines to work within, with any new transfers needing to be cleared by EFL officials in advance. The only fee West Brom have paid for a player so far this summer is the £500,000 for Norwegian central defender Torbjorn Heggem.

Billy Hogan, the Liverpool CEO, has called for the Premier League to remain strong in enforcing its financial rules despite criticism from a number of clubs.

In comments reported by The Independent, Hogan said: “I think it is important that the rules have teeth and if clubs fall foul of that then the Premier League has a process to go through. We are supportive of those rules and being sustainable.”

Everton and Nottingham Forest both suffered points deductions last season due to breaches of the profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), and in the 2024/25 season a spending cap and an anchor to the least affluent side in the top-flight will be trialled.

“Run sustainably”

The Liverpool CEO added: “We think that clubs should be run sustainably, not losing money. We are supportive of the new financial regulations and we’re working through those.

“The new system means changing from PSR to the squad-cost rule. That will come into play after this season. We have the most competitive and global league, and it’s important we keep it that way.”

Atlético de Madrid raise €69.7 million from capital increase as Quantum joins in

Atlético de Madrid have raised €69.7 million of new funds after the capital increase launched by the club on 25th June attracted the support of 98.5 per cent of its shareholders.

Ares Management, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín and Enrique Cerezo had already announced they would cover their share of €49.8 million, to which an additional €19.7 million has now been added by Quantum Pacific Group.

The company of Israeli origin had not publicly communicated its position, but has finally resorted to the capital increase to maintain its 27.81 per cent stake. Atlético HoldCo, the investment vehicle that brings together the other three reference shareholders, owns 70.39 per cent of the club’s shares.

Minority shareholders

The Atlético board described the operation as a "resounding success" and thanked the shareholders for their participation. In total, 372,694 shares have been placed, although very few have been acquired by the minority shareholders who are still shareholders.

The figures raise the valuation of the total shares by €991.1 million. However, according to the latest edition of LaLiga Stock Market prepared by 2Playbook, the valuation of the club itself is much higher and now stands at €1.7 billion, with a year-on-year revaluation of 38.4 per cent.

Mbappé completes deal to become majority owner of Caen

Caen have confirmed that Kylian Mbappé has completed his takeover of the Ligue 2 club after the 25-year-old France captain’s company, Interconnected Ventures, acquired a majority stake in the team through its investment arm, Coalition Capital.

The deal is reportedly worth between €15 million and €20 million, with Real Madrid’s new star forward investing his own money via the investment fund. Coalition Capital replaces previous majority shareholder, the US firm Oaktree Capital, who first invested in the Normandy-based side in 2020.

Caen, who were relegated from Ligue 1 in 2019 and finished 6th in Ligue 2 last season, said in a statement: "This transaction marks a significant step in the club's strategic development and reinforces its natural ambition to remain among the historic places in French football."

“Strategic resources”

The club added: “This acquisition will allow Stade Malherbe Caen to benefit from additional strategic resources to strengthen its sports policy, modernize its infrastructure and develop innovative projects.”

Pierre-Antoine Capton, president of Caen’s supervisory board, will remain a minority shareholder. "It is an incredible opportunity for Stade Malherbe Caen to be able to count on Coalition Capital for its development,” he said.

Top leagues and broadcasters demand more action from X over piracy

Some of Europe’s top football leagues and key broadcasters have sent a letter to the CEO of social media platform X, Linda Yaccarino, demanding more action against the distribution of illegal content.

The letter, which has been seen by The Associated Press, had 14 signatories, including the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga and Serie A, as well as DAZN, Sky, beIN Sports, DirecTV and Movistar Plus+. UEFA and CONMEBOL also signed the letter.

The signatories said they wanted “to draw X’s immediate attention to its persistent failings in the fight against the availability of unlawful content on its platform and urgently call for a meeting with X’s representatives to address this unacceptable situation.”

Content moderation resources

The letter claimed that X “lacks many of the features which other responsible social media operators deploy to combat piracy” and complained that the platform recently decreased its content moderation resources by 20%.

The signatories added that there is “an increased perception among pirates that they can do as they wish on X with impunity,” resulting in an increased number of illegal live streams of games, “making the overall situation absolutely untenable.”

Manchester United will reportedly aim to build a 100,000-seater stadium should the club press ahead with plans to move to a new Old Trafford.

Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s preference is for a stadium built from scratch, rather than renovation, and according to The Athletic the six-figure capacity is seen as a realistic number designed to future-proof the ground given high demand for tickets.

A new stadium could cost more than £2 billion and take six years to complete. It is understood that United will not make a final decision until the end of the year following full consultation with supporters.

Stadium task force

As reported by The Daily Telegraph, the prospect of United redeveloping their existing Old Trafford ground is not off the table.

However, the club’s stadium task force, which has met four times since it was set up in March, has made an initial conclusion that a new build on the land around the current stadium would be the best way to truly transform the fan experience and surrounding community.

Tottenham Hotspur seek £3.75 billion valuation in minority stake sale

Tottenham Hotspur are in talks to sell a minority stake in a deal that could value the club at up to £3.75 billion, according to a report from The Times.

While the terms of any deal have not been finalised, sources expect Spurs to sell about 10 per cent in a move that could pave the way for Joe Lewis and his family to sever ties with the club.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is said to be seeking an investment that values the club at between £3.5 billion and £3.75 billion, including debt. The club is being advised by bankers from Rothschild on the sale.

Player signings

Spurs are looking to raise fresh capital for new player signings and to help fund the development of an academy for their women’s team, as well as a 30-storey hotel next to their stadium.

The former Newcastle United director Amanda Staveley, whose PCP Capital Partners fund has raised around £500 million for football club deals, is understood to be among the parties to have expressed an interest in Tottenham.

Lyon post record revenues of €368.3 million for 2023/24

Olympique Lyonnais have announced record revenues of €368.3 million for the year ending 30th June 2024, up 27 per cent from €289.7 million the previous year.

Excluding player sales, income reached €263.6 million, up 32 per cent on the €199.1 million earned in 2022/23.

Lyon said it received a fee of €26.9 million from the sale of a 50-year licensing of their OL Feminin women’s team to Michelle Kang, owner of NWSL side Washington Spirit, in a deal completed in February.

Stadium events

The Ligue 1 club also reported a surge in income from stadium events from €8.8 million to €37 million. The club’s stadium hosted five games at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, as well as men’s and women’s international football matches and pop concerts.

Media rights revenue also rose, from €85.3 million to €95.3 million, as Lyon received €50 million as the third and final payment from CVC Capital Partners’ investment in the LFP’s commercial business.

Mbappé set to acquire majority ownership of Caen for €20 million

Kylian Mbappé has agreed a deal to acquire a majority stake in Ligue 2 club Stade Malherbe Caen, according to a report from Le Parisien.

The 25-year-old France captain is said to have paid €20 million to take majority control of the Normandy-based side, and is set to become owner of the club alongside Pierre-Antoine Capton, president of the club’s supervisory board.

Real Madrid’s new star forward will become one of the youngest owners of a professional club in European football as he takes financial control of a side that finished 6th in Ligue 2 last season.

Avoid excesses

According to Le Parisien, Mbappé intends to take his first steps as a club owner “with moderation”, aiming to preserve the DNA of Caen, proceed step by step, and avoid the excesses often associated with high-profile new owners.

Ziad Hammoud, former director of strategy and investments at BeIN Media Group and now CEO of Mbappé’s image company, is set to become the club’s president.

Bordeaux apply for bankruptcy after failed takeover talks with FSG

Bordeaux have filed for bankruptcy following their relegation to the third tier of French football after Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group (FSG) withdrew from takeover talks.

In a statement released late last week, Bordeaux said the city’s Commercial Court “will very soon pronounce the opening of insolvency proceedings which will automatically lead to the loss of the club's professional status.”

The statement added: “It is a difficult decision that anticipates an inevitable consequence of the ongoing restructuring process. Although the training centre will close as a result, the club will continue to promote youth teams.”

“Effort to be transparent”

The statement continued: “The effort to be transparent with the French football authorities about what the real situation of the club will be in the coming days and weeks should make it possible to limit the sporting consequences of this situation.”

Bordeaux said they are therefore still aiming to play in the National 1 Championship next season, “to allow, as soon as possible, the return of the club, with healthy finances and renewed ambition, at the highest level.”

Newcastle United’s value soars to £1 billion after sale of Staveley’s stake

Newcastle United are now valued at over £1 billion after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) increased its shareholding in the club by buying former co-owner Amanda Staveley’s stake, Bloomberg has reported.

It is understood that Staveley’s six per cent stake in the club should fetch about £60 million. Sources familiar with the situation said her original 10 per cent stake was diluted as a result of PIF’s equity injections.

The sources added that PIF has invested a further £260 million since the takeover back in October 2021, when it acquired an 80 per cent stake in the club for around £305 million.

The other 20 per cent was originally split between London-based property developers Reuben Brothers and Staveley and her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi.

Bankruptcy claim

Staveley is now reported to be eyeing investments in other clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur. She has also been battling a bankruptcy claim from Greek shipping tycoon Victor Restis, who this year won a £3.4 million UK legal case over a 2008 investment. Staveley is appealing the ruling.

Real Madrid have claimed that they are the first football club to exceed €1 billion in annual revenue after reporting operating income, excluding player transfers, of €1.073 billion for the year ending 30th June 2024.

The figure marks a 27 per cent increase on the €843 million earned in 2022/23. Madrid said all revenue streams grew on the previous year apart from broadcast income, which declined due to a fall in the amount received from LaLiga.

The Spanish giants added that “the gains in marketing and the stadium are particularly notable”, pointing to the new sleeve sponsorship deal with HP – reported to be worth €70 million per year – as a key driver.

Profit rises to €15.6 million

Real Madrid recorded a profit of €15.6 million for the 2023/24 financial year, up from the surplus of €11.8 million achieved in 2022/23, and said the increase in revenues came despite ongoing renovations to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

The final phase of the stadium revamp, including the completion of the VIP area and events spaces, is due to be finished next season, with the total investment in the project standing at €1.163 billion at the end of June 2024.

European Leagues and FIFPro sue FIFA over 'abuse of dominance'

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

The European Leagues, which represents 39 leagues and 1,130 clubs in 33 countries – including the Premier League, Serie A and Bundesliga – said they are filing a complaint to the European Commission to protect the welfare of players.

LaLiga is not a member of the European Leagues but is joining the action. It comes following growing pressure from leagues and player unions over the number of games added to the calendar and the impact on players.

In a joint statement, European Leagues and FIFPro said “FIFA’s conduct infringes EU competition law and … constitutes an abuse of dominance”, adding that the international calendar is "now beyond saturation", "unsustainable for national leagues" and a "risk for the health of players".

32-team Club World Cup

FIFA has been accused of a failure to consult over recent changes to the calendar, such as the introduction of a 32-team Club World Cup. However, the global governing body has responded strongly to the legal action, accusing some leagues of "hypocrisy" by sending their players on global pre-season tours.

A FIFA spokesperson said: "The current calendar was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council, which is composed of representatives from all continents, including Europe, following a comprehensive and inclusive consultation, which included FIFPro and league bodies.”

Bordeaux accept relegation after Liverpool owner FSG withdraws from takeover talks

Bordeaux have confirmed that they will no longer be appealing the decision of French football’s financial watchdog the DNCG to relegate the club to the third tier after Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group (FSG) withdrew from takeover talks.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Bordeaux said: “While discussions had resumed in recent days, FSG's representatives indicated yesterday … their desire not to follow up despite the assurances provided by various stakeholders.

“Therefore, in the absence of new elements, FC Girondins de Bordeaux withdrew the appeal against the DNCG's decision of July 9, 2024.” The club added that it “accepts the sanction of administrative demotion to the National 1 Championship for the 2024/2025 season.”

Renouncing professional status

According to French regional newspaperSud Ouest, Bordeaux have also informed the FFF that they are renouncing their professional status, despite the third division being made up of professional as well as amateur teams. It is understood that all the club’s professional contracts will be broken and the training centre closed.

Bordeaux will still be called before the DNCG to provide their new budget for the 2024/25 season in the lower tier, meaning another sanction, including relegation to the fourth tier, remains a possibility.

Premier League, EFL, FA and WSL agree code of conduct for gambling sponsorships

The Premier League, EFL, FA and Women’s Super League (WSL) have announced a new code of conduct for gambling-related agreements in football.

A joint statement from the organisations said the code, which will be implemented from the start of the 2024/25 season, is designed to regulate gambling sponsorships across the professional game, and is based around four key principles: protection, social responsibility, reinvestment and integrity.

Under the code, revenue generated from gambling sponsorships must be redirected into football-related infrastructure and community programmes – including improvements to stadia and training facilities, as well as investments in grassroots football and local community participation.

Limit promotion to children

The code also states that “to protect children and other vulnerable persons, gambling sponsorship must be specifically designed to limit its reach and promotion to those under the age of 18 and those at risk of gambling related harm.”

It adds: “Gambling sponsorship must be promoted and delivered in a socially responsible way. This includes ensuring that education and awareness messages are provided as part of all marketing activities.”

Everton’s future has been plunged into fresh uncertainty after the proposed takeover by Dan Friedkin, the US billionaire owner of Roma, collapsed late last week.

As reported by The Daily Telegraph, Friedkin ended a month-long period of exclusivity talks after becoming concerned about the level of debt at the Merseyside club following the failed takeover by 777 Partners.

In a further blow, sources close to another interested party –the consortium led by Everton supporters Andy Bell and George Downing – indicated they were not planning to revive their bid to buy out majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri.

“Alternative options”

In a joint statement released on Friday, The Friedkin Group (TFG) and Everton's current ownership group Blue Heaven Holdings said: "The parties agree it is in both their interests for Everton to explore alternative options.”

The statement added that Friedkin “will remain a lender to the club”. According to The Guardian, TFG has already leant £200 million to the club to help complete its new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock and has paid off a £158 million loan to MSP Sports Capital, Bell and Downing.

Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group reignites talks to buy Bordeaux

Fenway Sports Group, the owner of Liverpool, has unexpectedly reignited talks to buy the French Ligue 2 club Bordeaux, according to French media reports.

The Boston-based group initially pulled out of all negotiations last week but the French regional newspaper Sud Ouest reported that FSG has since returned for further talks at the last minute.

The move comes ahead of Bordeaux’s appeal to French football’s financial watchdog the DNCG, scheduled for today, against their relegation to the third tier due to a lack of financial guarantees.

€20 million debt

Sud Ouest reported that FSG met yesterday with representatives of the Bordeaux metropolitan area to discuss the €4.7 million per year rent of the club’s 42,000-seater stadium and its €20 million debt.

The newspaper added that FSG is in a clear position of strength in the talks: if current owner Gérard Lopez fails to sell the club in the coming hours he could be forced to file for bankruptcy and lose his€60 million investment.

Bournemouth owner Bill Foley: No to overseas Premier League games

Bill Foley, the American owner of Bournemouth, has said he would not support any plan to play Premier League games outside England.

Speaking to the BBC in Santa Barbara during his club's pre-season tour of the US, Foley said: "I believe what we are doing today – and there are other pre-season games – is what we should be doing.

"In terms of playing actual Premier League matches in America? We should play in the UK. That is where they belong. I am very respectful of our fans and the whole system. I wouldn't want to be involved in changing any of that.”

FIFA working group

In May, FIFA said it was setting up a working group to assess the potential impact of competitive domestic matches being played overseas following the settling of a legal dispute with Relevent Sports.

The Premier League has previously said it had no plans to get involved, although LaLiga is hopeful of staging games in the US in the 2025/26 season.

Angel City FC have agreed a takeover deal valuing the club at $250 million, making it “the most valuable women’s sports team in the world”, the club have announced.

In a statement, the Los Angeles-based team confirmed it has entered into a definitive agreement for Willow Bay, dean of the Los Angeles-based USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, to become their new controlling owners.

The team’s board unanimously approved the sale via a vote, but it still must be approved by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The sale is expected to close in the next 30 to 60 days.

Additional $50 million in investment

Angel City said: “Bay and Iger will acquire the controlling stake in ACFC at an enterprise value of $250 million,” adding that they have committed to an additional $50 million in investment.

Bay will serve as the club’s primary representative on the NWSL board of governors and also serve on and control Angel City’s board.

The $250 million valuation outstrips the most valuable team in women’s basketball’s WNBAthe Las Vegas Aces, who are valued at $140 million, according to data from Sportico.

Chelsea Women’s ownership change under Premier League review for fair market value

The Premier League is to review the takeover of Chelsea Women by the club’s parent company over whether it complies with the league’s rules on associated party deals and fair market value, The Times reports.

The transfer of ownership to Blueco 22 Midco could be worth tens of millions of pounds as a paper profit for Chelsea FC Holdings and significantly help the club’s compliance with the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) for the three-year period ending 2023/24.

Chelsea insiders insisted that the focus of the ownership change was to reposition the women’s team as separate to the men’s, and that this was not an attempt to exploit another loophole for PSR compliance.

Valued at £159 million

Reports in May indicated that Chelsea valued their women's team at around $200 million (£159.3 million), but the club has declined to confirm how much income Chelsea FC Holdings registered as a result of the change of ownership.

Any associated party deal valued at more than £1 million has to be approved by the Premier League, with an independent firm determining whether it is of fair market value or has been artificially inflated.

New UK government reintroduces bill to establish independent football regulator

The UK’s new Labour government has reintroduced the bill to establish an independent football regulator, and has committed imposing “fair financial flow” between the Premier League and EFL.

The Football Governance Bill, initially introduced in March, failed to pass through parliament before the general election was called in May. Labour reintroduced the bill during Wednesday's King's Speech.

The government said it will "protect football clubs" by "ensuring their financial sustainability". The bill will give a regulator "backstop powers" which could be used to intervene between the Premier League and EFL after their failure to agree a funding deal.

As reported by The Guardian, a government briefing document suggests there will also be new statutory protections for club names and a requirement for clubs to seek the regulator’s approval for a stadium sale or relocation.

Parry welcomes bill’s reintroduction

Rick Parry, the chair of the EFL, said he welcomed the reintroduction of the bill. “It is clear from the many conversations I have had since the general election result that the football pyramid matters to those inside and outside the game,” he said.

A Premier League spokesperson said it was “critical that the regulation of this highly successful industry is proportionate and effective, to ensure that English football can continue to be world-leading and deliver for millions of fans”.

Amanda Staveley eyes Tottenham Hotspur stake through new investment fund

Amanda Staveley, who has stepped down from the board of Newcastle United, is exploring a possible stake in Tottenham Hotspur as she looks for her next football investment, Bloomberg has reported.

Staveley has recently raised around £500 million through her investment fund PCP Capital Partners and a source said she has been looking at a number of clubs to deploy the cash.

Tottenham are said to be one of the clubs on Staveley’s radar and it is understood she has held initial discussions to buy a minority stake with Rothschild & Co., an adviser to the club.

It is thought that a deal, if any, is likely to involve convertible preference shares.

AS Monaco also among targets

Other potential targets being studied are said to include AS Monaco. It is unclear who the backers behind Staveley’s fund are. The British business executive is well-connected in the Gulf region.

Welsh FA becomes first national association to join Common Goal

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has become the first national association to join Common Goal, as it commits to at least 1 per cent of ticket sales from World Cup qualifiers to community and environmental projects across the country.

Common Goal was set up by former Spain and Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata back in 2017 as he pledged 1 per cent of his football earnings to 190 football-based projects in 90 countries.

More than 250 players and managers, including Jürgen Klopp, Julian Nagelsmann, Oliver Glasner, Dani Olmo, Vivianne Miedema and Serge Gnabry, have followed since. Werder Bremen and Sporting Gijón are among the clubs to sign up.

Supporters to decide

Sharon Tuff, the FAW’s commercial director, said Wales supporters will decide where the funds generated for Common Goal will be used.

The FAW already directs 10 per cent of revenues to Welsh community projects via the Cymru Football Foundation, which became a Common Goal member this year.

With just over a month to go until the start of the new season, the LFP has finally sold the Ligue 1 domestic broadcast rights for the next five-year cycle running from 2024/25 to 2028/29, French media have reported.

According to L’Équipe, DAZN and beIN Sports will share the matches for a total of €500 million per year, way below the target set by the LFP, which hoped to bring in €1 billion per year from the domestic and international rights combined.

It is understood that the LFP board voted in favour of the DAZN-beIN joint bid at a tense meeting on Sunday. The other option on the table was an LFP direct to consumer (DTC) channel.

Headline fixture

L’Équipe reported that DAZN will pay €400 million per year for eight out of the nine games in each round, while beIN Sports will take the headline fixture each week, or the second biggest game every other round for €100 million.

While beIN Sports are tied in until 2029, there will be negotiations over an exit clause after two or three years. It is understood that while some minor details need to be ratified, the deal itself has been approved by the LFP.

Empoli unveil €45 million project to revamp Castellani Stadium

Empoli have unveiled plans for the redevelopment of the Castellani Stadium, with the project, which is estimated to cost around €45 million, set to increase the ground’s capacity from 16,284 to 18,600.

The Serie A club said the revamp, due to be completed in the summer of 2027, will result in an environmentally sustainable structure that will continue to host the team’s home matches while the works are ongoing.

The plans were presented by Empoli owner Fabrizio Corsi at an event also attended by the Italian minister for sport Andrea Abodi and Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo.

Stands close to the pitch

The project will see three of the four stands rebuilt so they are close to the pitch. The Curva Sud will be turned into a grandstand with a capacity of 4,000 spectators, while the Curva Nord will become a 3,800 square metre stand for visiting fans.

In addition, a new covered grandstand for 4,300 spectators will be built from scratch. It will feature VIP and hospitality areas, as well as underground parking and 23 shops.

Valencia CF to resume work on Nou Mestalla within six months

Valencia CF have announced that work on the Nou Mestalla stadium is set to resume within the next six months after the City Council of Valencia granted the club the mandatory building licence for the plot of land where the partially built venue sits.

In a statement, the LaLiga club said: “This decision is the first milestone necessary for the construction work of the future Valencian stadium to be resumed.

“To this end, Valencia CF is working with both the construction company and the architectural studio to restart the works of the Nou Mestalla within a maximum period of six months from today.”

2030 World Cup boost

The construction of the new stadium has been beset by difficulties since being first unveiled back in 2006, but the latest development provides a major boost to the prospects of it hosting matches at the 2030 World Cup.

According to Spanish media, the total budget needed to complete the stadium is €120 million, of which €80 million will come from the LaLiga Impulso project with CVC.

Manchester City are reportedly claiming that the Premier League has treated them unfairly in assessing their commercial income by relying on the analysis of a data company that also works for their rivals.

As reported by The Guardian, the league’s scrutiny of the fair market value of City’s deals was undertaken by the global data and media valuation firm Nielsen Sports, which has contracts with several top-flight clubs.

City are understood to have raised the Premier League’s use of Nielsen in their legal battle over associated party transactions (APT), which was heard in private last month. A decision on the landmark case is expected soon, although it is unclear when it will be made public.

Competition law

It is claimed by City that the APT rules are unlawful because they contravene competition law. If successful, the club will demand financial damages from the Premier League for perceived losses from sponsorship deals blocked after analysis by Nielsen.

The Guardian also reported that City are understood to be arguing the Premier League’s APT rules are far more restrictive than UEFA’s and want them relaxed.

UEFA allows Manchester clubs to compete alongside sister teams in Europe

UEFA has ruled that Manchester United and Manchester City can compete in the same European competitions as other clubs under the same ownership next season.

United and Nice, the Ligue 1 club owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s company INEOS, have both qualified for the Europa League, while City are in the Champions League along with LaLiga side Girona, who are also part of City Football Group.

UEFA had launched proceedings over potential conflicts regarding those clubs after relaxing its rules on multi-club ownership groups ahead of next season’s changes to its club competitions.

“Significant changes”

In a statement on Friday, UEFA said that “following the implementation of significant changes by the concerned investors” in both Nice and Girona, no one has “control or decisive influence” over both teams.

Girona confirmed changes to its board last week, while UEFA said that in both instances, the respective clubs “will not transfer players to each other, whether permanently or on loan, directly or indirectly, from July 2024 until September 2025, with the exception of pre-existing transfer agreements”.

Eintracht Frankfurt CEO Axel Hellmann issues warning over failed Bundesliga media rights deals

Axel Hellmann, the Eintracht Frankfurt CEO and a member of the DFL executive committee, has warned that the Bundesliga is facing a serious fallout from a potentially delayed or failed sale of its broadcast rights.

In comments reported by Bloomberg, Hellmann said: “Should we not be able to enforce our prices, should there be a decline in broadcasting proceeds, German clubs will have difficulties maintaining their status.”

Back in April, the DFL was forced to suspend the auction process for its domestic broadcast rights running from 2025/26 to 2028/29 after DAZN claimed it had unlawfully awarded the deal for the largest bundle of games to rival Sky.

European Super League risk

Plans to sell a stake in the DFL’s Bundesliga’s media rights business to a private equity firm have failed twice in the past two years, additionally undercutting the league’s ability to develop its streaming strategy.

“That’s why we have to build our own media management platform,” Hellman said, adding that if the league fails to address these issues, there is still a risk a European Super League could potentially destroy the current system of national leagues.

Nottingham Forest set to stay at City Ground after agreeing to purchase stadium land

Nottingham Forest look set to stay at the City Ground after Nottingham City Council confirmed that an agreement in principle is in place for the club to purchase the freehold of thestadium’s land, ending months of stalemate on its future.

At a meeting yesterday, Labour Council Leader Neghat Khan announced that a deal was in place, although it is yet to be officially ratified. An official decision on the deal is set for 16th July.

The exact terms of the agreement have not been confirmed, but The Athletic reported in May that the site had been valued at between £8-10 million.

Expand capacity to 40,000

A fresh agreement is seen as critical for the club’s existing plans to redevelop the stadium, which would expand its capacity from 29,000 to 40,000 through the rebuilding of the Peter Taylor Stand and extension of the Bridgford stand.

Previous negotiations over a leasehold agreement for the City Ground had broken down over the amount of money the club was prepared to pay, leading Forest to say they were considering a potential move to Toton in Nottinghamshire to create a new 50,000-capacity stadium.