Fears are growing that Paris Saint-Germain and its president Nasser Al-Khelaifi are avoiding appropriate punishment for breaches of UEFA rules due to a conflict of interest, The New York Times reports.

It is understood that concerns have increased following the outcome of the European governing body’s investigation into the dramatic scenes that followed PSG’s Champions League exit last season.

Back in March, UEFA announced it had begun disciplinary proceedings against Al-Khelaifi and the PSG sporting director Leonardo within 24 hours of their team being eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid.

After the match, referee Danny Makkelie wrote in a report seen by The New York Times that Al-Khelaifi and Leonardo “showed aggressive behaviour and tried to enter the dressing room of the referee.”

Even after Makkelie asked them to leave, Al-Khelaifi and Leonardo “blocked the door,” he wrote, adding that the president then “deliberately hit the flag of one of the assistants, breaking it.”

Ban for Leonardo but no mention of Al-Khelaifi

In June, more than three months after the incidents, UEFA listed the outcome of its proceedings within a six-page document covering recent disciplinary cases. It said it would ban Leonardo, who had since left PSG, for one game for violating “the basic rules of decent conduct.” However, there was no mention of Al-Khelaifi.

The Qatari businessman has become one of the most powerful men in European football over recent years. As well as holding a place on the UEFA Executive Committee, he is chairman of the European Club Association (ECA) and chairman of beIN Media Group, one of UEFA’s biggest broadcast partners.

UEFA declined to provide details of its investigation, or why Al-Khelaifi had avoided punishment. It said the delay could be explained, too, as it had prioritised investigations involving teams still competing in its competitions. PSG declined to comment.
 

Premier League summer transfer spending reaches £1.5 billion to break record

With a week still to go until the 1st September deadline day, the spending by Premier League clubs in this summer’s transfer window has already surpassed the previous record of £1.4 billion, set in the summer of 2017, according to Deloitte’s Sports Business Group.

Analysis by the firm found that as of midnight on 25th August, the gross spend by top-flight clubs in the 2022 summer transfer window stood at £1.5 billion.

Last summer with one week to go before the window closed, Premier League clubs’ gross spend was £895 million and ultimately reached £1.1 billion by the end of deadline day.

The volume of transfers into Premier League clubs currently stands at 135, exceeding levels seen in the summer 2019 (128) and 2020 windows (132), and is on-track to surpass the number recorded in summer 2021 (148).

Fourteen players signed for £30 million-plus

The proportion of transfers made involving a fee has also increased, from 45 per cent in summer 2021 to 67 per cent so far in summer 2022. Fourteen players have already been signed by Premier League clubs for a reported fee of over £30 million, compared to 8 in total during the summer 2021 window.

Chris Wood, assistant director at Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, said: “The record levels of spending that we’ve seen in this summer transfer window so far provides a sign that the business models of Premier League clubs are rebounding post-Covid.”
 

Aston Villa reveal plans to take stadium capacity beyond 50,000

Aston Villa have revealed plans for a major expansion of its stadium that would extend Villa Park’s capacity beyond 50,000.

The plans include a redevelopment of the North Stand, previously known as the Witton End and completed in 1977. The proposals include a new two-tiered stand and upgrades to the Trinity Stand, which together could potentially seat an extra 7,500 fans.

The current capacity of Villa Park is 42,785, with a waiting list of over 25,000 for season ticket holders.

The plans also include the introduction of a commercial hub on the stadium footprint, to be called Villa Live, and an inner-city academy.

Planning application

Villa said it will submit a planning application for its proposals to Birmingham City Council at the end of August.

The move follows a public pre-planning application consultation that ran throughout June and July, in which nearly 10,000 residents and businesses, stakeholders and fans had their say on the plans.

If approved and completed, the plans would make Villa Park among the biggest grounds in the Premier League.

UEFA is coming under pressure to reduce the proportion of Champions League broadcast revenue allocated to clubs based on their historical coefficient.

The Times reports that a power struggle is brewing over the distribution of revenues from 2024/25 when the new Champions League format involving 36 clubs is launched.

Talks will start at a European Club Association (ECA) board meeting in Istanbul on Thursday aimed at securing what one source called “a fairer distribution.”

The European Leagues organisation is also pushing for an end to the coefficient funding.

Disproportionate benefits for big clubs

Under the existing system 30 per cent of total Champions League TV income is allocated to the 32 teams in the competition based on their performances in Europe over the past ten years, which has benefited the big European clubs disproportionately.

The collapse of the European Super League last year led to the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United losing their seats on the ECA board, and according to The Times there is now pressure from a group of midsized and smaller clubs in the organisation for the coefficient funding model to be changed.

Media: Paris Saint-Germain player sale delays causing tensions within club management

Frustrations are emerging within Paris Saint-Germain’s management over delays in player sales as the Ligue 1 summer transfer window deadline of 1st September draws near.

Le Parisien reports that the club’s sporting adviser Luís Campos has grown increasingly frustrated with Antero Henrique, PSG’s former sporting director who is working for the club again this summer.

Henrique’s role encompasses negotiations over player sales, and concerns are said to be building over the time Henrique is taking to complete the process for each deal.

Campos had personally seen to agreements being reached and clubs being found for a number of players on the transfer list, including Leandro Paredes to Juventus, Keylor Navas to Napoli, Idrissa Gueye to Everton and Ander Herrera to Athletic Bilbao.

However, none of the deals have yet been completed, having all been moved on to Henrique.

Surprise among players

It is understood that several players are even surprised about the lack of progress and have questioned whether the promise of an exit door will be kept.

Henrique’s presence is also said to have puzzled some at PSG, especially as he claims to have been decisive in Kylian Mbappé’s contract extension agreed back in May despite only intervening in the final stages once the French striker had already decided to remain in Paris.
 

Sampdoria takeover race set to be joined by second US investment firm

Another American investment company has joined the race to buy Sampdoria, according to Italian media reports.

The firm, which has not been named, is understood to be ready to compete with US private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, which is working alongside London-based investment company RedStone Capital on a bid.

Cerberus is said to remain in pole position to agree a deal, having completed more work towards formulating an offer than any other interested party.

Following arrest

A number of expressions of interest in buying the club over recent weeks have been put forward to the investment bank Lazard and Gianluca Vidal of the Rosan Trust, which holds the legal ownership of the club.

Massimo Ferrero, who had owned Sampdoria since 2014, resigned as club president last December following his arrest by the Italian law enforcement agency Guardia di Finanza as part of an investigation into corporate crimes and bankruptcy.

The German Football League (DFL) has appointed Deutsche Bank AG to lead the possible sale of a package of media rights, Bloomberg has reported.

According to the financial news service, Deutsche Bank will work alongside Japan's Nomura Holdings Inc, the DFL’s longstanding adviser.

It added that about 10 private equity companies were expected to present their strategies for boosting the reach of German football as early as September, ahead of possible preliminary offers later in the year.

Advent International, Blackstone Inc, CVC Capital Partners, EQT AB and KKR & Co are said to be among the companies that are considering investing.

Back in June, Bloomberg reported that the DFL was considering selling as much as 20 per cent of a unit which houses its domestic and international broadcasting rights.

The report also claimed it was exploring other funding options, including loans and other strategic investment ideas.

Pursuit of a “strategic partnership”

At its AGM on 17th August, the DFL told clubs from the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 that it was considering the pursuit of a “strategic partnership” that would bring investment and outside expertise into German football’s top two tiers.

Last year, the DFL scrapped plans to sell a 25 per cent stake in its overseas broadcasting rights after resistance from Bundesliga clubs concerned about private equity firms meddling in their affairs.
 

UEFA set to announce FFP sanctions for ten clubs over 2020/21 breaches

UEFA is preparing to announce sanctions in the next month for ten clubs who have breached Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules for the 2020/21 season, according to The Times.

The newspaper understands that FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Juventus, Inter Milan and Roma are among the clubs set to be punished.

Sanctions are expected to be handed out to PSG, Marseille, Inter Milan and Roma as part of agreed settlements with the clubs. These are expected to be fines for PSG and Marseille, and fines plus transfer restrictions for the Italian pair.

It is understood that Barcelona and Juventus have refused so far to enter into FFP negotiations with UEFA.

Arsenal on watchlist for 2021/22

Sources also told The Times that 20 clubs are on a UEFA watchlist of teams who may be in danger of breaching FFP for 2021/22, though final accounts for these clubs have still to be filed with the European governing body.

Arsenal are among the teams believed to be on this list. The Gunners have had among the highest losses in the Premier League over the past three years, with a total deficit of £213 million, including £127 million in 2020/21.

UEFA’s rules allow only €30 million losses over three years but Covid-related losses and “healthy” spending on areas such as women’s and academy football and depreciation can be written off against that.
 

Sheffield Hallam University report: English football clubs lost £1 billion due to Covid-19

English football clubs lost £1 billion in revenue and the industry was set back two and half years in growth terms as a result of the pandemic, according to a new report from Sheffield Hallam University.

The study, funded by the UK Research Institute (UKRI) and European Social Research Council (ESRC), found the Premier League suffered the biggest collective loss of around £800 million.

The cost in the English Football League makes up the other £200 million of the overall figure, with the Championship losing around £120 million, League One £60 million and League Two just under £20 million.

The report, led by academics at the Sheffield Business School, noted that most of this loss is attributable to matchday revenue as games were played behind closed doors for over 18 months during 2020 and 2021.

Wider look at broadcasting distributions

The study’s authors found that while the industry is already showing signs of recovery from the pandemic, “there is still work to be done on structural aspects of the game moving forward to better support the clubs and help them become financially sustainable in the future.”

The report, which analysed club finances back to the beginning of the Premier League era in the early 1990s, includes recommendations for the game including a wider look at broadcasting distributions throughout the football pyramid and the need for independent regulation at governance level.

Paris Saint-Germain are set to be punished by UEFA due to their spiralling wage bill, which has breached the governing body’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, L'Equipe reports.

The newspaper understands that UEFA have informed PSG, as well as Marseille, that they have breached the FFP quota and are now likely to receive a fine.

The development follows Kylian Mbappé’s controversial three-year contract renewal with PSG agreed back in May, and the club’s two-year deal with Lionel Messi.

Mbappé is now said to be earning €50 million per year, in addition to a €180 million bonus for staying at the Parc des Princes, while Messi had an annual salary of €30 million in his first year at PSG, which increased to €40 million for the current season.

Potential Champions League ban

If PSG or Marseille fail to adhere to the rules and do not improve their situation over the next three years, the penalties are expected to become harsher, including a potential exclusion from the Champions League and other UEFA competitions.

Both clubs can opt to contest the decision and file an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

PSG are said to consider the findings of the report unfair and have claimed that the collapse of Ligue 1’s broadcast deal with Mediapro has skewed their financial situation.

LaLiga’s request to terminate Mbappé’s contract with PSG dismissed by Administrative Court of Paris

The Administrative Court of Paris has rejected LaLiga’s request to annul Kylian Mbappé’s contract extension with Paris Saint-Germain.

The Spanish league put forward the request last month as they believed that the player’s new deal, agreed back in May and said to be worth €4.6 million a month, breached Financial Fair Play rules.

LaLiga claimed that the LFP should never have approved the contract renewal. It also requested the cancellation of the validation of PSG’s accounts by the DNCG, French football’s financial watchdog, and the revoking of its approval of the deal.

However, the Administrative Court of Paris rejected LaLiga’s case on Wednesday, finding that Mbappé’s contract does not show proof of “serious and immediate harm.”

Real Madrid sought free transfer

The star French striker opted to remain in Paris instead of joining Real Madrid, who had been looking to bring the World Cup winner in on a free transfer.

LaLiga quickly announced their intention to sue PSG over the contract renewal and also filed a formal complaint with UEFA. The league’s president Javier Tebas accused PSG of "cheating" FFP rules.

FIFA suspends All India Football Federation and strips right to host U-17 Women’s World Cup

FIFA has suspended the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect due to “undue influence from third parties”, and has stripped the country of its right to host the U-17 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to take place in October.

The decision, taken unanimously by the Bureau of the FIFA Council, comes after the Supreme Court of India disbanded the AIFF in May and appointed a three-member committee to govern the game in the country, amend the AIFF’s constitution, and conduct elections that have now been pending for 18 months.

In response, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) sent a team led by AFC general secretary Windsor John to meet Indian football stakeholders and laid down a roadmap for the AIFF to amend its statutes by the end of July and subsequently conclude elections at the latest by 15th September.

In a statement, FIFA said: “The suspension will be lifted once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs.”

Hopeful of positive outcome

Commenting on the U-17 Women’s World Cup, FIFA said it is “assessing the next steps with regard to the tournament and will refer the matter to the Bureau of the Council if and when necessary.”

It added: “FIFA is in constant constructive contact with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India and is hopeful that a positive outcome to the case may still be achieved.”

Premier League wants EFL to drop P&S rules and adopt its own cost controls

The Premier League wants the EFL to adopt the top-flight’s own system of cost controls in return for increasing its funding package for the lower divisions, according to The Daily Mail.

The newspaper understands that the Premier League has suggested the EFL drop its profit and sustainability (P&S) rules, which prohibit clubs from losing more than £39 million over a three-year period.

Derby County, Birmingham City, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday have all been docked points for breaches of the rules over recent years. In contrast, the Premier League permits losses of up to £105 million over the same period.

The EPL is planning to introduce a version of UEFA’s new financial sustainability rules, which will limit clubs’ spending on wages, transfers and agent fees to 90 per cent of revenue from the 2023/24 season, falling to 70 per cent from 2025/26, and want the EFL to follow suit.

Harmonising spending rules

According to The Mail, Premier League clubs are close to agreeing increased funding for the EFL, but want to ensure the spending rules will be harmonised before making a formal offer.

Having different rules between the divisions is said to create problems in enforcing the regulations on clubs that have been relegated and promoted.

FC Barcelona are considering taking legal action against LaLiga and its president Javier Tebas over the league’s Financial Fair Play regulations, Spanish media have reported.

Under the rules, each club is given a spending limit to cover gross salaries and amortised transfer fees for the entire squad over the course of a season.

The figure is obtained by subtracting the costs and debt from the club’s budgeted income.

Barcelona have been struggling to register their players in line with the regulations for the second summer in a row, after seeing club legend Lionel Messi depart last year.

During the latest window, the Catalan giants have spent around €150 million on new players. To help comply with LaLiga’s rules and register their new signings the club has sold future media rights income and stakes in their Barça Studios production house.

High wage bill

Barcelona are understood to be frustrated that the other four top leagues of Europe are not bound by regulations as strict as those imposed by LaLiga.

Several other Spanish clubs have also been experiencing player registration issues this summer, although Barça’s situation has been made particularly challenging by their high wage bill and big player contracts.

Apollo ‘not looking to buy equity stake’ in Manchester United

The American private equity firm Apollo is not interested in buying a stake in Manchester United following last week’s reports of talks between the two parties, according to Bloomberg.

A source told the financial news service that Apollo was involved in financing discussions with a consortium but has since withdrawn, and added that the firm’s initial interest was never to buy straight equity in United.

Last Wednesday The Daily Mail reported that United’s owners, the Glazer family, had begun exclusive talks with Apollo about selling a minority stake in the club.

Angered supporter groups

The prospect of United selling to Apollo or another US private equity fund angered supporter groups, who argue that the Glazers have failed to invest enough money to compete on and off the field with the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea.
 

FC Barcelona need extra €20 million to register Jules Koundé

FC Barcelona need to raise another €20 million to comply with LaLiga’s FFP rules and register French centre-back Jules Koundé, according to Diario AS.

The Spanish daily sports newspaper reports that Barça, who signed Koundé from Sevilla for €50 million late last month, are looking to generate the necessary funds through the sale of at least one more player.

The Catalan giants have been in discussions over the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Memphis Depay, Sergiño Dest, Martin Braithwaite and Samuel Umtiti.

The club will need to raise the additional €20 million by 1st September when the summer transfer window closes.

While Apollo hasn’t publicly disclosed a direct holding in any football club, it has been involved in debt financing for at least one team – it was part of a deal with Sporting Lisbon last year.

Borussia Dortmund have published preliminary figures showing increased revenues and reduced losses for the 2021/22 financial year as the worst effects of the Covid-19 pandemic began to ease.

Last season’s Bundesliga runners-up earned total operating proceeds (including transfer income) of €456.9 million, up 27 per cent on the previous year, and consolidated revenue (excluding transfer income) of €351.6 million – a rise of 5 per cent.

The club suffered a net consolidated loss of €35.1 million, down from €72.8 million in 2020/21.

Trion Reid, an analyst at investment bank Berenberg, said the development was largely as expected, with ticketing, conference, catering and miscellaneous income all recovering after the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns in the prior year.

“TV income fell given a base that was inflated from Covid-19-impacted timing and advertising income also continued to grow nicely, up 18 per cent year-on-year.”

Return to profit expected

Reid added: “2022/23 should be the first season since 2018/19 that isn’t impacted by the pandemic, and as such we expect a further recovery in revenue and a return to positive profitability.

“Then in the medium-term, the reform of the Champions League should bring additional revenue opportunities for the club.”

Paramount wins battle with Amazon to retain US TV rights for Champions League

Paramount has struck a new six-year agreement with UEFA to retain the US broadcast rights for the Champions League in a deal reported to be worth $1.5 billion.

According to Bloomberg, the new contract, which also includes the Europa League and Europa Conference League rights, is double the value of Paramount’s previous agreement.

The financial news service reported that Paramount will be paying $250 million per year from the 2024/25 season, adding that to secure the rights it had to win a battle with Amazon, the highest rival bidder.

“Key driver for Paramount+”

In a statement confirming the agreement, Paramount said games will be streamed on Paramount+, with select matches broadcast on CBS Sports Network and CBS.

CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said the Champions Leagues rights have “been a key driver for Paramount+ since our launch and we are thrilled to extend this successful partnership.”

PSG set to be fined by UEFA over FFP breach due to spiralling wage bill

Paris Saint-Germain are set to be punished by UEFA due to their spiralling wage bill, which has breached the governing body’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, L'Equipe reports.

The newspaper understands that UEFA have informed PSG, as well as Marseille, that they have breached the FFP quota and are now likely to receive a fine.

The development follows Kylian Mbappé’s controversial three-year contract renewal with PSG agreed back in May, and the club’s two-year deal with Lionel Messi.

Mbappé is now said to be earning €50 million per year, in addition to a €180 million bonus for staying at the Parc des Princes, while Messi had an annual salary of €30 million in his first year at PSG, which increased to €40 million for the current season.

Potential Champions League ban

If PSG or Marseille fail to adhere to the rules and do not improve their situation over the next three years, the penalties are expected to become harsher, including a potential exclusion from the Champions League and other UEFA competitions.

Both clubs can opt to contest the decision and file an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

PSG are said to consider the findings of the report unfair and have claimed that the collapse of Ligue 1’s broadcast deal with Mediapro has skewed their financial situation.

Premier League wants EFL to drop P&S rules and adopt its own cost controls

The Premier League wants the EFL to adopt the top-flight’s own system of cost controls in return for increasing its funding package for the lower divisions, according to The Daily Mail.

The newspaper understands that the Premier League has suggested the EFL drop its profit and sustainability (P&S) rules, which prohibit clubs from losing more than £39 million over a three-year period.

Derby County, Birmingham City, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday have all been docked points for breaches of the rules over recent years. In contrast, the Premier League permits losses of up to £105 million over the same period.

The EPL is planning to introduce a version of UEFA’s new financial sustainability rules, which will limit clubs’ spending on wages, transfers and agent fees to 90 per cent of revenue from the 2023/24 season, falling to 70 per cent from 2025/26, and want the EFL to follow suit.

Harmonising spending rules

According to The Mail, Premier League clubs are close to agreeing increased funding for the EFL, but want to ensure the spending rules will be harmonised before making a formal offer.

Having different rules between the divisions is said to create problems in enforcing the regulations on clubs that have been relegated and promoted.

Newcastle United owners reaffirm Amanda Staveley contract

Amanda Staveley remains a key part of Newcastle United’s future despite speculation about her position, according to The Times.

The newspaper reports that her management contract at St James’ Park has been reaffirmed by the club’s owners, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.

Newcastle’s new CEO Darren Eales takes up his role on 22nd August, and other key appointments made over recent months include that of Dan Ashworth, the FA’s former director of elite development, as sporting director.

Pictured in Chelsea executive box

Staveley was pictured at Stamford Bridge in the executive box of Chelsea’s co-owner Behdad Eghbali during their match against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month, but The Times notes that the confirmation of her position at Newcastle will end any speculation about her future.

The newspaper understands that despite the other major appointments at the club, there has been a new commitment to the agreement Staveley had to oversee operations following the takeover, in what is now known as an “advisory agreement”.

Manchester United’s owners, the Glazer family, have begun exclusive talks with US private equity firm Apollo to sell a minority stake in the club, The Daily Mail has reported.

It is understood that the Glazers are not prepared to cede control of United, with brothers Avram and Joel expected to keep their shares and oversee the day-to-day running of the Old Trafford club.

However, other family members are believed to be seeking an exit. Any deal to sell a minority stake to Apollo is not expected to be concluded until next month at the earliest. 

The Mail also noted that Crystal Palace co-owner Josh Harris co-founded Apollo and is currently listed on the company’s website as sitting on the board of directors and executive committee.

However, earlier this month Harris notified Apollo that he will not stand for re-election onto the company’s board at its next annual meeting of stockholders, meaning his term on the board should cease on 7th October.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he wants to buy club

The Mail understands that Apollo may bring in other investors as part of any deal. However, the consortium is not expected to include bidders who missed out on the recent sale of Chelsea, such as Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

A spokesperson for Ratcliffe told The Times that he wants to buy a stake in United, with a view to taking full control if the Glazers put the club up for sale.
 

DFL tells Bundesliga clubs it will examine options for ‘strategic partnership’ 

The prospect of a private equity deal with the Bundesliga has been raised once again following discussions with clubs at the DFL’s AGM, held on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the DFL told clubs from the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 that it is considering the pursuit of a “strategic partnership” that would bring investment and outside expertise into the Bundesliga.

In a statement, the DFL said it informed clubs “about current considerations for the future of German professional football.”

It added: “Among other things, this includes examining the option of a strategic partnership that will bring growth capital and know-how in future fields for the league and clubs.” 

Working group set up

The DFL managing director Donata Hopfen gave details of a working group which has been set up by the DFL executive committee comprising representatives of the DFL and its clubs to examine the options. 

“In the next step, a formal process will be established in order to further specify the possibilities of a strategic partnership and to develop a template in the coming months, on which the 36 professional clubs will decide,” the DFL said.
 

LaLiga’s request to terminate Mbappé’s contract with PSG dismissed by Administrative Court of Paris 

The Administrative Court of Paris has rejected LaLiga’s request to annul Kylian Mbappé’s contract extension with Paris Saint-Germain.

The Spanish league put forward the request last month as they believed that the player’s new deal, agreed back in May and said to be worth €4.6 million a month, breached Financial Fair Play rules. 

LaLiga claimed that the LFP should never have approved the contract renewal. It also requested the cancellation of the validation of PSG’s accounts by the DNCG, French football’s financial watchdog, and the revoking of its approval of the deal.

However, the Administrative Court of Paris rejected LaLiga’s case on Wednesday, finding that Mbappé’s contract does not show proof of “serious and immediate harm.” 

Real Madrid sought free transfer

The star French striker opted to remain in Paris instead of joining Real Madrid, who had been looking to bring the World Cup winner in on a free transfer. 

LaLiga quickly announced their intention to sue PSG over the contract renewal and also filed a formal complaint with UEFA. The league’s president Javier Tebas accused PSG of "cheating" FFP rules.
 

Deloitte report: ‘Big five' leagues to earn record €18.6 billion revenue in 2022/23

Europe’s 'big five' leagues are forecast to generate a record €18.6 billion combined revenue in the 2022/23 season as the bounce back from the Covid-19 pandemic continues.

The prediction comes from Deloitte’s latest Annual Review of Football Finance, which found that the European football market made "a significant recovery" in 2020/21 despite fans being absent for most of the season.

The European game as a whole, including all national and club competition, achieved total income of €27.6 billion in 2020/21, up 10 per cent on the previous year, Deloitte’s report states.

It said that deferred broadcast revenues and the success of Euro 2020, delayed to the summer of 2021, were the main factors in the turnaround.

The 'big five' leagues generated aggregate revenue of €15.6 billion in 2020/21, and are projected by Deloitte to earn €17.4 billion for 2021/22, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

Premier League profits improve 

The review also found that in 2020/21 the Premier League was the only one of the 'big five' to see clubs improve total operating profits – from €58 million to €567 million. 

The 'big five' excluding the Premier League reported increased total operating losses – from €483 million to €943 million.

At least three consortiums are considering making formal bids to buy Manchester United, according to The Independent.

The newspaper reports that there is a growing belief the Glazers would sell the club for $6 billion, and says it has been told of a number of meetings between high-net-worth individuals and brokers since at least May.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has previously made his interest publicly known and is widely considered the most likely buyer.

His company, Ineos, which already owns Ligue 1 club Nice, refused to comment when asked by The Independent whether it had conducted exploratory meetings about a bid.

United offered a similar statement when asked whether the club is for sale, as many investors now believe.

However, a series of industry sources have told the newspaper that the biggest takeover in global sports history is a strong possibility within the next one to two years.

Change in stance from Glazers

While the Glazers had previously been reluctant to entertain offers, and United itself has been dismissing such rumours up to this week, a number of factors are understood to have been influencing their stance.

As well as the increasingly hostile atmosphere around the club, these include the €5.24 billion price paid by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital Group for Chelsea, and the uncertainty in global finance, with up to £222.8 million of the Glazers’ debt vulnerable to variable interest rates.

Chelsea offering players under 25 seven-year deals in new US-style contract policy

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is implementing a US-style contract policy for players under the age of 25, as the club aims to ensure its best young players are tied down during their peak years.

The Daily Mail reports that the club’s new hierarchy are locking players into deals for up to seven years, as is common in American sports. English clubs generally look to secure young talent on contracts of up to five years.

The shift in policy has already been seen with new signings Marc Cucurella, 24, from Brighton, and Carney Chukwuemeka, 18, from Aston Villa both agreeing six-year deals.

Improved deals for academy graduates

Boehly also wants to tie the club’s existing young players to longer contracts. Academy graduates Mason Mount, Reece James and Armando Broja are among those Chelsea want to sign to extensions as soon as possible.

According to The Mail, the trio can expect to be offered improved deals of six years, with an option of a further 12 months. The move is said to be indicative of the new owners’ desire to secure the futures of core members of the squad, while also maintaining their future transfer values in case of rival interest.

Liverpool hold first meeting with new Supporters Board and promise to ‘consult and engage with fans’

Liverpool’s directors have held their first meeting with the club’s new Supporters Board after signing a contract to officially establish the new group.

In a statement, the club said it has committed to “consult and engage with fans on key strategic issues”, such as matchday experience, ticketing arrangements and to give fans consent over heritage items.

It added that the commitment to engage with fans will be enshrined in the club’s Articles of Association.

“The Supporters Board will meet four times per year with executives and senior club staff to discuss strategic club issues and provide an open dialogue between club and supporters,” Liverpool said. “The chair and vice-chair will also meet with the board of directors annually.”

Two-year terms

The Supporters Board is made up of 16 representatives, including 10 elected members of the Spirit of Shankly supporters group and six elected members from other fan organisations or experts in their field. Representatives will be in place for two-year terms.

Joe Blott has been elected as the chairperson of the Supporters Board. Blott is also chair of the Spirit of Shankly group. The board’s vice-chairperson will be elected in the coming weeks.

Lyon’s new owner John Textor to consider bringing in facial recognition for stadium entry and purchases

John Textor has said he will consider introducing facial recognition at Lyon to help with the entry of fans into the stadium and purchases once inside the ground.

The American businessman, who is due to become the Ligue 1 club’s new owner after agreeing a takeover deal back in June,made his fortune through special effects in the world of cinema.

He told L'Equipe that he plans to bring in a system already in use at Brazilian club Botafogo, which he took over in January.

"To become a member of Botafogo, you scan your face on a dedicated app. If you want to come to the stadium, you just have to put your face in front of a screen that recognises you thanks to the one stored on the application,” he explained.

Credit card registered

“We know who you are, where you're sitting, you don't have to take out your smartphone or print a ticket. The principle is the same if you want to buy a drink. Your credit card is registered and you just have to scan your face.

“This app can be used to vote for jersey colours or logos. Your face is your ballot, your ticket, your means of payment and your way of communicating with the club."

The pressure on Manchester United’s owners, the Glazer family, is set to intensify following the release of a statement from the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) in response to the team’s woeful start to the season.

The supporters' group, one of the largest in the world with over 200,000 members, said it will "demand answers" from those running the club after a "humiliatingly bad" start to the new campaign.

United have lost both of their opening Premier League games and currently sit bottom of the table. Manager Erik ten Hag cancelled the players' day off on Sunday following their 4-0 defeat at Brentford on Saturday.

Call for “real change”

The statement from MUST said: "This really does feel like rock bottom. The ultimate responsibility for the terrible state of our football club must lie with its owners, the Glazer family.

"It is now for them and their management team to explain to United fans just why we are in this state, and what they are going to do about it.

"We will be raising fan concerns directly with the club and demanding answers for supporters on issues including ownership, debt, dividends and team performance and the need for real change on all these fronts."

Jürgen Klopp hits back at Aleksander Ceferin over player workload comments

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has further ignited his war of words with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and reiterated concerns about player welfare and the expanding football calendar.

In an interview with German outlet Kicker, the Liverpool boss said: “Aleksander Ceferin comes out of the corner and makes a polemical statement that other people have to work much more. I know that – Mr. Ceferin doesn't have to tell me that."

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport back in June, Ceferin declared that "factory workers" in much less privileged positions are those with license to moan, following frequent complaints about fixture congestion from Klopp as well as Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Klopp told Kicker that he had "cleaned screws and, who knows, did everything. I know what working means." But, he said, football doesn't work without the players and is "only really nice when the best are on the field.”

“Only one direction where this leads”

He added: “The best should not have to be on the field every three days, because with this body, which the dear God has made available to us, it simply does not work even with all the training and scientific measures that we can now take. There is only one direction where this leads, and that is against the wall.”

Commenting on the global football calendar, he said: “Only new tournaments are invented. Now we are making the World Cup bigger so that other teams can also participate. We are also making the European Championships bigger, amazing! In every sport, the basic requirement for every performance is training. But we don't have time to train because we play all the time.”
 

FIFA suspends All India Football Federation and strips right to host U-17 Women’s World Cup

FIFA has suspended the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect due to “undue influence from third parties”, and has stripped the country of its right to host the U-17 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to take place in October.

The decision, taken unanimously by the Bureau of the FIFA Council, comes after the Supreme Court of India disbanded the AIFF in May and appointed a three-member committee to govern the game in the country, amend the AIFF’s constitution, and conduct elections that have now been pending for 18 months.

In response, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) sent a team led by AFC general secretary Windsor John to meet Indian football stakeholders and laid down a roadmap for the AIFF to amend its statutes by the end of July and subsequently conclude elections at the latest by 15th September.

In a statement, FIFA said: “The suspension will be lifted once an order to set up a committee of administrators to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee has been repealed and the AIFF administration regains full control of the AIFF’s daily affairs.”

Hopeful of positive outcome

Commenting on the U-17 Women’s World Cup, FIFA said it is “assessing the next steps with regard to the tournament and will refer the matter to the Bureau of the Council if and when necessary.”

It added: “FIFA is in constant constructive contact with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India and is hopeful that a positive outcome to the case may still be achieved.”