Sports investment vehicle Global Sport Group (GSG) has launched a €2.7 billion debt-raising process, according to Sky News.

The platform, which is owned by private equity and investment firm CVC Capital Partners, is aiming to acquire additional properties in sport.

GSG’s investment portfolio currently includes a stake in LaLiga’s broadcast rights entity, as well as a share in Ligue 1’s media rights business.

CVC could sell minority stake in GSG

The debt-raising process is being overseen by Goldman Sachs, with PJT Partners and the Raine Group also advising GSG.

Once the agreement is complete, CVC will be able to seek minority investment in GSG, or a potential initial public offering (IPO) on an international stock exchange.
 

Benfica in talks over financing Estadio da Luz renovation

SL Benfica are in talks with JPMorgan over a financing deal for a renovation of the club’s Estadio da Luz home, Bloomberg has reported.

The Lisbon club are evaluating options of securing funding for the redevelopment of the stadium and its surrounding area, after first unveiling the €220 million project last summer. This would see the venue’s capacity increase from around 68,000 to 80,000.

Recently, the ‘Benfica District’ project received approval during a shareholders meeting earlier this month. Plans to revamp the Estadio da Luz come ahead of the FIFA World Cup in 2030, during which the stadium is set to host multiple fixtures, including a semi-final.

JPMorgan’s involvement in Portuguese football

Benfica have held discussions with several financial institutions, including the US-based bank. Talks are understood to be in the early stages, with no guarantee that a final agreement will be reached.

A potential deal with JPMorgan would mark the company’s latest move in Portuguese football. Last October, the firm organised a bond sale for Sporting Lisbon that raised €225 million, after also helping FC Porto raise €115 million in funding.
 

Court rules in favour of LFP amid longstanding legal battle with beIN Sports and Canal+

France’s Professional Football League (LFP) has claimed victory in its longstanding legal dispute with beIN Sports and Canal+, after the Paris Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the governing body.

This dates back to 2021, when LFP penned a broadcast rights deal with Amazon Prime Video for 80 per cent of Ligue 1 matches, in a deal valued at €250 million per season. By contrast, LFP’s deal with beIN Sports for the remaining 20 per cent of French top flight fixtures was worth €332 million, with Canal+ sublicensing the rights from the Qatari network.

The two broadcasters, who criticised the valuation of the Amazon contract, had been seeking €660 million in damages from LFP, as reported by L’Équipe.

LFP’s response

In light of the court ruling, LFP said in a statement: “These rulings support all the decisions made by the courts (including in particular the Paris Judicial Court, the Paris Commercial Court, the Competition Authority, the Paris Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation) since 2021.

“They also provide objective insight into the behavior, mindset, and strategy of the various actors involved."

LFP added that its hope that the ruling will “mark the end of this procedural and reputational harassment,” condemning the “unfounded nature” of the claims.
 

Monaco CEO: All French clubs except PSG are in “survival mode"

AS Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro has said that all French football clubs are in "survival mode," apart from Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Speaking to French media, Scuro said: “Everyone apart from Paris Saint-Germain is in survival mode. No clubs have the capacity to invest strongly.”

His comments come amid ongoing financial uncertainty within French football. Last year, LFP’s reported €400 million a year domestic broadcast rights partnership with DAZN was terminated after just one season.

The 44-year-old said the club have lost around €30 million in broadcasting revenue over the past two years, while UEFA’s squad cost to revenue ratio have fallen from 90 to 70 per cent over the same period making the situation even more difficult.

Missing out on European football

With Monaco currently placed 9th in Ligue 1, the team are also facing the prospect of failing to secure European football for the 2026/27 campaign.

Reflecting on this, Scuro said: “Not having European football for any club in France of our size has a huge impact. Owners will have to make strong decisions in terms of how much they are willing to invest to support those clubs, because they will have to be financed - they will not be self-sustainable. This is the reality, not only for Monaco.”

Newcastle United are set to acquire a new site in Woolsington, at which the club will look to build a new £200 million training ground, according to Daily Mail Sport.

Once the purchase has been completed, the Premier League side are hopeful of building a “world class” facility.

Newcastle aim to break ground on the development this year, with the construction anticipated to take around two years. The training complex could include indoor and outdoor pitches, as well as a mini stadium, a media suite, cinema room, and spa.

Populous set to lead development

The project marks the first major investment into Newcastle’s infrastructure since the club were taken over by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in 2021.

Architecture firm Populous are believed to be involved in developing the project, alongside locally-based FaulknerBrowns.
 

Union Berlin deliver revenue of €191 million for 2024/25

Union Berlin have made a small profit of €450,000 for the 2024/25 season, the Bundesliga club have revealed.

For the last year, Union delivered revenue of €191 million, up from last year’s figure of €186 million.

Dirk Zingler, president of Union Berlin, told German media that the uptick in revenue was largely driven by “the highest transfer revenues in the club's history.”

Looking ahead, the German side are forecasting revenue of €183.2 million next season, alongside a consolidated net profit of €480,000.

Move to Olympic Stadium

According to Zingler, “discussions are ongoing” over a potential move to the Olympic Stadium for the 2027/28 season to allow a planned renovation of their home ground Stadion An der Alten Försterei, which would increase capacity to 34,500.

The 74,000-seat venue, which is home to the Union’s rivals Hertha Berlin, hosted the club’s home Champions League matches during the 2023/24 season, after the Stadion An der Alten Försterei did not meet UEFA’s seating requirements.
 

Socios.com suspends payments to Argentina FA and calls for president’s resignation

Fan token platform Socios.com has suspended payments to intermediaries, through its partnership with the Argentine Football Association (AFA).

In a statement shared on LinkedIn, the blockchain company’s CEO Alexandre Dreyfus said: “We have transferred over $9 million intended for Argentine football. Reports and investigations now indicate that much less actually reached the AFA directly.”

As reported by Argentinian publication La Nacion, this amounted to less than $500,000.

He added: “While we do not have possession of their internal bank records to verify this exact figure, if true, it is absolutely disgusting.” Dreyfus said that the firm have consequently demanded a “full audit”, as well as requesting that future instalments are paid directly to the AFA.

Call for resignation of president

In addition, Dreyfus has also called for the resignation of AFA president Claudio Tapia, asking fellow sponsors of the federation to take similar action, including Adidas, American Express, Coca-Cola, Fanatics, and Lexar.

“We must act collectively to ensure that the funds go where they belong: to the sport and the institution,” he said.

Tottenham Hotspur co-sporting director Fabio Paratici is set to leave the club in February.

As reported by The Athletic, the 53-year-old has agreed to join Fiorentina at the end of the January transfer window.

Paratici only rejoined Spurs a few months ago, when he was appointed as the Premier League club’s co-sporting director alongside Johan Lange.

The Italian initially joined Spurs as managing director and sporting director in 2021, before stepping down from the role in April 2023 after receiving a 30-month ban from all football activity from FIFA due to alleged false accounting during his tenure at Juventus.

Paratici’s next chapter

According to The Athletic, Paratici’s decision to return to Italy is partly due to personal reasons.

His reported next club, Fiorentina, are currently 18th in the Serie A table after a difficult start to the season, which resulted in the dismissal of previous sporting director Daniel Prade in November.

Rangers name Jim Gillespie as new CEO

Rangers FC have announced the appointment of Jim Gillespie as the club’s new CEO.

Gillispie joins from fellow Scottish Premiership side St Mirren, where he has served as vice chairman for the past five years. He replaces former Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart, who was sacked in November.

According to a club statement, the 47-year-old will start his new role “later in the season”. In the meantime, Fraser Thornton will remain as Rangers’ acting CEO, prior to taking up the position of executive director.

An “honour” to join Rangers

“Rangers Football Club is a historic institution, and it’s an honour to be asked to contribute to its leadership,” Gillispie said.

“The focus now is on delivery: rolling up our sleeves, setting clear standards and ensuring the organisation is aligned behind sustainable success on the pitch.”

HSV confirm dismissal of ex-sporting director Stefan Kuntz came amid “serious misconduct” allegations

Hamburger SV have confirmed that the sacking of former sporting director Stefan Kuntz came after allegations of “serious misconduct” within the club.

The Bundesliga club initially announced the 63-year-old’s exit on 2nd January, citing family reasons. However German publication Bild subsequently reported that multiple female members of staff had made allegations of sexual harassment to HSV’s supervisory board.

In response, Kuntz denied these claims in a statement shared to his Instagram account, stating: “I would like to say that these accusations are hitting me hard. It is clear: I categorically reject these accusations.

“In the interests of my family and all those close to me, I have asked my lawyers to take action against these FALSE accusations and prejudgments.”

On Monday however, the club released a statement confirming that the allegations were “credible”. HSV revealed that the accusations were raised last month, prompting an investigation, with the club’s supervisory board later deciding to terminate his contract.

Denied to comment

According to the club, Kuntz did not comply with the investigation, and “explicitly denied the opportunity to comment to the Supervisory Board.”

The statement continued: “HSV will not tolerate any misconduct of the kind in question and is firmly committed to the values of tolerance and respect enshrined in its statutes, and opposes discrimination of any kind.

“As always, protecting the personal rights of the individuals involved remains HSV's top priority.”

Qatar in talks with FIFA over hosting inaugural Women's Club World Cup in 2028

Qatar is interested in hosting the inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup in 2028, The Guardian has reported.

The Gulf nation has held discussions with FIFA over potentially holding the first edition of the 16-club tournament, which is slated to take place between 5th and 30th January.

Football’s global governing body first unveiled plans for the Women’s Club World Cup in December, after FIFA staged an expanded men’s Club Wold Cup in the US last summer.

FIFA and Qatar have maintained a close relationship since the country hosted the men’s World Cup in 2022.

Saudi Arabia is also an option according to The Guardian, however the kingdom is also set to host the Spanish Super Cup during the same month, which could clash.

Controversy over potential host

If awarded hosting rights to the Women’s Club World Cup, this would likely fuel controversy due to Qatar’s position on LGBTQ+ rights.

Although Qatar established a women’s national team in 2009, they have not played an official match since 2014, and do not have a FIFA ranking.

Brighton have reported a £54.4 million loss in the club’s latest financial results for the 2024/25 season.

This year’s loss is largely driven by Brighton’s increased transfer spending, which reached £210 million over the last season. The new player signings resulted in an increase in amortisation of £39.8 million. Overall, the Sussex club’s amortisation costs more than doubled over the last year, reaching £82 million.

In recent years, the club had been among the most profitable in the Premier League, reporting a profit of £73.3 million in 2023/24, after an English record profit of £122.8 million in the previous season.

Revenue plateaus since last year

The accounts for the 2025/26 campaign are expected to see a return to profit at the latest accounts do not include the club’s recent player sales last summer, which include Joao Pedro, Simon Adingra, Julio Enciso, and Pervis Estupinan.

Meanwhile, the club’s revenue has plateaued since last season, with Brighton generated £222.4 million for 2024/25, compared to £222.6 million for 2023/24.

Last season, the club also did not feature in the UEFA Europa League, which had accounted for revenue of around £18 million in the previous year.

 

Eintracht Frankfurt and Deutsche Bank ink ‘€100 million’ extension of naming rights deal

Eintracht Frankfurt have signed an eight-year extension of their naming rights partnership with Deutsche Bank for the Bundesliga club’s home stadium. Under the renewal, the 58,000-seat venue will continue to be known as the ‘Deutsche Bank Park’ until 2035.

Although further details of the agreement were not disclosed, German publication Kicker reports that the latest deal is worth around €100 million over its duration.

The partnership dates back to 2020, when Frankfurt and the investment bank signed an initial six-year contract running until 2027, which was reportedly worth €5.5 million annually. The stadium’s previous naming rights deal with Commerzbank was believed to be worth around €4 million per season

Alliance represents “trust, foresight, and shared values”

Axel Hellman, CEO of Eintracht Frankfurt, said: “The partnership with Deutsche Bank is special for us in many respects - it stands for trust, foresight, and shared values.

“The early extension is a strong commitment to the region, to Frankfurt as a location, and to the close connection between two strong brands. It has far-reaching implications and is crucial for Eintracht’s long-term direction.”

 

Serie A welcomes €14 million sanction against Cloudfare for inaction against piracy

US technology company Cloudfare has been handed a €14 million fine by the Italian Communications Regulatory Authority’s (AGCOM) for the firm’s alleged inaction against piracy.

AGCOM’s sanction comes after Cloudfare allegedly failed to comply with blocking requests from the Piracy Shield platform on numerous occasions.

The fine represents one per cent of the company’s annual revenue, and pertains to Cloudfare’s lack of action against the illegal distribution of various content, including sports coverage.

Serie A ‘loses €300 million annually’

In response to the fine, Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo said: “This sanction represents a historic step in the fight against audiovisual piracy in Italy.”

He added: “We were the first to forcefully denounce not only the €300 million a year in lost revenue caused by football piracy, but the far greater damage caused to the entire sports and entertainment industry.

“Thanks to AGCOM's action, a clear signal is being sent: those who don't respect the rules, those who facilitate the illegal distribution of content, will be severely sanctioned in Italy.”

 

Crystal Palace reveal plans to redevelop Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace have unveiled plans to redevelop the club’s Selhurst Park home, which would see the venue’s capacity increase to 34,000.

As per the Premier League club’s plans, the stadium’s Main Stand will be reconstructed, as part of a move to “transform the supporters’ match-day experience,” according to a club statement.

The cost of the stadium’s renovation could exceed £150 million in total, as reported by UK publication The Sun.

A stadium “south London can be proud of”

Selhurst Park, which currently has a capacity of 26,000, has been home to Palace for more than a century, since first opening in 1924.

Steve Parish, chairman of Crystal Palace, said the revamped Main Stand will help create "a stadium the whole of south London can be proud of.”

Leeds United are set to expand Elland Road’s capacity to 53,000, after the club’s stadium redevelopment project was approved by the Leeds City Council.

Work will start immediately, with major construction slated to take place after the end of the current Premier League season.

Elland Road, which currently has a capacity of around 38,000, has been home to the club since its establishment in 1919.

According to Leeds, the revamped stadium will generate an economic impact of £29 million for the Leeds City region.

Reducing waiting list for season tickets

Morrie Eisenberg, chief business officer at Leeds United, said: “The overwhelming level of support, with 98% of respondents backing the proposals, demonstrates how deeply this club and stadium matter to the city. Without our fans, this moment would not be possible.

“The expansion will allow us to welcome thousands more supporters through the gates, reduce the 26,000-strong Season Ticket Waiting List, and create a better match-day experience for everyone.”

Lamine Yamal valued at €232.9m in latest Off The Pitch player valuation update

The 18-year-old Lamine Yamal has been ranked as the most valuable player in world football in the latest update of Off The Pitch’s Expected Transfer Value Tool, with an estimated valuation of €232.9 million.

The FC Barcelona winger remains ahead of the game’s most established players, with age, performance trajectory and contract security continuing to drive value at the top end of the transfer market.

Erling Haaland ranks second with an estimated value of €218.9 million, reflecting sustained goal output and long-term value despite being seven years older than Yamal. Kylian Mbappé is third at €213.2 million.

Youth drives top valuations

Jude Bellingham is valued at €184.1 million in fourth following his rapid rise at Real Madrid but remains some distance behind the top three. The wider top 10 continues to be dominated by players aged between 22 and 24, reinforcing the growing importance of resale potential and remaining peak years in elite transfer valuations.

Midfielders such as Pedri and Jamal Musiala, alongside wide attackers including Michael Olise and Vinícius Júnior, remain among the highest-valued assets, while more established profiles such as Declan Rice sit closer to the lower end of the top ten, with Cole Palmer in tenth.

Three members of Sheffield Wednesday's preferred bidder revealed

Three members of the consortium recently chosen as the preferred bidder to buy Sheffield Wednesday have been revealed, according to BBC Sport.

Recently, administrators Begbies Traynor confirmed that they had granted “preferred bidder status” to one group, with UK media reporting this to be a consortium led buy British entrepreneur James Bord.

German businessman Felix Romer, who is a shareholder in Bord’s company Short Circuit Science, is also a part of the group, along with Alsharif Bin Jamil, who is reportedly the CEO of the consortium, and is a member of the Jordanian royal family.

As part of American investment group Park Bench SFC LLC, Bord also holds ownership stakes in Spanish second-tier club Cordoba, as well as Bulgarian side Septemvri Sofia.

The race to take over Sheffield Wednesday

Wednesday were placed in administration back in October, after the English club’s previous owner, Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri, relinquished control of the Championship team.

Begbies Traynor were subsequently appointed to find a new owner, with three bidders shortlisted by the administrators in December. Among them were former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, and a US-based group led by John McEvoy.

FIGC’s €4.2 million fine for abusing dominant position in organisation of youth competitions reinstated after ruling

The Italian Football Federation’s (FIGC) €4.2 million sanction for abusing its dominant position in the organising of youth tournaments has been reinstated, following a ruling by Italy’s Council of State.

The fine was initially imposed in 2024 by the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM), before that was overturned after an appeal by the Lazio Regional Administrative Court (TAR).

This week, the original judgement has been upheld by the Council of State, which determined that the FIGC had aimed to monopolise both youth and amateur football events.

Council of State’s latest ruling

The ruling centres on two markets - youth competition for U17s, and amateur events, in which the federation is in competition with Sports Promotion Bodies (EPS).

The council determined that the FIGC had leveraged its position to restrict competitions’ access to the aforementioned markets. As reported by Italian publication Calcio Finanza, this included preventing FIGC-affiliated companies from getting involved in tournaments organised by EPS.

Arctos, the US investment company with stakes in PSG and Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group (FSG), has been subject to a takeover by KKR that values the firm at $1 billion, according to Bloomberg.

Texas-based Arctos, which manages more than $14 billion in assets, has an extensive portfolio of sports investments, including a 12.5 per cent share in Champions League winners PSG, as well as a €34 million stake in Italian club Atalanta, a share in FSG, and a stake in MLS side the Portland Timbers.

Both KKR and Arctos are now seeking approval from major US leagues.

Could rise to $1.5 billion

Private equity company KKR will reportedly finance the Acrctos acquisition with its balance sheet.

The valuation of the agreement could rise to around $1.5 billion, due to incentives for Artcos’ senior executives, including the company’s co-founder Ian Charles.

RFEF considers alternative host for 2027 Supercopa de Espana

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is considering staging the 2027 edition of the Supercopa de Espana outside of Saudi Arabia, The Athletic has reported.

Since 2019, each edition of the four-team tournament has been held in Saudi Arabia, with the exception of the 2021 match due to the pandemic.

The RFEF’s hosting rights agreement with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) runs until 2029, and is worth €51 million annually depending on the participating teams.

Another Middle Eastern country

However, the federation’s proposed timeframe for next year’s competition clashes with the 2027 Asian Cup, which will also take place in Saudi Arabia. The RFEF are therefore weighing up the prospect of taking the Supercopa to another Middle Eastern country.

This year’s instalment of the tournament kicked off yesterday evening, and includes Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.
 

Manchester United have spent more than £100 million on assorted compensation on managers and executives since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, The Telegraph has reported.

Earlier this week, the Premier League club announced the sacking of manager Ruben Amorim after a 14-month tenure at Old Trafford. This cost United £10 million, with 18 months remaining on the 40-year-old’s contract.

In total, Amorim cost the club around £28.5 million, with that figure comprising his earnings, appointment, and compensation after his dismissal.

£78 million on manager sackings

The club have spent £78 million on dismissing managers since Ferguson’s departure.

Amorim’s predecessor, Erik Ten Hag, cost the club £10.4 million when he was fired, following the the exits of Ralf Ragnick (£14.7 million), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (£10 million), Jose Mourinho (£19.6 million), Louis Van Gaal (£8.4 million), and David Moyes (£4.9 million).

Meanwhile, United’s spending on managerial and executive appointments has reached around £21 million during this period. This includes former sporting director Dan Ashworth, whose dismissal after just five months cost them £4.1 million in compensation.
 

Nantes report operating loss of more than €50 million for 2024/25

FC Nantes have reported an operating loss of more than €50 million for the period ended 30th June 2025, according to Sportune.

As a result of the Ligue 1 side’s financial results for the 2024/25 season, Nantes owner Waldemar Kita invested €45.6 million into the club in order to offset the losses.

Although Nantes’ current debt stands at €63 million, €37 million of that figure is covered by future receivables.

Decline in TV revenue

Over the last year, Nantes’ overall revenue fell from €45.4 million for 2023/24 to €37.7 million. This was primarily driven by a decrease in domestic broadcast revenue of €13 million, down by 36 per cent on the previous year. The outlook remains uncertain given questions about revenue from the new Ligue 1+ platform

Matchday income, however, rose by 7 per cent to €11.8 million.
 

Erik Ten Hag joins FC Twente as technical director

Dutch club FC Twente have announced the appointment of Erik Ten Hag as their new technical director from the start of the 2026/27 season.

The 55-year-old, who previously served as manager of Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen, and Ajax, will take over from the incumbent Jan Streuer, who will retire at the end of the current campaign.

Ten Hag’s contract will run until mid-2028, with the Dutchman set to return to the club where he began his playing career.

Leicester in talks with Southampton executive

Elsewhere, Championship club Leicester City have held talks with Southampton executive Andy Goldie over becoming their new technical director, according to The Athletic.

The 40-year-old, who is among several candidates to have interviewed with the Midlands club, is currently the director of group talent strategy at Southampton and the club’s owners Sports Republic.

Spanish football legend Sergio Ramos is leading a consortium interested in taking over his boyhood club Sevilla, as reported by The Athletic.

The 39-year-old is leading a €400 million bid to acquire 100 per cent of the LaLiga club, where he began his career as an academy graduate, before departing for Real Madrid in 2005. Ramos would later return to Sevilla for the 2023/24 season.

Although Ramos would not be the lead investor in the group, it is understood that he would serve as the face of the consortium which includes American investors.

Sevilla’s financial struggles

The prospective takeover is subject to a valuation of Sevilla’s debt, which could amount to around €180 million. The €400 million bid is believed to be for the Spanish club’s “enterprise value”.

Sevilla have been embroiled in financial difficulty in recent years, reporting losses of more than €50 million for 2024/25, and €81.8 million for 2023/24. Amid the club’s debt, Sevilla took out a €108 million loan organised by Goldman Sachs back in 2024.
 

Saudi Arabia’s PIF nearing deal to sell 75 per cent stake in Al-Hilal

Saudi Arabia’s Public investment Fund (PIF) is close to selling its 75 per cent stake in Saudi Pro league (SPL) club Al-Hilal, Calcio e Finanza has reported.

The move comes as part of the Saudi Ministry of Sports’ plans to secure private investment in SPL teams ahead of the men’s 2034 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi businessman Alwaleed bin Talal harbours interest in taking over Al-Hilal, and has been in talks over a potential sale for more than a year.

More Saudi teams to follow suit

Alongside Al-Hilal, the PIF is also seeking external investment in the other clubs owned by the fund, including Al-Nassr, Al-Itihad, and Al-Ahli.

While it will take longer for the PIF to sell stakes in the other three teams, negotiations are already underway with prospective investors.
 

Nottingham Forest submit plans to expand City Ground to 50,000

Nottingham Forest have submitted plans to expand City Ground to a capacity of more than 50,000, the club announced.

With a current capacity of around 30,000, City Ground has been home to the Premier League club since 1898.

In a statement, the Midlands side said: “The redevelopment will be an integral part of the economic growth of the city and the wider region.”

Last year, Forest’s proposals to increase the venue’s capacity to 35,000 received the green light from the local Rushcliffe Borough council.

Edu facing mounting pressure

Meanwhile, Forest’s global head of football, Edu Gaspar, is coming under scrutiny following the team’s tough start to the Premier League campaign, according to The Telegraph.

At present, the club have lost four successive league fixtures, and find themselves 17th in the table, just four points removed from the relegation zone.

Edu, who previously served as Arsenal’s sporting director, only joined the club in July last year.

DAZN has been ordered to pay up the remainder of its €84.2 million broadcast rights deal with the Belgian Pro League, following a judgement from the Belgian Centre for Arbitration and Mediation (Cepani).

The UK-based broadcaster inked a five-year contract with Belgium’s top flight in 2024, which took effect at the start of the 2025/26 season. However, after DAZN was unable to agree distribution deals with Belgian networks Telenet and Proximus, Pro League matches were only available on its own platform.

The network consequently terminated its agreement in November, and withheld a €6.6 million instalment, prompting the league to initiate legal action.

As per last week’s ruling, Cepani has ordered DAZN to continue airing Pro League fixtures, and paying its contract until 30th June. This will amount to around €53 million. DAZN will additionally be required to cover 25 per cent of the Pro League’s arbitration costs, and will face a further €50,000 fine if specific criteria are not met.

Lorin Parys, CEO of the Pro League, said: “We are pleased that DAZN is required to honour its commitments regarding production, distribution, payment, and negotiations with the telecom companies. The winners of this ruling are our fans, our clubs, and Belgian football as a whole.”

"Provisional measures"

Massimo D’Amario, CEO of DAZN Belgium, said: “It is important to emphasise that these provisional measures, including on interim payments, do not pass any judgment on DAZN’s legal position in the ongoing dispute with the Pro League.

“DAZN remains convinced that the Cepani arbitration panel that will be constituted in the coming weeks will rule that the original contract ended lawfully.”

He added: “DAZN will in any event continue to produce and broadcast Pro League matches as it has been doing over the past months.”

 

City Football Group withdraws from Mumbai City amid “ongoing uncertainty” in Indian Super League

City Football Group (CFG) has divested its majority stake in Mumbai City, citing “ongoing uncertainty” regarding the future of the Indian Super League (ISL).

Since the arrival of Manchester City owner CFG in 2019, Mumbai have gone on to win two league titles, as well as two ISL Cups.

In a statement, CFG said the decision to withdraw from Mumbai followed a “comprehensive commercial review”, with the club’s founding owners set to “assume full control of the organisation moving forward.”

The ISL’s uncertain future

The future of the ISL remains shrouded by uncertainty, after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced that the 2025/26 season would not proceed as planned.

The ISL season, which was set to kick off in September 2025, has been delayed after the AIFF and the ISL’s operating company, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), failed to extend the Master Rights Agreement (MRA), which enables the FDSL to operate and commercialise the league. The previous 10-year MRA expired in December.

 

Juventus and Ajax appoint new sporting directors

Juventus have revealed Marco Ottolini as the Italian club’s new sporting director, effective from 1st January.

Ottolini has made his return to Turin, after previously serving at the Serie A club for four years between 2018 and 2022, when he worked in the scouting team, before monitoring the team’s loan players, and establishing relationships with international clubs.

The 45-year-old joins from Genoa, where he served in the same role for the past three years. He replaces Juventus’ former sporting director Cristiani Giuntoli, who departed the club last summer.

Ajax set to appoint Cruyff

Elsewhere, Dutch side Ajax have struck a verbal agreement to hire Jordi Cruyff as the club’s new technical director from early February.

The son of Ajax legend Johan Cruyff replaces Danny Blind, who stepped down from his role in September. The 51-year-old is set to join the club on a three-year contract until 2028.

 

Sheffield Wednesday administrators select preferred bidder

Sheffield Wednesday’s administrators have identified British entrepreneur James Bord as the preferred bidder to take over the club, according to UK media.

Begbies Traynor, the administrators appointed by Wednesday after the Championship club entered administration on 24th October, confirmed last week that they intended to grant “preferred bidder status” to an unnamed consortium.

In a statement, the firm said the decision followed “extensive financial, legal and forensic due diligence.”

Bord, who is the owner and founder of AI-powered sports analytics company Short Circuit Science, also holds a stake in Spanish second tier club Cordoba, as well as Bulgarian team Septemvri Sofia through US investment group Park Bench SFC LLC.

Takeover subject to EFL approval

Last month, multiple reports suggested that Begbies Traynor had whittled down their search for a new owner to a shortlist of three bidders, including Bord, alongside former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, and a US consortium led by John McEvoy.

The proposed takeover will now be subject to EFL approval, and will have to pass its Owners and Directors’ test. Wednesday were previously owned by Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri, who relinquished control of the Yorkshire club in October after a decade-long tenure.

 

Club America valued at $490 million after selling 49% stake to US investors

US fund General Atlantic has acquired a 49 per cent stake in Club America, the Mexican team have confirmed. As reported by media, the investment values the club at around $490 million.

The deal also includes a stake in Club America’s 83,000-seat Estadio Azteca home, which will host matches during the FIFA World Cup in 2026, and the surrounding land.

Grupo Ollamani to retain majority stake

Alongside the new investment, Club America have also partnered with the Kraft Analytics Group, the technology and data subsidiary of New England Patriots owner, the Kraft Group.

Meanwhile, Grupo Televisa subsidiary Grupo Ollamani will retain the remaining 51 per cent stake, with Emilio Azcarraga Jean to remain as the club’s executive chairman.

Napoli and Pisa have been placed under enhanced financial supervision and will face limits on transfer spending after failing to meet Serie A’s updated cost controls, as reported by Italian media.

The decision follows a review of accounts as of 30 September by Italy’s new financial authority, which has replaced Covisoc and reported its findings to the FIGC. Both clubs exceeded the “expanded labour cost to revenue” threshold of 0.8.

As a result, Napoli and Pisa will operate under a “zero balance” rule, meaning any transfer signings must be matched by player sales of the same value. No full ban applies in January, but flexibility in the market will be reduced.

Tightening threshold

The restrictions can be lifted if the clubs restore financial balance, including through owner funding. Pisa have already begun capital injections to address the shortfall.

From next season, the threshold will tighten to 0.7 in line with UEFA standards, raising the risk of a full transfer ban from July for clubs that remain non-compliant.
 

NWSL introduces rule allowing teams to exceed salary cap by $1 million for 'high impact' players

The NWSL has announced the introduction of the High Impact Player Rule, which will allow clubs to exceed the salary cap by up to $1 million for players designated as “high impact”.

The league said the rule is intended to provide teams with greater flexibility in squad building. Players will qualify based on set criteria, including recognition in lists by sports publications, inclusion in the Ballon d’Or top 30, and the number of minutes played for the United States women’s national team.

The move comes amid an ongoing dispute between the league and the NWSL Players Association over compensation rules, following the NWSL’s rejection of a proposed contract extension for Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman. Earlier this month, the NWSLPA filed a grievance on Rodman’s behalf, alleging the decision breached the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

The NWSL said the High Impact Player Rule would contribute more than $115m in additional player compensation over the term of the existing CBA, which runs until 2030. Although the rule will formally take effect on 1 July 2026, clubs will be able to sign eligible players immediately, provided the mechanism is not used before that date.

NWSLPA challenges unilateral implementation

The NWSL Players Association said it opposes the league’s decision to implement the rule without collective bargaining, arguing that changes to compensation under the salary cap are a mandatory subject of negotiation under federal labour law.

In a statement, the union said fair pay is achieved through collectively bargained systems rather than “arbitrary classifications”, and said it had proposed an alternative approach focused on raising the team salary cap and developing a revenue-sharing projection model through bargaining.

The NWSLPA added that the league’s unilateral action leaves it “no choice but to take action to enforce the rights of the players we represent.”
 

Former Sheffield United owner Prince Abdullah threatened winding-up order over unpaid debt

Former Sheffield United owner Prince Abdullah threatened to serve the club a winding-up order, over an unpaid £10 million instalment from current owners COH Sports, according to Sky Sports.

Last December, the US-based consortium completed a takeover of the English club, in a deal worth more than £100 million.

However, there are still two outstanding payments to the Saudi Arabian Prince, in order for COH to finalise the formal takeover of Sheffield. As a result, Prince Abdullah issued a statutory demand to the group in November, giving them 21 days to pay off the £10 million.

After the initial deadline expired, he gave COH a further three weeks to foot the bill, threatening to issue a winding-up order that could have placed the club into administration if this was not settled.

COH has no intention to sell

Almost half of the agreed takeover fee has yet to be paid. This has prompted Sheffield’s former owner to express his concern over the new ownership in a letter to the EFL.

Despite this, COH insists that the US group remains fully committed to the Championship club, and has no intention to sell it.
 

Sheffield Wednesday asking price lowered to £15 million - £20 million

Sheffield Wednesday’s asking price has dropped, with offers worth between £15 million - £20 million now being considered, according to local publication The Sheffield Star.

The Championship club entered administration on 24th October, after previous owner, Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri, relinquished control of the Yorkshire-based outfit. Wednesday subsequently appointed administrators Begbies Traynor to oversee the club’s sale.

Earlier this month, UK media reported that there were three bidders left in the race to take over Wednesday - former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, UK businessman James Bord, and a US-based group led by John McEvoy.

Parties rekindle interest

Begbies Traynor had been seeking an asking price of £30 million, with Ashley’s bid believed to be lower than that figure.

However, the club are now considering offers beneath the £30 million - £35 million threshold. Consequently, one consortium has re-entered the takeover race, with more parties expected to follow suit.