The Qatari group bidding for Manchester United was prepared to commit over £6.5 billion to the takeover and have been left “disappointed and angry” by the Glazers' rejection of their offer, according to a report from The Daily Mail.

British billionaire businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reported to be close to acquiring a 25 per cent stake in United after the bid led by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani withdrew from the process to buy the club.

The latest talks between Sheikh Jassim and the Old Trafford club reportedly broke down last week. The Qatari banker’s offer was understood to have been the only bid for 100 per cent of United.

It emerged that Ratcliffe's offer for a minority stake was more appealing to the Glazer family, and that while Sheikh Jassim and his group offered to clear the debts and pay cash for 100 per cent of the club, their offer fell short of the Glazers' £6 billion asking price.

It was previously reported the Qataris tabled a £5.5 billion offer, with a further £1 billion to be invested into modernising Old Trafford and new signings. The Dail Mail reporter Mike Keegan told the It's All Kicking Off podcast that the Qataris have been left “very disappointed and angered” by developments.

“The Qataris set aside about $8 billion [£6.57 billion] for the United project,” he said. “That money is there and ready to go, burning a hole in their pockets. [...] From what I am led to believe, they are very, very disappointed and angered at how this has played out.”

Ineos to keep Tottenham deal

Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph has reported that Ineos will retain its prominent partnership at Tottenham Hotspur despite Ratcliffe closing in on a 25 per cent stake at Premier League rivals Manchester United.

The latest multi-year sponsorship agreement between Spurs and the petrochemicals firm was announced weeks after United’s “strategic review” began last November, when the Glazers indicated it could be interested in selling the club.

Since then, Ineos Grenadier 4x4 branding has featured prominently at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, including on dugout seat headrests, while Spurs players have also featured in corporate videos promoting Grenadier vehicles.

However, sources have told The Telegraph that as Ratcliffe readies himself to potentially shake hands on a deal with the Glazers, there are no plans to tear up the Spurs agreement.

 

Chelsea plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge given major boost with deal to buy nearby homes

Chelsea have been given a significant boost in their plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge after approval was granted to sell a nearby site of homes of military veterans to the club in a deal reported by The Daily Mail to be worth £80 million.

The West London club’s redevelopment plans, estimated to cost £2 billion, were given the green light in July after a deal was agreed for the site where around 100 military veterans and their war widows live next to Stamford Bridge.

However, the veterans were furious at the prospect of being forced out of their homes, and had reportedly applied for an injunction in a bid to stop the Stoll Charity trustees, who run the block of flats, from selling the site to Chelsea.

Stoll have now confirmed that the agreement to sell the land to the Blues has been approved.

Option of leaving Stamford Bridge still on the table

Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph has reported that Chelsea are still looking into the possibility of moving away from Stamford Bridge, despite the club receiving confirmation that their purchase of the site next to the current ground will go ahead.

CEO Chris Jurasek is believed to be particularly interested in further exploring the idea of Chelsea leaving their traditional home. This month he announced the appointment of a new chief operating officer, Jason Gannon, who worked as managing director of SoFi Stadium in California.

No final decision has been made by co-owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly, and as well as staying at Stamford Bridge and rebuilding the current ground, the option of moving to a new site and building a new stadium is said to remain open.

 

Italy’s minister of sport calls for deep reform to resolve betting crisis: Fagioli handed 7-months ban

Andrea Abodi, the Italian minister of sport, has called for radical action across Italian football to resolve the betting crisis that has gripped the game over recent days.

More than 40 players are suspected of being involved in the scandal, with Newcastle United midfielder Tonali, Aston Villa winger Zaniolo and Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli among the first names released in the investigation being carried out by Italian authorities.

On Tuesday night Fagioli was banned from all footballing activity following the investigation by the Turin Public Prosecutor’s office into unauthorised betting on illegal websites.

All three players have had their phones and devices confiscated. The ANSA news agency has reported that the authorities suspect Zaniolo was part of a gambling syndicate and actively involved in both placing bets and disseminating information. Through his lawyer, Zaniolo has stated that he does indeed engage in online gambling, primarily focusing on poker.

The exact level of involvement of those still to be revealed and whether they are in the sights of investigators for specifically placing bets is not yet clear.

Reform needed

Speaking on the Italian radio station Radio 24, Abodi said deep reform was needed, centred around player education, and that calls from parliament for the resignation of Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina were a “distraction”.

“We must concentrate on tackling the problem,” he said. “The FIGC for its part has held and is holding training courses for all the boys called up to the national teams. Then there are the responsibilities of the leagues, clubs and individuals.

“I believe it is important to manage the dressing room, to have a relationship with the players capable of understanding uncomfortable situations. So before talking about the responsibilities of the Federation, which is undoubtedly responsible for the system, there are many other stages before”.

When asked about what sort of punishments players should face if found guilty of contravening betting rules, he added: “I don’t believe in exemplary ones, but in the right ones. … I think that the secrecy of the investigation has its value and must be respected.”

 

New York City FC takes big step to approval of $780 million stadium project

MLS team New York City FC have taken a major step closer to having their own stadium after the planning application for a site in Queens moved into the final stages of the process.

NYCFC, part of the City Football Group, is intending to build a 25,000-seat football-specific stadium on 23 acres of formerly-contaminated land at Willets Point.

The ground will be part of a wider project that includes 2,500 units of affordable housing, a 650-seat new public school, 250-bed hotel, and open space for the newly created community.

Having been through a consultancy and review process with local stakeholders and residents, the project has now entered the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) approval process, which is designed to take no longer than seven months.

New stadium could open for 2027 MLS season

Assuming that there are no problems, the $780 million project could be completed in time for NYCFC to play in their new stadium for the 2027 MLS season.

Work has already begun on the site to allow construction of the first 1,100 affordable homes, which have already received public approval, to begin by the end of the year. An additional 1,400 additional all-affordable housing units are a part of the Phase 2 project.

NYFC are already based in Queens, playing home games at Citi Field, the baseball stadium located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, which is the home of MLB team New York Mets.

Everton’s current owner Farhad Moshiri and Josh Wander, co-founder of the club’s prospective new owner 777 Partners, have once again expressed their confidence about the proposed takeover amid ongoing concerns about the planned buyout.

According to a report from Sky Sports News, the Miami-based investment firm has already supported the Merseyside club with up to £65 million in funding.

Speaking to Sky, Moshiri reiterated his belief that the US group is the right choice to acquire the Premier League club.

"The more time that I have spent with the 777 team, the more my confidence increases that we have found the right people to take the club forward in the modern era,” he said.

"They are highly professional and deliver exactly when they say they will, and I look forward to them achieving all their regulatory approvals and proceeding to completion on the timetable we set."

Criticism from Hertha Berlin and Standard Liege fans

777’s proposed takeover is awaiting approval from the Premier League, the English FA and the Financial Conduct Authority, a process which is expected to take until the end of the year to complete.

777 has said it wants to respect that process, and that it wouldn't be appropriate to comment in detail until that has been completed.

When contacted by Sky Sports News, the firm’s co-founder Josh Wander said, for those reasons, he did not want to talk about the Everton deal.

However, on the recent criticism from fans at Hertha Berlin and Standard Liege, both owned by 777, and other negative headlines, he said: "We're humble enough to acknowledge that we don't always get everything right the first time and we have learned a lot over the past few years.

"At the same time, I would challenge anyone to say we have not improved the sporting and financial performance of every club we've invested in, and done so in a fairly short period of time."

 

Manchester United takeover: Ratcliffe wants to expand Old Trafford capacity to 90,000

Ineos will explore how to expand a rebuilt Old Trafford into a 90,000-seat stadium if the chemical firm’s bid to buy a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United, led by its owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is successful, The Times has reported.

According to the newspaper, a need to upgrade and potentially expand the club’s stadium is understood to have been a significant part of negotiations over the offer for a minority stake.

The 74,310-capacity ground requires urgent modernisation, and Ineos’s involvement is expected to accelerate those plans, with funds set aside.

The revelation has come after Ratcliffe moved into pole position to strike a deal with United following Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s decision to withdraw from the process to buy the club.

Under his proposed co-ownership deal, it is understood that Ratcliffe would take control of footballing operations in an attempt to remove the Glazers from the firing line, and the British billionaire businessman is hoping the agreement would be the first stage of an eventual buyout.

United board to vote on Ratcliffe bid on Thursday

According to The Daily Mail, United’s 12-strong board will decide whether or not to accept Ratcliffe's offer at a meeting this Thursday.

The voting rules laid out in United's articles of association say only a majority of votes is required from the board to green light Ratcliffe's investment. In the event of a tie, the co-chairmen, Joel and Avram Glazer, will have the casting vote.

 

FC Porto post €47.6 million loss for 2022/23

FC Porto have reported a loss of €47.6 million for the year ending 30th June 2023 after earning a profit of €20.8 million the previous year.

In a statement, the club noted that its latest financial result was strongly affected by the €60 million transfer of midfielder Otávio to Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr taking place after the end of the financial year on 22nd August. In 2022/23, Porto earned €23.5 million from player sales, compared with €122 million in 2021/22.

The overall loss came despite turnover recovering to pre-pandemic levels, reaching €166 million, up from €143.8 million in 2021/22 – a 15 per cent increase. Key to this was Porto's run to the last 16 of the Champions League, generating UEFA competition revenue of €61.9 million, up from €46.9 million the previous season, when the club was knocked out at the group stage.

The other major revenue streams also grew, with commercial income reaching €27 million (€25.9 million in 2021/22), matchday income €10.8 million (€8.8 million), and merchandise sales €9 million (€7.9 million). Income from the sale of media rights in Portugal, where they are still sold individually, stayed the same at €42.6 million.

Wage bill reaches €95.4 million

As for expenses, Porto’s wage bill reached €95.4 million, up from €82.6 million in 2021/22 – a rise of 15 per cent. However, amortisation costs for player signings remained stable at €35 million, up just 3 per cent.

Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa acknowledged the financial result for 2022/23 "is not positive", but stressed that "there are contexts that must be taken into account and, above all, that an effort must always be made to reconcile financial needs with sporting interests in the best possible way".

 

LFP launches domestic TV rights auction with €825 million per year target

The LFP has kicked off the tender process for the next cycle of its domestic broadcast rights, with the French league targeting €825 million per year for the five-year period running from 2024/25 to 2028/29, according to a report from L’Equipe.

The newspaper has revealed that five lots will be up for grabs. Lot 1, the premium package, features three matches per gameweek – the top two picks and pick number 4, to be shown live also by another broadcaster – and has a value of €530 million.

Lot 2 – the rest of the matches, plus pick number 4, and picks 1 and 2 to be shown on delay – is priced at €270 million, while the other three packages consisting of magazine shows are valued at a combined cost of €25 million.

Yesterday, interested parties presented their qualitative offerings – covering editorial coverage, promotion, marketing and anti-piracy – as well as their financial guarantees to the LFP’s law firm Clifford Chance. Today, the broadcasters in the running are permitted to bid for one or more lots.

Concerns over Canal+ decision not to bid

The LFP is aiming to improve on the current €624 million per year it receives for its domestic rights from Amazon Prime (which has seven games a week, including the most important fixtures), Canal+ (two games a week) and Free (which shows near-instant highlights).

Concerns have been raised about the outcome of the tender process after Canal+ said it will not participate in the bidding race for the first time in its history. Organisations understood to be bidding include DAZN, beIN Sports and Apple.

British billionaire businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reported to be close to acquiring a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United after Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani withdrew from the process to buy the club.

According to the BBC, the latest talks between Sheikh Jassim and the Old Trafford club broke down last week. The Qatari banker’s bid of more than £5 billion was understood to have been the only offer for 100 per cent of United.

It has been widely reported that the club’s board is now set to vote on selling a minority stake to Ratcliffe, with his offer expected to be ratified this week, and it is thought the petrochemicals mogul is increasingly confident of securing what he hopes will be the first stage of an eventual buyout. However, there have been some suggestions there could be further delays before a deal is reached.

Control of footballing operations

The Daily Telegraph reported that under his proposed co-ownership deal, Ratcliffe would take control of footballing operations in an attempt to remove the Glazers from the firing line.

The newspaper understands that under terms close to being agreed by key parties, the American family would remain at the club but take back seats amid efforts to calm the mood among fans.

It is believed that a clause handing Ratcliffe control of sporting matters goes some way to explaining why the Ineos owner is willing to pay an estimated £1.35 billion, a significant premium on market valuations, for just a quarter stake.

Sheikh Jassim withdrawal “face-saving”

Meanwhile, The Independent revealed that Sheikh Jassim’s withdrawal has been interpreted as “face-saving”, as the ultimately underwhelming Qatari bid had been tactically outmanoeuvred by Ratcliffe.

It is understood that Avram and Joel Glazer would ultimately never agree on a full sale now – preventing the unanimity required – which led the Ineos bid to pursue alternative options.

 

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish calls for independent regulator for European football

Steve Parish, the chairman of English Premier League club Crystal Palace, has called for the introduction of an independent regulator for European football to address the widening financial inequality among clubs.

Speaking at last week’s meeting of the Union of European Clubs (UEC) in Brussels, Parish aired fresh concerns over UEFA’s joint role as both the organiser of competitions and regulator of the game in Europe.

“UEFA have allowed themselves to be influenced by a group of clubs that they think will get the biggest media payment,” said Parish.

“You need a separation of the people who run the game and those who organise the game. We have moved away from that. A regulator should have the best interests of the game at heart.”

He added: “We are disenfranchised from the debate, none of us have a say in what goes on in European and global football. We almost have no influence.”

Palace not yet a UEC member

Crystal Palace were among a few English clubs in attendance in Brussels, and Parish was also at the launch event of the UEC in April, where he emphasised that clubs needed “a different voice”.

However, the chairman of the South London club said it has not yet become a member of the UEC. The group is seeking to give a voice to small and medium-sized teams in Europe because of what it perceives as a lack of representation for those clubs in the European Club Association (ECA).

 

Ligue 1 tells American broadcasters it will hold “meaningful” games in US

Ligue 1 has told potential American broadcast partners that it will play “meaningful” games in the US as part of efforts to boost the value of its media rights in the country.

As reported by the US-based Sports Business Journal, the league plans to have its teams compete for trophies such as the Trophe des Champions – played at the start of each season between the previous campaign’s Ligue 1 champions and Coupe de France winners – on American soil as a way to make its rights package more attractive to US broadcasters.

“We are going to be working with our future broadcast partner very closely in terms of bringing meaningful games to the US,” said Ben Morel, CEO of LFP Media, which controls all commercial activities for the French league.

“They can’t just be exhibition games”

Morel joined LFP Media six months ago after a five-year stint as CEO of Six Nations Rugby and a two-decade career with the NBA.

“I’ve had a lot of history in my previous jobs of doing a lot of international games, and I know that what is important is the meaningfulness of them,” he said.

“They can’t just be exhibition games. They have to be games that matter. We want to do this as a long-term play, not just as one-off, nice little exhibitions.”

 

Qatar World Cup construction workers sue US firm for labour trafficking

Dozens of Filipino workers who helped build stadia for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have taken legal action against a US construction firm, Reuters reports.

The workers filed a lawsuit last Thursday claiming Jacobs Solutions Inc subjected them to dangerous and inhumane conditions.

In a complaint filed in federal court in Denver, Colorado, the nearly 40 plaintiffs said Jacobs and several subsidiaries that oversaw the construction projects forced workers to live in cramped, dirty barracks and work up to 72 hours straight in blistering heat without food and water.

The workers also said they were not paid all of their wages and had their passports confiscated, barring them from finding new jobs or returning home to the Philippines.

Human rights abuses

The plaintiffs claim Jacobs knew or should have known about human rights abuses in Qatar and chose to knowingly exploit workers.

Jacobs and its subsidiaries are accused of violating a US law that prohibits trafficked or forced labour even when the alleged conduct occurs outside the US. The plaintiffs also accused Jacobs of negligence and unjust enrichment, among other claims. They are seeking unspecified damages.

Reuters said that Jacobs, which is based in Dallas, Texas, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reading have denied that a takeover of the club has been agreed following media reports indicating the British businessman and former Formula One team backer William Storey was poised to acquire the troubled EFL League One team.

On Wednesday evening, The Daily Telegraph reported that Reading were set to complete a £50 million sale to Storey, with the newspaper claiming that terms on the deal were broadly agreed earlier in the day following negotiations with current owner Dai Yongge.

According to the report, Storey, who has recently failed with takeover bids for Sunderland and Coventry City, had pledged to clear club debt in a deal which included the stadium and the state-of-the-art Bearwood Park training ground.

It was reported that the businessman had bought the club outright, albeit having sourced some of the funding from wealthy backers, and would now be subject to the EFL’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test (OADT).

However, in a statement released on Thursday afternoon, Reading denied that a sale of the club had been agreed.

“Reading Football Club would like to clarify that the process of the sale of the club is ongoing and, contrary to reports, there is currently no agreement in place with any party,” the club said.

“Several parties have approached the club in recent weeks with declarations of interest in purchasing the club. All approaches are being assessed on their own merits to find the most suitable buyer to ensure a healthy future of the club and, at this stage, no single individual or entity has exclusivity in this process.”

Fan group details concerns

In 2019, Storey was the title sponsor of the Haas F1 team through his drink brand Rich Energy, though the relationship proved acrimonious and short-lived, with Storey leaving the sport before the following season.

As reported by The Athletic, Sell Before We Dai, a fan-led protest group against the current Reading owner, released a statement detailing their concerns over a potential takeover led by Storey.

“To say we have our reservations about William Storey is an understatement. He has zero experience in football, his foray into FI ended acrimoniously, and his previous bids, including this one, have been characterised as attention seeking,” Nick Houlton, the group’s spokesperson, said.

“It’s over to the EFL. We cannot rebound from one bad owner to another. We cannot go from the frying pan and into the fire. We cannot be let down again.”
 

Liverpool confirm Anfield Road upper tier will not open this year after fresh delays

Liverpool have been dealt another setback in the redevelopment of the Anfield Road stand after announcing that the upper tier will not open until next year.

As reported by The Guardian, the £80 million project to expand Anfield’s capacity to 61,000 has suffered a series of problems. The scheduled opening for the first home game of the season was delayed and then the main contractor, Buckingham Group, went into administration.

Buckingham’s replacement, Rayner Rowen Construction, started work on 5th September after a three-week pause in the build and Liverpool had hoped the Anfield Road stand would be completed by October.

The latest delay has been caused by information about the project going missing as a result of the change in contractors and the need to give Rayner Rowen more time on-site to complete the project.

Tickets for the upper tier have been sold for the visit of Everton on 21st October and for future matches. However, the upper tier will remain closed until 2024 and there is no revised date on when it will open.

CEO Billy Hogan apologises to fans

Liverpool’s CEO, Billy Hogan, said: “We are really disappointed to have to deliver this news and really sorry for all those supporters who are impacted. You can see the games coming up on the fixture list, not just the derby but as you run through it to the end of the calendar year.

“And we know every match at Anfield is important and we know that it means so much to our supporters. It means ultimately we won’t be in a position to be able to provide seats for those fans who have purchased those tickets in the upper tier.”

Hogan said that Liverpool’s ticketing staff will be in contact with supporters affected by the delay in the coming days, and added that it would be premature for the club to give a new opening date at present.

SC Freiburg post €16.1 million profit for 2022/23 after earning record turnover

SC Freiburg have reported a €16.1 million profit for the year ending 30th June 2023, compared with a surplus of €2 million the previous year, after earning a record turnover of €175.3 million, up from €114.9 million in 2021/22.

The German club ended the 2022/23 season in fifth place in the Bundesliga and reached the last 16 of the Europa League.

Outlining the key factors behind the financial results, Oliver Leki, board member for finance, organisation and marketing, said: "Thanks to a very successful season, in which we fully benefited for the first time from the improved marketing opportunities and the higher spectator capacity of the new Europa-Park Stadium, we were able to significantly improve economically in all areas.

“For the club, it was the most financially successful year in its history. At the same time, it is both motivation and confirmation for us to consistently continue on the path of sustainable management we have chosen."

Equity rises to €111.1 million

Due to the club’s financial performance during the year, SC Freiburg also significantly increased its equity, which reached €111.1 million as at 30th June 2023, up from €95 million at the end of 2021/22. Total assets amounted to €149.1 million.

FC Barcelona have sought to defend their actions in relation to the Negreira case once again after fresh developments came to light in Spanish media earlier this week.

In documents seen by the Barcelona-based newspaper El Periódico, the judge set to rule on the case concluded that Joan Laporta made payments to the former vice-president of the Spanish FA’s refereeing committee José María Enríquez Negreira during his first spell as FC Barcelona president (2003-10) – but noted that Laporta cannot be investigated because it was too long ago.

Joaquín Aguirre, the judge overseeing the case, stated that Laporta cannot be charged over the case, and will therefore not be investigated, due to the statute of limitations – the maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings can be initiated – under Spanish law.

Aguirre wrote that, for now, Laporta has not been attributed "the commission of any crime, not for reasons related to the illegality of the acts committed" by him, but "for the application of the rules of criminal prescription".

In the documents seen by El Periódico, the judge also maintained that the court has once again rejected Barça's appeal to present itself as a private prosecutor for unfair administration in the case.

In response to the latest revelations, Barcelona issued a statement on Wednesday evening, which read: “Barça states again that for years it had technical advisory services for refereeing and players and has material proving its existence and reality. …

“Under the direction of President Laporta, payments were always made to the company that, at all times, was in charge of this function, and never to third parties or companies.”

It added: “FC Barcelona wishes to recall that it appeared as a private prosecutor in the procedure opened by the well-known Negreira case in order to defend the entity from a potential crime of unfair administration in the period investigated.

“This personation could have been made at any time during the investigation of the case but the Club preferred to do it from the beginning to position itself before the payment to third parties, given the conviction of the entity of the non-existence of the crime of sports corruption.”

Suspected bribery

Last month it emerged that Barcelona have been placed under formal investigation for suspected bribery as part of the investigation into the Negreira case.

The case was initially brought after prosecutors filed a complaint back in March over alleged payments of more than €7.3 million over 17 years to firms owned by Negreira for referees to act in favour of Barcelona. Along with Barça, Negreira has denied any wrongdoing.

UK MPs’ report: Football clubs should be stopped from using crypto tokens for fan engagement

A cross-party committee of UK MPs has said that football clubs should be prevented from selling crypto-based fan tokens as part of engagement with supporters by the incoming regulator for English football.

In a new report, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMS) said: "The unique relationship between clubs and fans means that fan speculation on sport-based cryptoassets carries a real risk of financial harm to fans and reputational harm to clubs.

"We are also concerned that clubs may present fan tokens as an appropriate form of fan engagement in the future, despite their price volatility and reservations among fan groups.

"We recommend that any measurement of fan engagement in sports, including in the forthcoming regulation of football, should explicitly exclude the use of fan tokens."

While singling out fan tokens for particular criticism, the group of MPs also strongly criticised NFTs, saying they “have proven to be inherently risky for fans who invest in them”.

The UK government is planning to legislate to introduce a regulator for English football next year.

Socios responds to report

The fan token and cryptocurrency business Socios, which has partnered with a number of football clubs, has responded to the CMS report by defending the service it provides and claiming the report “contains factual errors.”

In a statement, Socios said it “works hard to comply with all applicable regulations and engages with regulators in all the markets in which it operates to stay transparent and shape the crypto assets sector from a regulatory perspective.”

The company added: “Socios.com Fan Tokens deliver rewards and benefits to fans. This is beyond doubt. Any suggestion otherwise is a false assumption, or worse, a willful inaccuracy.

“Last season alone Socios.com gave away more than 24,000 matchday tickets and more than 1,000 items of merchandise and memorabilia to fans who own Fan Tokens and engage with their teams through the Socios.com app.”

Bournemouth owner Bill Foley on course to acquire Auckland A-League expansion franchise

Bournemouth owner Bill Foley is due to be named as the preferred bidder for the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) expansion franchise in Auckland, New Zealand, The Athletic reports.

If successful, the bid would see the American businessman add another club to his football portfolio. Foley is the managing partner of Black Knight Football Club, the group of investors who bought Bournemouth last December and then invested in French side Lorient a month later.

Auckland’s A-Leagues franchise will also not be the first expansion team Foley has acquired, as he brought the NHL to Las Vegas in 2017 when he launched the Vegas Golden Knights.

Foley was a late entrant to the race for the Auckland team, as the early running was made by Marc Mitchell, a New Zealand-based American lawyer and entrepreneur.

Mitchell is a minority investor in Auckland’s New Zealand Breakers, a basketball team that competes in Australia’s National Basketball League.

Foley’s greater financial muscle won the day, though, and Black Knight is still looking for more clubs to fill out its multi-club vision. Belgium, Brazil and Scotland are reported to be among the countries where Foley and co. might invest next.

A-Leagues teams to increase from 12 to 14

The APL announced its plan to add new A-Leagues teams in Auckland and Australian capital Canberra earlier this year, with the two franchises joining the men’s and women’s divisions next year. This would take the number of teams from 12 to 14, with Auckland joining Wellington as New Zealand’s A-Leagues outposts.

A Saudi Arabian state-linked group is seeking to buy a European club "similar in size" to Newcastle United, according to a report from The Independent.

The group is said to have identified LaLiga’s Valencia and Ligue 1’s Olympique Marseille as the top options available at this stage of the process.

At the moment there is no plan to make any purchase through Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which already owns Newcastle United and four Saudi Pro League clubs.

However, sources have told The Independent that intermediaries working on behalf of a state-linked entity have been making considerable progress on a purchase.

Huge historical legacy

Clubs such as Valencia and Marseille are viewed as particularly attractive due to their huge historical legacy, alongside recent underperformance, meaning there is scope for immense growth from relatively limited investment.

While Valencia were seen as more attractive than Marseille due to their place in the higher-profile Spanish league, it is understood Peter Lim is reluctant to sell until the club moves into a new stadium.

Newcastle plan to expand St James’ Park could lift capacity up to 65,000

Newcastle United have begun working on plans to expand the capacity of St James’ Park that could make it the second-largest stadium in the country, The Daily Telegraph reports.

The club has already started a feasibility study on how to develop the Gallowgate End and East Stand, and is currently working out what sort of increase will be possible if both stands are extended.

It is estimated the eventual capacity could rise to around 65,000, which would leave only Manchester United’s Old Trafford with a higher figure. At present, Newcastle have the seventh-largest stadium in the Premier League at 52,000 and have fallen behind the likes of West Ham United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in recent years.

The work at St James’ Park is said to be at an early stage and the club is waiting to hear back from specialist architects about what building work will be possible, as well as how much it will cost. Nothing will be decided until those reports have been completed.

Bowl-shape appearance

Multiple sources have told The Telegraph that every option is being looked at, but the more desirable is to make the East Stand and Gallowgate End similar in size to the Leazes End and Milburn Stand, which will give the stadium more of a bowl-shape appearance.

The proposed building work is complicated by the fact the East Stand has listed buildings directly behind it and there is little chance of being able to demolish Leazes Terrace or any of the Georgian terraced houses that people live in.

UEFA confirm UK and Ireland to host Euro 2028, Italy and Turkey get Euro 2032

UEFA has confirmed that the UK and Ireland will host the 2028 European Championship, while Italy and Turkey will stage the 2032 edition of the tournament.

The hosts for both tournaments were already all but assured ahead of the announcement, after a joint Italy-Turkey bid for Euro 2032 was accepted last week and following Turkey’s withdrawal from the race for Euro 2028.

Turkey’s decision left England, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland and Wales as the sole joint bidders for the 2028 tournament. However, both sets of bids still needed final approval from UEFA's executive committee that convened on Tuesday.

Euro 2028 to feature 10 stadia

Euro 2028 will be the largest major sporting event the UK and Ireland have jointly staged, and will be held in 10 stadia, including Wembley in London, the National Stadium of Wales in Cardiff, Hampden Park in Glasgow, Dublin's Aviva Stadium, and the new Casement Park in Belfast.

They will be joined by the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, Everton’s new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, St James' Park, and Villa Park.

For the 2032 tournament, Italy and Turkey presented 20 stadiums in their bid but UEFA said that list will be narrowed down to five per country by October 2026.

Reading owner Dai Yongge rejects takeover bid from investment group

Reading’s owner Dai Yongge has rejected a takeover bid from Genevra Associates, an investment group based in Luxembourg, The Daily Telegraph reports.

However, Genevra has insisted it wants to rescue the embattled League One club and is standing by its “significant offer”.

Reading are struggling with severe financial problems and have already been docked four points this season for failing to pay their players on time and neglecting to comply with an English Football League order to deposit funds in an account.

The club is also under a transfer embargo for failing to pay their tax bill to HMRC, and fans are staging regular protests against Yongge at home matches.

Genevra Associates, which also has offices in the US, is a hedge fund that recently expressed interest in supplying investment to Manchester United and said their offer to Reading has been turned down.

“Urgent situation”

In a statement sent to The Telegraph, the group said: “We have worked swiftly to put this proposal together, considering the urgent situation at the club.

“Our main goal is to ensure the club’s sustainability, empower the fanbase, and address the point reductions situation. At this time, we’re unable to provide specific details about the offer. We stand by our offer.”

According to The Telegraph, other parties have held discussions with Reading over a possible takeover.

UEFA: Russian U17 team will no longer play in European qualifiers

UEFA has announced that Russia will not play in Under-17 European Championship qualifying matches this month due to a lack of a “technical solution” following opposition to its original plan to allow the team to compete.

Last month, UEFA had announced plans to allow Russia’s under-17 teams to participate in its competitions, and FIFA followed by confirming Russia would also be permitted to compete in the men’s and women’s under-17 World Cups.

Russia’s national teams and clubs had been banned from UEFA and FIFA competitions since the end of February 2022 due to the invasion of Ukraine.

However, as reported by The Athletic, following UEFA’s executive committee meeting on Tuesday, European football’s governing body said that Russian involvement in qualifying matches this month would no longer happen.

“The agenda point was withdrawn as no technical solution to allow Russian teams to play could be found,” UEFA said.

Ukraine opposition

Ukraine’s football association (UAF) had responded to UEFA’s decision to reinstate Russia’s Under-17 sides by saying it would not play in tournaments involving Russian teams and urged other countries to follow suit.

The UAF then wrote to other European associations asking them to boycott matches against Russia’s under-17 teams, calling the partial lifting of the ban a “hazardous and terrifying trend”.

The football associations of England, Poland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway stated they would continue not to compete against Russia.

FC Barcelona have once more found themselves in the spotlight for reasons beyond their on-field performances. As reported by El Confidencial, Spain’s national tax agency is probing the club for possible discrepancies in their payments to football agents from 2015 to 2018.

The core of the investigation revolves around the suspicion that these payments may be a clandestine method to bolster player salaries. The agency asserts that agents essentially represent players; hence, payments made to them can be interpreted as indirect increments to players' wages.

FC Barcelona had previously managed to quash a similar claim in March. However, the tax authorities have reignited their scrutiny, launching “new verification and investigation actions” against the club.

The contention from the Tax Agency is that Barcelona shouldn't be deducting Value Added Tax (VAT) from invoices tied to agents. Moreover, players should be accountable for the payment of Personal Income Tax (or its non-resident equivalent) on these supposed concealed salary hikes.

Two cases

This investigation is running concurrently with another Tax Agency review of FC Barcelona's non-resident income tax payments for seasons between 2012 and 2015.

The move compounds Barcelona’s legal problems. Last week a judge formally implicated in the Negreira Case, levelling bribery charges. This relates to alleged illicit payments to the former head of the Technical Committee of Referees, José María Enríquez Negreira.

 

Union Berlin enjoys record financial results

First time Champions League qualifiers, Union Berlin, have announced a record profit of €18 million at its general meeting, following record turnover of €174 million – an increase of €52 million on the previous season.

Club president, Dirk Zingler, has highlighted the impressive contributions of the club's teams during the 2022/23 season, attributing its unprecedented growth to the stellar performance of the team.

Addressing 1,100 Union members at its general assembly, Zingler emphasised the symbiotic relationship between athletic and financial achievements. “Last season's results further confirm the nexus between sporting and economic successes, solidifying our financial standing and paving the way for future investments,” he said.

For the first time in the club’s history, Union posted a positive equity of €1.79 million.

Having been promoted from 2. Bundesliga in 2019, Union have enjoyed impressive progress, reaching the 2021/22 UEFA Conference League and the following year’s Europa League. This season they have competed in the Champions League for the first time, having finished fourth in last season’s Bundesliga.

Exciting future

Looking forward, Zingler has set ambitious targets for the 2023/24 season. Projections estimate an income of around €190 million and a consolidated profit of €10.95 million. This robust financial performance indicates a surge in positive equity, expected to reach approximately €12.74 million.

Zingler also provided updates on a new youth academy, which is set to open early next year, and the renovation of the club’s Hämmerlingstrasse training center, where training is scheduled to begin at the end of the year. The club is also set to start upgrades on the An der Alten Försterei Stadium in time for the 2025/26 season.

“In the end we will have a club site that will allow us to experience football the way we like it, and offer a point of contact when football is not being played,” said Zingler.

 

FIFA opens door for Saudi bid with modified 2034 World Cup stadium rules

FIFA has eased bidding regulations related to stadium requirements for the 2034 World Cup, potentially allowing nations with a limited number of football venues to vie for the hosting rights of the tournament.

This decision benefits Saudi Arabia, which announced its plan to bid for the 2034 tournament last Wednesday.

Previously, FIFA's guidelines for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups necessitated member associations to suggest at least 14 suitable stadiums, with a minimum of seven being pre-existing. The rule was to aim for sustainability and avoid the construction of infrastructural “white elephants.”

However, in the latest overview of requirements released on Thursday for the 2034 World Cup, this has been reduced to a minimum of just four existing stadiums out of the proposed 14.

Front-runners

Asia and Oceania, under FIFA's rotation policy, are the earmarked regions for the 2034 edition. Saudi Arabia promptly declared its aspiration to host, hours after the bid opening. For the competition, FIFA mandates venues with a minimum 40,000 capacity, while significant matches demand stadiums accommodating 60,000 to 80,000 spectators.

Saudi Arabia, in its successful bid for the 2027 Asian Cup, had included four venues each with a capacity of 40,000 or more.

Clarifying the revised stipulations, a FIFA spokesperson was quoted by the Guardian, “This update ensures that the infrastructure remains current, focusing on the highest quality standards.”

Potential hosts for the 2034 edition must express interest by 31 October. Australia is also contemplating a bid.

 

NWSL secures major broadcast deals boosting revenues by factor of ten

The US’s main domestic women’s league, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), is the latest beneficiary of the growing popularity of women's soccer.

Sportico reports that the NWSL has clinched new broadcast agreements with CBS Espan, Amazon and Scripps, set to amplify its broadcast income by a factor of ten in the upcoming cycle, concluding in 2027.

Historically, CBS contributed approximately $1.5 million (€1.4 million) per year, but this arrangement necessitated the NWSL to shoulder the production costs.

With the forthcoming agreements, the NWSL is poised to propel the worth of its rights, aligning with the levels of the Women's Super League (WSL) in England. The WSL currently has the largest domestic broadcast deal globally, ensuring £8 million (€9.2 million) per season.

Increasing valuations

The surge in broadcast revenues corresponds with the escalating valuations of NWSL franchises. The average value of NWSL franchise fees has soared, crossing the $66 million (€62.3 million) mark. Angel City of Los Angeles now boast an annual revenue of $31 million (€29.3 million), inflating its value to an astounding $180 million (€170 million), as indicated by Sportico.

Ramon Alarcón Rubiales assumed the role of CEO at Real Betis in December of last year, and within a few months, signs of impending change began to emerge.

In February, it was announced that the club's sporting director, Antonio Gordon, would depart at the end of the season. The departure of Gordon, well-regarded and fairly successful in his role, took many by surprise.

It was the initial indication that changes were imminent in the club's sporting department, as the 48-year-old CEO and the board aimed to integrate more business methodologies into football operations.

Alarcón, a former board member at Real Betis Balompié between September 2015 and December 2020, joined the club's executive team as business general manager in October 2016. He is also a shareholder and season-ticket holder at Real Betis Balompié.

"First and foremost, we are a football club. We aspire to win and compete at the highest level. Therefore, I share the same aspirations as other members and fans of this esteemed club. However, I believe that to reach the pinnacle in LaLiga and enhance our current results, we must introduce significant changes in the sporting department. A more strategic approach is imperative."

However, he says that it all begins with culture. That you need to change the culture in the sporting department if you want to see changes and improvements, and to change a culture, which has been build up in centuries, takes a real effort.

“The board and the whole management team agree a 100 per cent that we need to change the mindset at the sporting department. I do not intend to blame anyone, because everyone involved work hard and they put their heart into the job they carry out. But too many things are concentrated around the next game, or maybe the next handful of games. And we need to be able to also make decisions that will benefit this club in two or three years time. And at the same time be competitive in the short run. But I recognize it isn’t easy to do both,” says Alarcón, who has a degree in business direction and administration, and a post-graduate degree from Dublin City University.

At Real Betis he was driving the changes at the commercial side of the club for seven years, which saw revenues improve significantly, and he is determined to make an impact also with the sporting department.

“I am not the one going to carry out all the decisions and changes, because we have hired a new sporting director with the holistic mindset that we were looking for. So, in that sense this is not my project, because I don’t drive the changes in all the daily decisions and the way a new organization is build. But I pay attention to it.”

Q: What exactly does it entail to adopt a more business-oriented mindset in the sporting department?

"I believe it requires someone at the helm with a deep understanding of the financial aspects surrounding the squad, transfers, academy, and so forth. We're dealing with substantial sums, so first and foremost, one must be cognizant of the financial repercussions if we deviate from budgets or plans."

Additionally, according to Alarcón, it involves formulating a strategy in this domain, one that aligns financially with all other strategic priorities at the club. He takes on a serious tone as he continues:

"There's another crucial aspect: our sporting director must be approachable. They should exhibit eagerness and a willingness to collaborate with all other departments of the club to determine where they can provide support. The sporting director is a part of a larger team and should contribute like everyone else. We don't want the sporting department to be somewhat disconnected from the rest of the club, as may have been the case previously."

Alarcón Rubiales expresses his desire to emulate the team spirit seen in some of the world's greatest cycling teams, where one day, you might compete for victory, but the next, you might sacrifice and lose several minutes to competitors in the interest of the team's strategy.

"I would love to instill the same ethos here, where Real Betis is always at the forefront of every decision we make, and people are willing to work exceptionally hard to help others succeed."

Ramón Alarcón points out that if the sporting director is committed to close collaboration with colleagues from other departments, this attitude naturally permeates through the entire organization, from the first team to the U/21 team, generating momentum where everyone is dedicated to growing the business. This goes beyond just training and playing matches.

"Ramon Planes has joined us, and we can see that he serves as the bridge between the first team and all the other departments. He's doing a fantastic job in that capacity, opening up numerous commercial opportunities for us."

Alarcón acknowledges that the primary responsibility of the sporting director is to build a strong squad and provide the head coach with the best chance to win matches. However, he emphasizes that everyone at the club must understand that for on-field success, all business units surrounding the sporting department require access to and communication with players, coaches, and others in the first team.

While transparency and collaboration are crucial within the club, running a football department involves various aspects. This includes ensuring that wages remain reasonable, making sound deals in the transfer market, and continually improving domestic and European results.

"We've just embarked on our work in this area, but, first and foremost, I believe that as a sporting director, you need to justify significant spending on a player or in a transfer market. It's not sufficient to merely explain that the team will perform better and secure more points. Such a rationale is simply not good enough."

Alarcón insists that if substantial funds are to be spent on a star player, it must align with the club's overall strategy. Presenting alternatives is essential and understanding that the money may not be available without a well-thought-out rationale for how X player(s) would enhance Real Betis' overall business.

"We adhere to a plan, and the sporting department must align their decisions with it and support it. There's always a temptation to invest in players, but it might not always be the best solution. Perhaps allocating the funds to the academy or upgrading our VIP facilities would be wiser. I seek a greater sense of balance and professionalism in our club's investment decisions, which predominantly occur in the sporting department," says Alarcón.

The Real Betis CEO recognizes the pressure from all stakeholders within and around the club as he challenges the traditional power structures at football clubs, where the sporting department often holds sway worldwide.

"Communication is key for me, ensuring that all stakeholders understand the reasons behind our actions. Our main goal is to enhance the team in the long term. But achieving that doesn't mean allocating almost all the funds to the sporting director. We need a more comprehensive, smarter plan."

Alarcón Rubiales has firsthand experience of the football industry's dynamism when the club received a lucrative offer, reportedly around €25 million, from Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad for defender Luiz Felipe after the transfer window closed. Consequently, they couldn't secure a replacement.

"It was a tough decision indeed, and it's something we have to adapt to. Sometimes, we may feel vulnerable due to certain decisions, whether on the financial or sporting side. Balancing these aspects is a continuous challenge, always with the long-term interests of Real Betis in mind."

Juventus will seek to raise as much as €200 million of new equity from its shareholders after the club posted another substanial annual loss.

The club lost €123.7 million in 2022/23 and predicted it would stay in the red this fiscal year.

In its preliminary financial statements, Juventus revealed that turnover in 2022/23 reached €508 million including transfer income – an increase compared to €443 million in 2021/22. The growth is primarily driven by higher transfer revenue and higher matchday income.

Player related expenses such as wages and amortisation decreased by €89.5 million in total. Player wages and technical staff costs was down by 18 per cent to €255.4 million.

Despite the massive financial loss it was almost 50 per cent lower than the year before where Juventus posted a €239.3 million loss.

Exor inject €128 million

The Serie A club, which has been controlled by the Agnelli family for a century, said parent company Exor would support the capital increase.

Juventus have already raised around €700 million from its shareholders over the past four years in two separate operations. Roughly two thirds of these cash were covered by Exor.

Exor, which has a stake of around 64 per cent in Juventus, will pump up to €128 million into the club as part of the new capital increase, Juventus said.

Manchester United takeover: Qataris ‘will not increase £5 billion bid’ despite new Ratcliffe offer

The Qatari group bidding for Manchester United will not increase their existing offer of £5 billion despite the threat posed by a new deal being tabled by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, according to The Times.

The newspaper had reported last week that the British billionaire was considering making an offer for a 25 per cent stake for around £1.5 billion having initially proposed buying the 67 per cent stake belonging to the Glazer family.

However, sources close to the Qatari group being led by Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad al-Thani have told The Times that the news of Ratcliffe’s potential restructured bid amounts to another pressure tactic designed to make them increase their offer.

While the Glazers value United at around £6 billion, the Qataris are said to remain convinced the price is too high and are standing by their offer of £5 billion for a 100 per cent purchase.

It is understood the Qatari group are taking that position not least because United have endured an especially poor start to the season, but also due to the club’s debt of just over £1 billion and also because the Old Trafford stadium and training ground remain in dire need of modernisation.

Scepticism over Ratcliffe proposal

The Times also reported that the new proposal from Ratcliffe is being met with some scepticism among some well-placed observers who question whether a significant sum of money will be available for investment in the football club. It is also unclear how much influence Ratcliffe would enjoy if his stake was limited to 25 per cent.

 

Oaktree tables €1 billion bid to fund Serie A D2C service

The prospect of Serie A launching its own direct-to-consumer (D2C) TV service has been raised once again, with Bloomberg reporting that the US investment fund Oaktree has tabled a bid of around €1 billion to finance such a project.

If agreed the deal would see Oaktree effectively acquire domestic media rights for Italy’s top-flight and comes after months of negotiations over the next cycle of those rights with Italian broadcasters.

No agreement is in sight following discussions between Serie A and broadcasters including Sky, DAZN and Mediaset, with no organisation as yet meeting the Italian league’s asking price of around €1 billion per year.

According to Il Sole 24 Ore, the offer from Oaktree is just under €1 billion, at around €950 million for the first year, and the fee would then decrease in the following 14 years. Advertising revenues of over €70 million per year would still be earned by Serie A.

Casini: D2C TV service is “concrete hypothesis”

The Serie A president Lorenzo Casini sought to underline the possibility of the league launching its own D2C TV service on Friday when speaking to the Italpress agency on the sidelines of an event in Florence.

Casini said that "at the moment it is a concrete hypothesis”, before stressing that a league assembly will gather on Monday (9th October) to discuss the latest offers from broadcasters, who have a deadline of 15th October to submit final bids.

He added: "It is an economic and sustainability issue, so it depends: if the offers that arrive satisfy the clubs, then we will continue with the traditional model. If the clubs were to consider it economically advantageous to go towards the channel of the Serie A League they could decide this.”

 

Saudi Arabia to ramp up pursuit of world’s elite players in support of 2034 World Cup bid

Saudi Arabia is set to step up its pursuit of the world’s leading players after announcing its bid to host the 2034 World Cup, The Times reports.

Some of the world’s biggest stars, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema, have joined Saudi clubs in the past year on huge salaries.

The Saudi Pro League’s threat to European competitions has been downplayed by the Premier League and UEFA, but it is understood that as part of the Gulf state’s 2034 bid it will aim to develop its domestic competition even further.

One Saudi-based source told The Times: “We have said all along we want to be one of the most successful leagues in the world. This is not just for the short term.

“Of course, if we were to be awarded the World Cup we want our league to be even more successful so we will be trying to attract more players and better players.”

Only bidder for 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia is expected to be the only bidder for the 2034 World Cup. The bidding process is being run at the same time as the 2030 process, which FIFA has decided will be staged mainly in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. The opening three matches will be played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to mark the centenary of the tournament.

 

Prospective Everton owners address concerns and dismiss negative reports

777 Partners’ co-founder Josh Wander has written an open letter to Everton fans, addressing concerns and dismissing negative reports surrounding the club's takeover.

Wander describes the opportunity to take over Everton as "profound" and emphasizes their commitment to the club's history and legacy.

Acknowledging the existence of concerning reports, Wander assured fans that the truth is less dramatic than portrayed and called them “misleading”. He acknowledges that there have been perceptions of instability and unrest surrounding the proposed purchase of Everton but reassures fans that there will be no quick fixes at the club.

Wander expressed confidence in their ability to address underlying issues and build a sustainable business for long-term success. 777 Partners currently control four clubs directly: Genoa in Italy, Standard Liège in Belgium, Vasco Da Gama in Brazil, and Red Star in France.

He their shared service model, which provides access to resources for player recruitment, data analytics, and commercial development across all their clubs.

Increasing player value

“777 is not a typical private equity firm that purchases large healthy businesses with third party capital. We have had entrepreneurial success through building businesses from scratch - or acquiring businesses in poor condition and transforming them. Similarly, we have applied these principles to the football industry,” Wander wrote and continued:

“At each of our clubs, we have improved sporting results meaningfully while reducing costs and increasing player value. Our success both on and off the pitch is clear to see.”

Real Madrid have joined the growing list of European football clubs with a tourism sponsorship after announcing a multi-year deal with Visit Dubai.

Under the agreement, which covers the LaLiga club’s men’s and women’s teams, the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), which operates Visit Dubai, will become the club’s first ever ‘official destination partner’.

In a statement, Real Madrid said the tourism organisation will provide exclusive travel and football experiences for the club’s fans through the partnership, which is part of the Dubai-D33 Economic Agenda announced back in January.

Real already have strong ties to the UAE through their front-of-sponsorship deal with Emirates. The Dubai-based airline’s logo has been on the front of the men’s team’s shirts since 2013, and the deal was renewed last year up to 2026.

Branded theme park

The announcement of the deal with Visit Dubai comes ahead of the opening of the world’s first Real Madrid branded theme park at Dubai Parks and Resorts. The complex is due to open by the end of this year after first being announced last November.

Real said the park will have attractions related to the club, a museum and football skill games, as well as a wide range of restaurants and commercial spaces selling official merchandise.
 

Chelsea shirt sponsorship deal with Infinite Athlete to extend beyond this season

Chelsea’s deal with their new front-of-shirt sponsor Infinite Athlete is to extend beyond this season, with the sports data company aiming for a long-term partnership, The Evening Standard reports.

The West London club’s season-long deal with the US-based firm was announced last week, with the agreement reported to be worth £43 million.

Infinite Athlete co-founder and CEO Charlie Ebersol has now revealed the deal will continue after this season.

“I wanted to use our partnership with Chelsea to build an expanded footprint in football,” Ebersol said. “We had this idea about doing a one-year front-of-shirt deal. They discussed a longer deal about really building this out in a comprehensive package with all these different assets we will do with them over many years.”

He added: “We presented it to the Premier League as a unique deal. We are not just a traditional front-of-shirt sponsor in that we are doing social media tooling and other product stuff for the club.”

Seven-year partnership with Tempus Ex Machina

Infinite Athlete was only launched in August after Tempus Ex Machina acquired injury analytics firm Biocore, meaning Tempus now goes under the name Infinite Athlete.

Back in April, Chelsea unveiled a seven-year partnership with Tempus Ex Machina “to power innovative technology enhancements for the club and our global fanbase.”

Ebersol said: “So we have our seven-year partnership with Tempus Ex and another multi-year partnership around sponsorship, then other assets we do over the next years. Frankly, we are open to doing a never-ending and larger partnership with Chelsea.”