Leeds United have begun legal proceedings against Leicester City after serving a statement of claim linked to the club’s breach of profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), according to The Athletic. Leeds are seeking damages after missing out on automatic promotion from the Championship in the 2023/24 season.

Leeds decided to act following Burnley’s recent legal success against Everton. Burnley were awarded £35 million in compensation and interest after arguing Everton’s earlier PSR breach contributed to their relegation from the Premier League. Leeds’ claim includes specific losses as well as a request for an assessment of damages, with a hearing currently scheduled for next summer.

Leeds are expected to argue they would have secured automatic promotion had Leicester complied with PSR rules. Leicester finished top of the Championship in 2023/24, while Leeds ended the campaign in third place before losing the play-off final.

Burnley case provides legal framework

Last month, Burnley were awarded compensation after an independent commission concluded Everton’s PSR breach had, “On the balance of probabilities, … caused Burnley to be relegated.” Everton have said they will appeal that decision.

Although the Burnley ruling does not create a binding legal precedent, it has established a framework for similar claims. Leicester were deducted six points in the Championship last season after being found to have breached spending rules during their 2023/24 campaign.

UEFA federations discuss challenger to Gianni Infantino FIFA re-election bid

Several UEFA member associations are discussing backing a candidate to stand against Gianni Infantino in the next FIFA presidential election, according to a report from talkSPORT. Infantino confirmed at FIFA Congress in April that he intends to seek a third term and has been expecting to stand unopposed when the election takes place in November.

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin is not expected to challenge Infantino despite previous disagreements between UEFA and FIFA. Čeferin is instead willing to seek another term leading UEFA if no alternative candidate emerges.

Support has been discussed for other European figures, including Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Legia Warsaw owner Dariusz Mioduski. Al-Khelaifi is not seeking the role, while officials from several UEFA federations have also considered backing other candidates.

Nominations close in November

Outside Europe, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and CAF president Patrice Motsepe have also been linked with future FIFA presidential ambitions, although neither is expected to stand against Infantino in this election. Support from African, Asian and CONCACAF members for FIFA competition expansion plans could strengthen Infantino’s position.

Nominations for the FIFA presidential election close on 18 November, with the vote scheduled to take place the same day in Rabat, Morocco.

Bundesliga announce $100 million US broadcast deal with Versant

The Bundesliga have announced new US media rights agreements with Versant’s USA Sports and NBCUniversal’s Telemundo, with the partnerships beginning from the 2026/27 season. Under the deals, USA Sports will become the league’s exclusive English-language broadcaster, while Telemundo will hold the exclusive Spanish-language rights in the United States.

The English-language agreement is worth $100 million over five seasons, according to The Athletic, citing sources briefed on the negotiations. The Bundesliga’s US English-language rights will move from ESPN to a combination of USA Network and Fandango, with all 300-plus matches shown across the two platforms.

USA Network will broadcast at least 30 matches each season, with the remaining fixtures available free on the advertising-supported Fandango streaming service.

Spanish-language rights split

The Bundesliga also confirmed a separate three-year agreement with Telemundo for Spanish-language coverage. More than 100 matches per season will be shown on Telemundo and Universo, with every match available to stream on Peacock. The agreements mark the first time the Bundesliga have sold their English and Spanish-language rights in North America as separate packages.

ESPN previously held both the English and Spanish-language rights in the United States. ESPN paid around $30 million per season under the previous agreement, with the new English and Spanish-language deals together carrying a similar combined annual value.

EU court raises concerns over FIFA agent regulations

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that parts of FIFA’s Football Agent Regulations (FFAR) may be incompatible with EU law, while referring the case back to the German court that requested its interpretation to determine whether the disputed provisions are unlawful or justified.

The judgment concerns rules governing football agents’ activities, including representation, licensing, commissions and data-sharing requirements.

The court found that several provisions raise concerns under EU competition law, the freedom to provide services and data protection rules. Among them is a restriction preventing agents from approaching clients already tied to an exclusive representation agreement until the final two months of that contract.

The judges said that rule appears to favour incumbent agents, who can renegotiate existing agreements outside that period, potentially giving them an unjustified competitive advantage. The court also ruled that certain FIFA requirements to publish information on agents and transactions are incompatible with EU data protection rules.

FIFA welcomes ruling

The court also found that FIFA could hold a dominant position in markets for intermediary services linked to international transfers and the recruitment of professional players and coaches because of its regulatory and disciplinary powers.

In a statement, FIFA welcomed the judgment, saying it confirmed that certain restrictions, such as service fee caps and limits on multiple representation, may be justified under EU law where they pursue legitimate objectives and are necessary and proportionate.

Real Zaragoza confirm new majority ownership following investment agreement

Real Zaragoza have confirmed that investment platform A.GAIN will become the club’s new majority shareholder after signing a preliminary investment agreement with current owners Jorge Mas and Juan Forcén, the club have announced.

A.GAIN will initially hold 75 per cent of the club’s share capital before a planned capital increase leaves the new investors with a 60 per cent stake. Mas and Forcén will remain as minority shareholders with the remaining 40 per cent.

“A.GAIN joins the project alongside Jorge Mas and Juan Forcén… to form a group with all the capabilities needed to achieve a common objective: returning Real Zaragoza to the stability and competitiveness that their history and supporters demand,” the club said in a statement.

General manager appointed

Alongside the ownership change, Real Zaragoza have appointed Guido Baroli as the club’s new general manager. The Argentine executive will oversee the club’s day-to-day operations as the new ownership structure is put in place.

The transaction remains subject to the completion of the remaining approval processes before it is formally completed. Real Zaragoza said further details of the new owners’ plans for the club will be shared with supporters in the coming days.

A-League players reject pay deal ahead of new season

A-League Men and A-League Women players have unanimously rejected the Australian Professional Leagues' latest collective bargaining agreement (CBA) proposal, leaving Australia's top domestic football competitions without a new agreement ahead of the 2026/27 season. The previous CBA expired on June 30, and the decision means players could exercise their right to industrial action.

Negotiations between the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) began late last year, with both parties previously expecting a deal to be reached in early July. However, the players voted against the latest proposal at a meeting last week, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

PFA chief executive Beau Busch said the proposal had been rejected because players believed it "did not advance the players' and the game's collective interests". Busch said the A-Leagues delegates had formally ratified the decision and informed the APL that the CBA negotiation process had been exhausted.

APL weighs next move

The rejected offer included increasing the A-League Men salary cap by A$100,000 to A$2.7 million, limiting clubs to one marquee player outside the cap, and lifting the A-League Women salary cap from A$640,000 to A$775,000. It also proposed a 27 per cent increase in the minimum wage for women's players to almost A$35,000 per season.

APL chief executive Steve Rosich said the league had negotiated "in good faith" over the past eight months and was seeking clarification of the PFA's position before further discussions.

More than 70 Members of the European Parliament have called on the 27 European Union football associations to seek an investigation into FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, over the governing body's handling of the suspension of Folarin Balogun's one-match ban and its commitment to political neutrality, The Athletic reports.

The move follows FIFA's decision to allow the United States forward to play against Belgium after an independent disciplinary committee suspended his automatic suspension, despite an appeal from Belgium being rejected.

The letter, signed by 72 MEPs, asks European football associations, as FIFA members, to press for scrutiny of the decision-making process in the Balogun case. It follows a separate letter sent by 50 MEPs to FIFA on 29 June raising an ethics complaint over Infantino's relationship with US President Donald Trump and alleging repeated breaches of FIFA's neutrality obligations.

Infantino has denied influencing the process, stating: “FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them.”

MEPs cite FIFA statutes and ethics code

According to the letter, the MEPs argue that FIFA's statutes and code of ethics require political neutrality and provide member associations with grounds to seek an investigation. They also urged national associations to support previous calls from the Norwegian Football Federation and other MEPs for further scrutiny of Infantino's links with President Trump.

The latest intervention comes after UEFA criticised the suspension of Balogun's ban on Monday, describing the decision as “incomprehensible” and saying it had “crossed a red line”, adding to pressure on FIFA over its handling of the case.

European football revenues surpass €40 billion for first time

European football clubs generated more than €40 billion in combined annual revenue for the first time in the 2024/25 season, according to Deloitte’s Annual Review of Football Finance. Aggregate revenue across European leagues rose 13 per cent year on year, with the Big Five leagues accounting for more than half of the total.

The Premier League remained the highest-earning domestic competition, generating €8.1 billion in revenue, up 8 per cent on the previous season. Combined revenue across the Big Five leagues increased 6 per cent to €21.6 billionn, representing 54 per cent of European football’s total income. The Bundesliga reported revenue of more than €4.3 billionn, ahead of LaLiga’s €4.1 billion.

Serie A clubs increased their combined revenue by 4 per cent to €3 billion, while Ligue 1 revenue fell 15 per cent year on year to €2.2 billion.

Premier League losses widen

Deloitte’s report also found Premier League clubs recorded pre-tax losses of €1.1 billion in 2024/25, compared with €157 million a year earlier.

The increase in Premier League losses was driven primarily by higher transfer spending and a lack of substantial profits from one-off player sales.

Juventus appoint Frederic Massara as chief football officer

Juventus have appointed Frederic Massara as chief football officer, with the former AC Milan and AS Roma executive joining the club's football leadership team. In a club statement, Juventus said Massara will report directly to chief executive Giovanni Carnevali and oversee the management and development of the men's football department.

The club said Massara will work alongside sporting director Marco Ottolini as part of the men's football structure. The appointment comes as Juventus continue to reshape their executive team under Carnevali, while Ottolini remains in his current position.

Carnevali said the appointment would strengthen the club's organisational structure. “We are very happy to welcome Frederic to the great Juventus family. His expertise and deep knowledge of football represent an added value and fit perfectly with the professionals already within the club's organisational structure,” he said.

Chiellini takes expanded role

Juventus also confirmed that Giorgio Chiellini has been appointed Chief Club Affairs Officer. The club said the role will focus on strengthening relationships with football authorities, strategic stakeholders and sporting organisations in Italy and internationally.

Massara's responsibilities include helping define and implement Juventus' sporting strategy, while Chiellini's new position is intended to support the club's engagement with governing bodies and institutional partners.

Nice to pursue legal action against Marseille sporting director Lorenzi

OGC Nice have confirmed that they will launch legal proceedings against Olympique Marseille sporting director Gregory Lorenzi after he withdrew from an agreement to join the club despite having signed a contract. The announcement was made during Nice’s introductory press conference ahead of the new season.

Lorenzi had been expected to replace Florian Maurice as the head of Nice’s sporting policy after leaving Stade Brest. However, he later reversed his decision, resigned from his previous role and instead joined Marseille as successor to Medhi Benatia.

The dispute follows comments made by then-Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivère after the club’s Ligue 1 play-off victory over Saint-Etienne, when he warned there would be “financial repercussions” over Lorenzi’s decision. Speaking at the press conference, Rivère’s successor Maurice Cohen said: “He had signed his contract and then changed his mind. The club wants to be respected. We don’t give any favors.”

First hearing in September

Cohen said the first hearing in the case between Nice and Lorenzi is scheduled to take place in September.

He did not provide further details of the legal proceedings during the press conference.

Former Sheffield United owners file £35 million winding-up petition over unpaid debt

The former owners of Sheffield United have filed a winding-up petition against the club’s owners, COH Sports Bidco Limited, claiming they are owed more than £35 million.

The Guardian reports that the dispute has also prompted the English Football League (EFL) to examine allegations linked to changes in the club’s ownership structure.

COH Sports, led by Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy, completed a deal to buy Sheffield United from Prince Abdullah for about €134 million in December 2024. The first instalment was paid shortly afterwards, but later payments were delayed or missed. The club’s former owner, through his investment vehicle United World, has also raised the matter with the Independent Football Regulator.

The club’s current owners are understood to accept that about £35 millions remains outstanding and have confirmed that a new parent company has been introduced. They deny the ownership restructuring is connected to the unpaid balance, while discussions over a settlement, including a proposal to convert the debt into equity, have yet to produce an agreement.

EFL seeks observations from relevant parties

According to correspondence seen by The Guardian, United World alleges that shares in COH Sports Bidco Limited were transferred to Delaware-based 1919 Partners LLC to avoid paying the outstanding amount. The letter questions whether the owners continue to satisfy the EFL’s owners’ and directors’ test following the restructuring.

An EFL spokesperson said: “The EFL notes recent developments involving Sheffield United and has requested observations from the relevant parties in the context of EFL regulations. As this process is ongoing, we are not in a position to make any further comment at this time.”

De Laurentiis pair investigated as Bari faces liquidation request

Aurelio and Luigi De Laurentiis are under investigation by the Bari Public Prosecutor's Office over alleged false corporate communications and fraudulent bankruptcy, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Searches have been carried out at the offices of SSC Bari, SSC Napoli and Filmauro, the De Laurentiis family’s film production company and Bari’s parent company, as part of an investigation linked to the club’s financial position. Prosecutors have also requested the judicial liquidation of Bari.

The investigation follows an examination of Bari’s financial statements and related documents covering the period from 2019 to 2025. Prosecutors allege the club accumulated losses of around €30 million, resulting in a significant equity deficit and debt exposure without a recovery plan. They argue the club’s financial condition deteriorated through a series of transactions that contributed to their insolvency.

One focus of the investigation is Bari’s 2023 sale of goalkeeper Elia Caprile to Napoli for €2.2 million. Prosecutors allege the deal failed to reflect the intra-group nature of the transaction and did not include a future sell-on clause, despite Caprile later joining Cagliari in a deal reportedly worth around €8 million.

Napoli rejects allegations

In a statement, SSC Napoli said the value assigned to Caprile before the transfer was supported by an independent sworn appraisal and described the request to place Bari into judicial liquidation as “baffling”.

The club said Bari’s operating losses had been covered by the owners and that all parties were confident the matter would be resolved by the competent judicial authorities.

UEFA prepared to oppose Russia’s return to international football

UEFA is prepared to block the return of Russian teams to international football despite the International Olympic Committee’s provisional decision to lift the country’s suspension from global competition, according to The Guardian. The stance could put European football’s governing body at odds with FIFA, which has said it will review its position before deciding its next steps.

FIFA suspended Russian teams following the country’s invasion of Ukraine four years ago. While it has yet to announce any change, several national associations believe there is no realistic prospect of Russian sides being readmitted to European competitions or World Cup qualifying, which is organised by UEFA.

Leading associations, including those in England, Germany and France, remain opposed to Russia’s return. UEFA is also said to be wary of revisiting the backlash it faced after plans to reinstate Russian youth teams were abandoned three years ago.

FIFA reviewing position

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has previously indicated he would support Russia’s reintegration into international football. In February he said: “This ban has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred.”

Any attempt by FIFA to restore Russia’s participation could still face resistance if European teams threatened to boycott the World Cup. The issue also risks deepening tensions between FIFA and UEFA.

UEFA have sanctioned 14 clubs after concluding their financial sustainability assessments for the 2025/26 season, with Chelsea, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Juventus among those fined for breaches of its regulations. UEFA assessed compliance with the football earnings rule and the squad cost rule.

Newcastle United, Juventus, OGC Nice, Santa Clara, FC Astana and FK Partizan were found to have breached the football earnings rule, assessed for the first time over a three-year period covering the financial years ending in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Juventus agreed a three-year settlement and face a total fine of €20 million, while Newcastle agreed a similar settlement with a €10 million fine.

UEFA said the settlement agreements require the clubs to meet annual targets and achieve full compliance by the end of the 2028/29 season. Failure to meet those targets could trigger additional financial or sporting sanctions, including restrictions on registering new players or exclusion from future UEFA competitions.

Squad cost breaches

Aston Villa, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, OGC Nice, RC Strasbourg, AEK Athens, Fiorentina and Fenerbahçe were also fined for exceeding the rule limiting squad costs to 70 per cent of revenue. Strasbourg with €25 million and Aston Villa with €22.5 million received the largest penalties and will face restrictions on List A player registrations for UEFA competitions in 2026/27.

FK Vardar Skopje were fined €250,000 after UEFA found the club had submitted incomplete financial information. UEFA said the North Macedonian club would face exclusion from the next UEFA competition for which they qualify if the same offence is repeated within the next three seasons.

LFP director general Arnaud Rouger resigns ahead of governance overhaul

Arnaud Rouger, director general of the French Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), has resigned and will leave his role in early September following the adoption of legislation that will transform the league into a club-owned company. According to L’Équipe, Rouger informed members of the LFP board of his decision on Tuesday.

In a message to board members, Rouger said the parliamentary approval of the sports governance bill made it clear that the LFP’s organisational structure would change in the coming months. He said the activities of both the LFP and its commercial subsidiary, LFP Media, would move into a new framework centred on the future club company.

Rouger said the reforms would “modify profoundly” the scope of his current responsibilities, adding that he believed “my mission was naturally coming to an end with the opening of this new stage”.

25 years at the LFP

Rouger has worked at the LFP for 25 years and has served as director general for the past six alongside president Vincent Labrune. In his message, he described the period as one marked by projects, crises and challenges, and thanked Labrune for his trust as well as board members for their support since September 2020.

He said he would continue overseeing the league’s work during the summer, including preparations for the 2026/27 season, before departing.

Prosecutors seek two-year prison terms for Udinese executives in Mandragora case

Prosecutors in Udine have requested two-year prison sentences for Udinese president Franco Soldati and vice-president Stefano Campoccia over the capital gains case linked to Rolando Mandragora’s transfer from Juventus, according to Calcio e Finanza.

The case relates to the 2018 transfer of Mandragora from Juventus to Udinese, which included a €20 million buy-back option. According to the prosecution, however, the clause was not a genuine option but concealed an irrevocable obligation for Juventus to re-sign the midfielder, who returned to the Turin club two years later.

Prosecutors argue that the structure of the deal enabled Udinese to record a capital gain of more than €3 million and resulted in Ires tax evasion exceeding €400,000. Soldati, Campoccia and Udinese face charges including false corporate communications, fraudulent tax declarations and Ires tax evasion, although the allegations differ between the defendants.

Defence seeks acquittal for Campoccia

Campoccia’s legal team requested an acquittal, arguing that no offence had been committed. Campoccia also serves on the FIGC Federal Council as Serie A’s representative alongside Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini and Inter’s Giuseppe Marotta, with the body recently reconfirmed.

The positions of Soldati and Udinese will be discussed on 15 September, when the judge overseeing the preliminary hearing is also expected to deliver a ruling

CAF rejects proposal to expand Africa Cup of Nations to 28 teams

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rejected a proposal to expand the Africa Cup of Nations from 24 to 28 teams, according to The Guardian. The proposal, put forward by CAF president Patrice Motsepe earlier this year, would have applied from the 2028 tournament if approved.

The decision was taken following a round-robin vote of CAF’s executive committee, with two committee members, speaking anonymously, saying the proposal was rejected. One of the members said the expansion plan had been “soundly rejected” and described it as unnecessary.

A second executive committee member told The Guardian that Motsepe had presented the proposal without consulting the committee. CAF communications director Luxolo September said discussions on the future of the competition remain broader than a single issue, adding: “The conversation on the Caf Africa Cup of Nations format is an ongoing discussion within Caf.”

Format remains under discussion

September said CAF’s leadership has spent the past two years discussing ways to make its competitions, particularly the Africa Cup of Nations, “world-class”, describing the format debate as part of a wider review rather than a standalone proposal.

The next Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in June and July 2027.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the mandatory hydration breaks introduced at the 2026 World Cup, saying the measure has benefited players and could be retained at future tournaments. He also rejected suggestions that football’s governing body is generating additional income from the stoppages.

According to FIFA, the three-minute breaks, held midway through each half, were introduced to help players cope with the high temperatures during the tournament.

However, the pauses have drawn criticism from some players, coaches and supporters, who argue they disrupt the flow of matches and alter the character of the game. Hydration breaks have been applied across all matches rather than only those played in hotter conditions.

Infantino said a selective approach could create an uneven playing field by giving some coaches additional opportunities to influence matches while denying the same opportunity to others. He also argued the breaks may have contributed to maintaining the intensity of matches throughout the full 90 minutes and said FIFA would assess whether to continue the practice in future competitions.

"No additional revenue"

Critics have also questioned whether the breaks were introduced to benefit broadcasters, some of whom use the stoppages to show additional advertising.

In a statement, Infantino said FIFA's commercial agreements had been agreed before the decision to introduce the breaks and that the measure was not linked to additional income. “There is no additional revenue for FIFA, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance,” he said, adding that the decision was “purely a sporting matter”.
 

Bale-led investment vehicle targets football club acquisition

Former Wales and Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale is seeking to acquire a controlling stake in a football club through the $500 million sports investment vehicle established with US private equity firm Juggernaut Capital Partners. Bale told Reuters that he and Juggernaut founder and managing partner John Shulam are assessing potential opportunities.

The former player said club ownership had long interested him, but that a suitable opportunity had not emerged until his discussions with Shulam. The partnership combines Bale’s experience from professional sport with Juggernaut’s investment expertise.

Bale said several clubs were under consideration, including Cardiff City, but indicated no decision had been made. “Cardiff may be an option, it may not be, but it's just one of many,” he told Reuters.

Ownership strategy

Shulam said the group’s objective is to secure a controlling position rather than a minority holding in a larger club. He said the strategy was focused on acquiring an asset where the partnership could influence decision-making and operations directly.

Beyond football, Shulam said the investment vehicle plans to deploy capital across other areas of sport, including golf, youth sports and women’s sport. He added that the group expects to announce its first investment in a women’s professional team in the near future, arguing that women’s sport has received insufficient attention from investors.
 

Kang's Lyon acquisition see valuation plummit

Michele Kang's agreed takeover deal to acquire an 87.78 per cent stake in Olympique Lyonnais was completed for a €26.3 million fee, according to a statement from Eagle Football Group.

Eagle Football Group said Kang would purchase all shares held by Eagle Bidco, its holding company, for the figure which contrasts with the valuation attached to Lyon when John Textor took control in 2022, in a deal that valued the club at above €800 million.

The transaction also includes additional financial commitments as Kang will inject up to €71 million of new funding into Lyon and has agreed to repay debt owed to Eagle Bidco’s principal lenders.

Debt repayment

Eagle Football Group said the transaction is intended to provide “new funding and stability” for Lyon as Kang has "personally committed to repaying the debt owed to Eagle Bidco's main lenders". EFG referred to approximately €232.6 million of subordinated debt as part of the club’s financial position.

The proposed transaction would remove Lyon from Eagle Football Group and place the club within a new structure called OL Group. The deal remains subject to regulatory approval.
 

Genoa capital increase upheld by court in A-Cap challenge

A court in Genoa has rejected a legal challenge by ACM Delegate LLC, a company controlled by A-Cap Holding LLC, against the capital increase that enabled Romanian businessman Dan Sucu to take control of Genoa, according to Calcio e Finanza.

The ruling, published on Wednesday, confirms the validity of the capital increase approved on 14 December 2024. The transaction provided new funds to support the club’s financial position and resulted in Sucu becoming Genoa’s controlling shareholder.

A-Cap had argued that the resolution was invalid on several grounds, including its alleged exclusion from the shareholders’ meeting, the removal of subscription rights, a lack of notice regarding the meeting and what it described as a conflict of interest involving a vote cast by 777 Genoa Holdings. The court rejected those arguments and upheld Genoa’s position.

Genoa arguments accepted

The decision follows two earlier precautionary rulings that had also gone against A-Cap. The court’s judgment runs to more than 50 pages and accepted Genoa’s arguments in full.

The court also ordered ACM Delegate LLC to pay legal costs. The ruling is immediately enforceable and confirms the validity of the process that led to the change of control at Genoa, although A-Cap may still consider further legal action.
 

Tottenham put sporting director hunt on hold

Tottenham Hotspur have put their search for a new sporting director on hold until the end of the summer transfer window, according to minutes from a recent meeting between club executives and the Fan Advisory Board (FAB). The club had been expected to appoint another senior recruitment figure following Fabio Paratici’s departure in February.

Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham told supporters’ representatives on 16 June that appointing a sporting director was no longer an immediate priority. Johan Lange, head coach Roberto De Zerbi and newly appointed director of football operations Rafi Moersen are overseeing recruitment during the current transfer window.

Addressing speculation around the role, Venkatesham said the club would only make an appointment if it found someone capable of strengthening the existing structure. He added: “No-one has been in a process and turned us down. Many names in the media linked with us, we have never even spoken to.”

Lange defended

Venkatesham also defended Lange amid criticism from supporters, saying the Dane and De Zerbi work closely on football decisions and recruitment planning.

Club leadership also reflected on Tottenham’s 2025/26 campaign, which ended with the team narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of the season. Non-executive chairman Peter Charrington and Venkatesham both described the campaign as “unacceptable” during the meeting.
 

Lazio ordered to pay compensation in pregnancy contract dispute

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ordered Lazio Women to pay more than €69,000 in compensation to former player Maja Gothberg after ruling that the club unlawfully ended its employment relationship with her following the disclosure of her pregnancy in 2024.

CAS partially upheld Gothberg’s appeal against a previous FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber decision that had dismissed her claim. The panel found that a binding agreement existed between the parties despite the absence of a signed and registered contract.

Gothberg played a regular role in Lazio’s promotion-winning campaign to Serie A during the 2023/24 season and had negotiated terms for a new contract. CAS found that agreed financial conditions, draft agreements and arrangements for her return to Rome supported the existence of a binding employment relationship.

"About being treated fairly"

Lazio argued that no contract had been formed and denied discrimination. However, CAS ruled that the club had not demonstrated that their decision was unrelated to Gothberg’s pregnancy and also found that an assistant coach disclosed her pregnancy to players without her consent. FIFPro said the decision confirmed that maternity protections in football provide enforceable rights for players.

The ruling awarded Gothberg €64,000, equivalent to the value of the proposed one-year deal, plus interest. CAS also awarded compensation for the disclosure of her pregnancy, which it considered sensitive medical information. Gothberg said: “This case was never only about football. It was about being treated fairly and with respect at an important moment in my life.”

Michele Kang is set to become the sole majority shareholder of Olympique Lyon after reaching an agreement with Ares, the main creditor of Eagle Football Bidco, and Cork Gully, the liquidator of the holding company that controls around 87 per cent of the French club.

In a statement, Lyon said the agreement would increase Kang’s stake in the club and would see her commit up to €71 million in funding, rising to €75 million including transaction costs.

The transaction remains subject to approval from France’s national directorate for financial control (DNCG), which is expected to decide in the coming days whether Lyon will be permitted to remain in Ligue 1.

Set to leave Eagle Football structure

If approved, the deal would result in Lyon leaving the Eagle Football group and returning to the OL Groupe structure that previously owned the club.

The club said OL Groupe would remain listed on the stock exchange following completion of the transaction.

Real Madrid to take CVC case to Supreme Court after appeal dismissal

Real Madrid have announced plans to appeal to Spain’s Supreme Court after the Madrid Provincial Court dismissed a joint appeal by the club and Athletic Club against LaLiga’s agreement with investment firm CVC Capital Partners.

The court upheld an earlier ruling issued in February 2024, which validated the transaction underpinning LaLiga’s Liga Impulso project. Real Madrid said it respected the judgment but disagreed with its conclusions and considered that key legal, economic and institutional issues had not been sufficiently addressed.

In a statement, the club said the ruling failed to provide “a sufficient response to issues of extraordinary legal, economic and institutional relevance for the present and future of Spanish professional football”.

Real Madrid said the court’s decision was largely based on the view that CVC’s remuneration constitutes a cost linked to the commercialisation of audiovisual rights and that the operation does not affect clubs that chose not to participate. The club rejected that interpretation, arguing that the agreements directly affect the management of audiovisual rights, LaLiga’s economic framework and the interests of all clubs in the competition.

CVC agreement

The disputed agreement forms part of LaLiga’s Liga Impulso project, launched in 2021. Under the deal, CVC committed to invest €1.9 billion in exchange for a share of the league’s future audiovisual rights revenues over a multi-decade period.

The arrangement was approved by LaLiga clubs, with 38 of the 42 professional teams then competing in Spain’s top two divisions opting to participate. Real Madrid and Athletic Club were among the clubs that opposed the transaction.

Gladbach CEO Stegemann reopens debate over investor involvement

Borussia Mönchengladbach chief executive Stefan Stegemann has raised the possibility of future investor involvement at the Bundesliga club, suggesting that external capital could be considered if it aligned with the club’s values.

Speaking on the club’s podcast 'FohlenPodcast – Standpunkte', Stegemann said Borussia still had options to explore as they look for ways to strengthen their financial position. He pointed to initiatives at other German clubs, including co-operative models adopted by Hamburger SV, Schalke 04 and FC St. Pauli.

The comments come as Mönchengladbach prepare to begin a new stadium naming-rights agreement with energy services company Ista on 1 July. The deal will see the club’s stadium renamed Ista-Borussia-Park under a contract running until at least June 2031.

Funding options remain open

Stegemann, who succeeded long-serving finance executive Stephan Schippers at the start of 2025, said a future sale of stakes in the club could not be ruled out. He suggested that investor participation might be possible within a co-operative ownership structure.

“Maybe within the framework of a co-operative model there is the option to say that you are also comfortable with one or another investor because they would fit Borussia and the values of the club well,” Stegemann said in the club podcast.

Leeds United are considering legal action against Leicester City following a ruling that ordered Everton to pay almost £40 million in compensation to Burnley over a breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

According to The Times, Leeds are examining whether Leicester’s financial rule breaches affected the club’s fortunes in both the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. Leeds and Leicester were both relegated from the Premier League in 2022/23, while Leicester secured automatic promotion the following season as Leeds lost in the Championship play-offs.

Leicester were deducted six points last season after being found to have breached spending rules during the 2023/24 campaign, a sanction that contributed to their relegation to League One.

Ruling impact

The Burnley ruling is expected to be closely watched by clubs considering potential compensation claims linked to the 130 Premier League charges facing Manchester City, with several sides reportedly already preparing legal action should the club be found guilty of breaching the rules.

Leeds previously reached an undisclosed out-of-court settlement with Everton over the Merseyside club’s PSR breach after finishing one place and one point behind them in the Premier League.
 

Real Madrid submit ‘new evidence’ to UEFA and urge reopening of Negreira case against Barcelona

Real Madrid have informed UEFA that they have submitted what the club describe as new evidence in the Negreira case and have called for the immediate reopening of disciplinary proceedings against FC Barcelona.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Real Madrid said they had provided UEFA’s disciplinary bodies with documents which they believe strengthen existing indications of long-term payments made by Barcelona to José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice-president of the Spanish Football Federation’s Technical Committee of Referees.

The club said the material pointed to “prolonged, opaque payments” made through different corporate structures and argued that the transactions lacked “any verifiable justification”.

Integrity threat

Real Madrid said the alleged conduct represented a threat to the integrity of sporting competitions, claiming it suggested the existence of an improper mechanism of influence over referees that was incompatible with principles of neutrality, impartiality and equal treatment between competitors.

The club urged UEFA to adopt any disciplinary or corrective measures it considered appropriate and said it would continue to pursue steps aimed at ensuring such matters do not go unpunished.

Barcelona and several former club officials remain under investigation over payments of more than €7.3 million made to Negreira between 2001 and 2018. The club have denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the payments were for reports and advice relating to refereeing matters.
 

Gareth Bale launches $500 million sports investment fund alongside private-equity firm

Former Wales captain Gareth Bale has partnered with private-equity firm Juggernaut Capital Partners to launch a $500 million sports investment fund targeting opportunities across North America and Europe.

The fund, named Juggernaut Diversified Sports, will invest in sports teams, leagues and related businesses in both men’s and women’s sports. It will also consider opportunities in the youth sports sector.

Bale has previously been linked with takeover bids for his former club Cardiff City as well as Plymouth Argyle.

Preparing first investment

John Shulman, founder of Juggernaut Capital Partners, said the fund was already preparing its first investment. “We’re within about 60 days of making our first investment into a professional women’s sports team,” he said, adding that the group expects women’s sport to form part of its wider investment platform.

According to Juggernaut, the strategy will focus on acquiring and developing sports properties rather than taking passive stakes in established organisations. The firm said it sees opportunities across multiple segments of the sports industry.
 

UEFA imposes €10 million fine on Marseille alongside suspended European expulsion

UEFA has fined Olympique de Marseille €10 million and imposed a suspended competition exclusion and transfer ban after determining that the French club failed to meet financial sustainability requirements for the 2025/26 season.

The ruling by the First Chamber of UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) includes a €6 million penalty for breaching revenue-related regulations and a further €4 million fine after Marseille’s squad cost ratio exceeded the 70 per cent limit in the 2025 calendar year.

UEFA also said Marseille will be barred from registering new players for European competitions in 2026/27 and face exclusion from the next UEFA club competition for which they qualify within the following three seasons. However, those measures will only take effect if the club fail to meet financial targets set for 2026/27.

The governing body noted that Marseille’s finances had been affected by the decline in audiovisual revenue in France, but confirmed that the club had not achieved the profitability target agreed under UEFA’s sustainability framework.

Roma sanctioned

AS Roma were also sanctioned following UEFA’s review. The Italian club received a total fine of €6 million, comprising a €2 million penalty for slightly exceeding an intermediate financial target for the 2025 fiscal year and a further €4 million after their squad cost ratio rose above the 70 per cent threshold in 2025.

Seven clubs were announced to have complied with their settlement agreement thus exiting the settlement regime. These were AC Milan, AS Monaco, Beşiktaş JK, Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Royal Antwerp and Trabzonspor A.S
 

US fund set to take control of Frosinone to form MCO

Frosinone Calcio are set for a change of ownership following their return to Serie A, with club president Maurizio Stirpe reportedly preparing to sell a controlling stake to US investment fund Gamechanger 20, the owner of English club Ipswich Town, thus establishing a multi-club ownership group covering Premier League and Serie A.

Gamechanger 20 is the majority shareholder of Ipswich Town after securing a 90 per cent stake from Marcus Edwards in 2021. The fund is owned by Portman Holdings alongside Clara Vista Partners, ORG Portfolio Management and the Three Lions Fund. Three Lions is led by Brett Johnson and Berke Bakay, and also holds stakes in US clubs Phoenix Rising and Rhode Island FC.

Italian media report that discussions over a deal have been ongoing for around six months. Details of the transaction, including the ownership split and board composition, are expected to be announced on 1 July. Stirpe is expected to remain involved with the club and could continue as president.

Lazio owner close to Reggina takeover

Meanwhile, SS Lazio owner Claudio Lotito is close to acquiring Serie D side AS Reggina. According to Italian media, Lotito has submitted an offer of €2 million for the club, with current owner Nino Ballarino now considering the proposal amid continued interest from Underdog Global Partners' Matt Rizzetta.

A deal could be completed in the coming days, although the structure of the investment remains unclear. It is not yet known whether Lotito would acquire the club directly or alongside partners.
 

Former NBA player proposes €55 million investment in Liga F

Pau Gasol’s investment vehicle, Gasol16 Ventures, has proposed a €55 million investment in Liga F as the women’s football competition seeks to strengthen its commercial model and expand its international presence.

The proposal is due to be presented to clubs at an Extraordinary Assembly scheduled for 29 June. According to Spanish media reports, the transaction would rank among the largest private capital investments made in a women’s football league.

The investment is intended to support the competition’s growth in domestic and international markets while providing a long-term framework for Liga F and its member clubs.

Investment focus

Gasol16 Ventures, which invests in sports, health and wellness businesses, said the proposal is designed to help increase the visibility of women’s sport and attract additional capital to the sector.

The former NBA player has previously invested in women’s sports properties, including the WNBA and NWSL side Bay FC.

FIFA has a new set of transfer regulations. But for clubs and players, one of the questions those rules raise is harder to answer than the headlines suggest: what will it actually cost when someone breaches a contract?

On 10 June, the Bureau of the FIFA Council approved a new permanent regulatory framework for the global transfer system, known as Transfer System 2027. The revised Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) were developed through negotiations with FIFPRO, European Football Clubs and the World Leagues Association, with the participation of UEFA and CONMEBOL.

The reform was triggered by the Court of Justice of the European Union’s ruling in the Lassana Diarra case, which found FIFA’s previous transfer rules incompatible with EU law, partly because of how unpredictable the financial consequences of breaching a contract could be.

Of everything in the new package, the rules on compensation for breach of contract are among the most consequential - and the least settled. Without a fixed formula on either side, establishing what a breach is worth now falls to the clubs and players themselves, whether agreed in a contract in advance or argued out case by case if a dispute arises. 

As a result, clubs may need to devote more attention to defining and documenting player value if they want to minimise the risk of losing significant assets at below-market compensation.

Off The Pitch has spoken to three people closely involved in, or familiar with, the process to understand what will actually change.

No formula, just criteria

Omar Ongaro spent almost two decades at the centre of FIFA’s transfer regulations, most recently as football regulatory director. Under the previous rules, he explains, there was a fixed formula for calculating compensation owed by a club that breached a contract, but no equivalent formula on the player side, an asymmetry FIFPRO had long criticised.

Many within football expected the solution would be the introduction of a parallel formula for players. That is not what happened.

“Now we have uncertainty on both sides because on both sides, you just have criteria, but it’s quite open,” Ongaro says.

Under the new regulations, both the club and the player are entitled to full compensation for damage caused by a breach. The regulations now set out the elements that should be considered, including the value of the player’s services, any lost transfer fee or transfer value, replacement costs, the residual value of the contract that was breached and any other damage caused. None of these elements amounts to a fixed formula.

“Each circumstance, each case needs to be demonstrated by the parties and then be assessed individually by the tribunal,” he says.

Agreeing the number in advance

Former head of regulatory enforcement at FIFA and currently head of legal network at Agentic Football, Jacques Blondin, believes clubs and players now face a choice when signing contracts: agree in advance what compensation should be in the event of a breach, or leave the issue unresolved and determine the figure through legal proceedings if a breach occurs.

He sees risks in setting the amount either too high or too low. An 18-year-old who has never played first-team football is difficult to assign a proportionate figure to. Set it too high and the player may refuse to sign; set it too low to ensure it survives a proportionality test and a club risk being significantly undercompensated if the player later becomes far more valuable.

That is not a decision a club can make once and apply uniformly, it is a judgment that has to be made for every individual player.

“You can always try to challenge the validity of this liquidated damage clause. And if it’s clearly disproportionate, a tribunal can always reduce it,” he says.

Where no such clause exists, Blondin says, the outcome ultimately comes down to bargaining power.

He argues that the lesson of the Diarra ruling applies in both directions.

He also suggests that data-driven valuation models could help clubs and players establish compensation mechanisms that evolve with a player's market value and contractual situation.

Such a model, he argues, could allow a liquidated damages figure to move with a player's situation rather than being fixed at signing, accounting for how a player's value evolves, how much of the contract remains, and which club is involved, since the damage suffered is unlikely to be the same whether a player ends up at a mid-table club in a smaller league or at a top club in a leading division.

“What the Diarra case told us is that a pre-agreed liquidated damage clause could be very interesting in order to predict or assess the risk of what a club could lose in case the player decides to breach the contract,” he said. Such a clause, he added, “can also be in favour of the player,” he says. 

Putting a price on the market

According to Ongaro, the one genuinely new element in the calculation is the formal recognition of the transfer market itself. For the first time, lost transfer fees or transfer value can be considered by the deciding body when assessing what a player owes a club for breaching a contract.

Maheta Molango, chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and a board member of FIFPRO, describes this as one of the central trade-offs within the wider agreement.

He points to a pattern that emerged during recent transfer windows, with high-profile players who did not have release clauses arguing that, following the Diarra ruling, they could terminate contracts and pay compensation significantly below their market value.

That dynamic, he says, prompted clubs to seek a different solution.

“This is a massively important agreement for the clubs, because it means that all of a sudden their assets are secured,” Molango says, describing the players’ acceptance of transfer value within compensation calculations as a significant concession.

“There was a huge concession made to try to find a solution, which means that the clubs finally, after nearly two years of insecurity, now know that their main assets are secured. So this is not an insignificant concession made by the players,” he says. 

Ongaro also expects the change to influence contract drafting in some ways.

“What could have an impact is that after the Diarra ruling, contracts more often had these buyout clauses and now probably they are not necessary anymore because even the calculation of compensation takes transfer fees into account,” he says.

Beyond compensation

Molango describes the wider agreement as consisting of different main components. One is the Memorandum of Understanding itself, which he views as a fundamental change to football governance and one of the key reasons FIFPRO pursued legal action.

“We never filed a claim with the idea to create a problem. We filed a claim because we felt that we were not heard, and we found that unfortunately that was the only way we could make a long-term change,” he says.

The second component is the RSTP itself. Among the changes Molango highlights are provisions under which players earning €150,000 or less per year will receive 5 per cent of any future transfer fee. He describes the measure as unprecedented. He also points to the reactivation of a fund covering players who go unpaid, which he says had effectively been frozen by FIFA.

“This deal effectively gives enhanced protection to the vast majority of players. But in particular, it looks after those who are more exposed and more vulnerable,” he says.

A compromise, not an earthquake

Both Ongaro and Blondin describe the outcome in similar terms: not the radical overhaul that once appeared possible, but a negotiated compromise.

Ongaro describes FIFA’s approach as having “made a U-turn and found a way to save the whole thing,” and assessed the resulting framework positively.

“I think this is quite a good piece of work. I think it’s quite balanced,” he says, adding that “the most important thing is that it’s now backed again by all the stakeholders”.

He concludes that this broad support could only benefit the system.

Blondin describes the outcome as “a compromise where they maintained some solid pillars of the old transfer system and modernised those that needed to be modernised”.

Molango is more measured, describing the agreement as positive but overdue. He says it remains to be seen whether its progressive direction can be maintained. For players, he argues, the practical application of the rules will matter more than the wording of the agreement itself.

He also identifies the football calendar as a major unresolved issue, describing it as overloaded and insufficiently focused on the quality of the product on the pitch.

“We remain of the view that, not just for the sake of the players, but for the sake of the industry, we need to find a solution to the calendar”.

“We are working intensively and confidently in trying to find a solution, but as of today it’s still outstanding, so there’s still one major topic that needs to be solved before we can feel completely satisfied,” he says. 

For Molango, the most significant structural change is procedural.

“The most important thing about this agreement is that any change in the future will need to be agreed,” he says.

Justice for players

The Memorandum of Understanding between FIFA and FIFPRO does not only cover future rules. As part of the agreement, FIFPRO, its member unions and its confederations have committed to withdrawing all pending legal action against FIFA and to refraining from initiating or supporting further legal action outside football’s regulatory framework.

That commitment does not extend to Justice for Players, a separate Dutch class action brought on behalf of more than 100,000 current and former professional footballers who played under FIFA transfer rules between 2002 and today.

In a statement following the FIFA–FIFPRO agreement, the Justice for Players Foundation welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding as a positive step for the future of the game but said it does not address compensation for players it argues suffered financial losses under rules that the Court of Justice has since ruled unlawful.

“A new era for the future must not come at the cost of justice for the past,” said Lucia Melcherts, chair of the Justice for Players Foundation.

The Foundation said it expects national player unions, which it said have supported affected members from the outset, to continue backing players involved in the legal action regardless of FIFPRO’s commitments under the Memorandum of Understanding.

Juventus FC have appointed Giovanni Carnevali as chief executive and general manager after reaching a mutual agreement with Damien Comolli to end his tenure as CEO and board member, the club announced.

Carnevali was also appointed to the board and will formally take on the role of general manager from 15 June.

Carnevali joins Juventus after a lengthy career in Italian football, most notably with Sassuolo, where he oversaw the club’s development both on and off the pitch. He has also served as a board member of Lega Serie A.

“I'm proud and honoured to join a club with such history and identity,” Carnevali said. He thanked the club, its majority shareholder and John Elkann for their confidence, adding that he would work with the organisation to pursue sustained growth and strengthen Juventus’ position domestically and internationally.

Comolli exits

Meanwhile, Juventus thanked Damien Comolli for his work during his time at the club and wished him success in his future career. The club’s statement said the separation was agreed by both parties and did not provide further details. However, the move follows a disappointing season on the pitch, with Juventus failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

The change comes less than a year after Comolli joined the club. The French executive arrived as general manager in June 2025 and was promoted to chief executive in November.

Manchester United increase long-term debt by $125 million after refinancing

Manchester United have increased their long-term debt by $125 million after refinancing borrowings linked to the Glazer family’s 2005 takeover of the club.

A filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission showed that United have refinanced $425 million of senior secured notes due to mature next year. The debt has been replaced with a new facility worth $550 million, extending the repayment date to 2031.

The new borrowing carries an interest rate of 5.36 per cent, compared with 3.79 per cent on the previous notes. According to The Athletic, the higher rate is expected to increase the club’s annual interest costs by about $13.4 million.

Debt burden remains high

The refinanced notes are one of two long-term debt facilities on United’s balance sheet, alongside a $225 million secured term loan. Both stem from Malcolm Glazer’s leveraged buyout of the club in 2005, which loaded substantial debt onto Manchester United.

The SEC filing said the proceeds would be used to repay the existing notes and for “general corporate purposes”. Following the refinancing, United’s total financial debt stands at $976 million, while outstanding transfer liabilities amount to $486 million, with $280 million due within the next 12 months.

Kretinsky to become West Ham’s largest shareholder

Daniel Kretinsky has agreed a deal to increase his stake in West Ham United from 27 per cent to 43 per cent after reaching an agreement with Vanessa Gold to acquire additional shares in the club.

Vanessa Gold inherited her father David Gold’s shareholding following his death in 2023. In a joint statement published by the club, Kretinsky said the move would allow him “to provide the additional financing the club needs” to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

The transaction will make the Czech billionaire the largest shareholder in West Ham, which were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2025/26 season and will compete in the Championship next term.

Regulator reviewing Sullivan situation

The agreement follows the resignation of former chairman David Sullivan, who stepped down while contesting allegations from several women that he abused his position of power in attempts to obtain sexual relationships, in claims dating back to the 1980s and 1990s.

Sullivan retains a 38.8 per cent stake in the club. The Independent Football Regulator is investigating the situation and has powers under its Owners, Directors and Senior Executives regime to determine whether individuals remain suitable to hold positions at clubs across the Premier League and English Football League.

FC Barcelona threaten Florentino Perez with legal action

FC Barcelona have initiated legal proceedings against Real Madrid president Florentino Perez over comments he made regarding the Negreira case, according to a statement issued by the club. The club said they have filed a request for conciliation, a legal step that allows Perez to withdraw the remarks before further action is taken.

The club said the filing was made under Article 205 of Spain’s Penal Code and relates to statements Perez made during a press conference on May 12 and in a media interview the following day. Barcelona added that they would pursue a criminal complaint if Perez does not retract the comments.

In the statement, Barcelona said the objective of the action is for Perez to withdraw remarks made “knowing them to be false”, adding that the comments were “slanderous and offensive to the image and reputation of the club”.

Perez comments targeted

Legal action follows comments made by Perez about the investigation into payments totalling €8.4 million made by Barcelona to former Spanish referees committee vice-president Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. Speaking at a press conference in May, Perez described the matter as “the biggest scandal in history”.

Perez also said Real Madrid were preparing a dossier on the case for UEFA and questioned suggestions that the issue should be forgotten.

Barcelona did not specify which remarks form the basis of the filing but said the proceedings relate to statements made on May 12 and May 13.

INEOS sale of OGC Nice collapses ahead of mid-June deadline

INEOS’ proposed sale of OGC Nice to an American investor has fallen through, according to a report from Nice-Matin, despite negotiations advancing ahead of a deadline set by the club’s owners.

The Ligue 1 club has been up for sale for more than a year after INEOS mandated advisory firm Lazard to identify potential buyers. American interest in acquiring Nice had been reported for several months and a deal was understood to be close.

Prospective investors had visited the club’s training ground as discussions progressed. However, Jean-Claude Blanc confirmed on Friday that the transaction would not go ahead. Nice-Matin reported that “financial safety and sporting stability” were not sufficiently assured by the proposed buyers.

Prepare to remain in charge

The collapse of the deal comes after a period of uncertainty on and off the pitch for Nice. The club only secured their place in Ligue 1 for next season at the end of May with a 4-1 victory over AS Saint-Étienne in the promotion/relegation play-off.

INEOS are now preparing on the basis that they will remain Nice’s owners for the 2026/27 season. The group, which also holds a minority stake in Manchester United, remains open to a sale if a new buyer emerges.

Three US investment groups show interest in Torino takeover

Three US-based investment groups have expressed interest in acquiring Torino FC, according to Tuttosport, which reported that the approaches have been collected by Bank of America as part of its work exploring strategic options for the club.

The parties involved are understood to be investment funds and sports-focused holding companies rather than individual investors. They are said to be assessing a possible entry into Italian football through the acquisition of Torino.

Bank of America has gathered the initial expressions of interest, although discussions remain at an early stage.

Valuation gap

The key issue is said to be the difference between the valuation attached to the club by prospective buyers and that sought by president Urbano Cairo.

Potential investors value Torino at less than €200 million, or close to that level, while Cairo is said to value the club well above that mark. The gap is currently viewed as the main hurdle to any more detailed negotiations.

Everton FC have been ordered to pay Burnley FC £35.1 million after an independent Premier League commission ruled that the club’s breach of Profitability and Sustainability Rules contributed to Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League in 2022.

The commission awarded Burnley £26 million in adjusted losses, plus £9.1 million in interest calculated to July 31, 2025. Burnley argued they would have avoided relegation had Everton received a six-point deduction during the 2021/22 season rather than in the following campaign.

The claim was heard by the same independent commission that originally imposed a 10-point deduction on Everton for breaching PSR regulations, a sanction later reduced to six points. Burnley pursued compensation under Premier League rules that allow clubs to seek damages for losses caused by another club’s rule breaches.

"Dangerous and unworkable precedent"

Everton have appealed the decision, describing the ruling as flawed and warning that it could create wider consequences for English football. The club said: “This ruling sets a dangerous and unworkable precedent for English football.”

The outcome and subsequent appeal are expected to be monitored closely across the Premier League, with several clubs understood to be considering compensation claims of their own if Manchester City are found guilty in the league’s ongoing case, according to The Times.
 

Real Madrid extend €120 million-a-year adidas partnership

Real Madrid have extended their technical sponsorship agreement with adidas for a further eight years, strengthening a commercial relationship that has spanned more than three decades. The club announced the renewal a day after confirming a separate extension of their shirt sponsorship deal with Emirates.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed by either party. However, Spanish media reported that the new contract is worth around €120 million per year, making it the largest technical sponsorship agreement in football.

Adidas will continue as Real Madrid’s official kit supplier, overseeing the design, production and sale of match, training and travel apparel across the club. Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez said the agreement was “the most important in the history of football”.

Shirt sponsorship income

The renewal forms part of Real Madrid’s wider commercial strategy to increase revenue from shirt-related partnerships. According to Diario AS, the club have targeted combined annual income of around €285 million from adidas, Emirates and technology partner HP.

The adidas announcement follows the extension of Real Madrid’s agreement with Emirates earlier this week, which will reportedly increase the club’s annual income from the airline to €100 million from next season. The deal announcements come after Pérez began a new presidential term following the club’s elections on Sunday.
 

West Ham owner Sullivan barred from youth and women’s teams since 2023

David Sullivan has been barred from contact with West Ham United’s youth and women’s teams since 2023 because of safeguarding concerns, according to The Times. The Football Association opened an investigation after being notified of historical allegations against the club owner, with restrictions understood to include preventing him from attending youth and women’s matches.

Sullivan said the measure was “a meaningless restriction”, arguing that he had no involvement with the club’s youth or women’s teams in any case, and added that he accepted it for “a quiet life” while the FA investigated a complaint that he denies.

The disclosure comes days after Sullivan resigned as West Ham’s joint-chair and director after becoming aware of the planned publication of what the club described as serious historic allegations against him. West Ham said it understood that none of the allegations related to the club or its operations.

Major partner concerned

Boyle Sports, West Ham's front-of-shirt sponsor for the 2025/26 season, has become the first commercial partner to comment publicly on the allegations facing Sullivan.

In a statement to The Athletic, the bookmaker said it was “extremely concerned” by the allegations and supported efforts by the Independent Football Regulator to review the matter. Sullivan has denied all allegations made against him, describing them as “factually incorrect and entirely false”.
 

Saudi Arabia launches sale process for several clubs amid privatisation drive

Saudi Arabia has opened the sale process for five clubs as part of its ongoing sports privatisation programme, according to local media.

The Ministry of Sport and the National Centre for Privatization & PPP have invited investors to express interest in acquiring Al Riyadh, Abha, Al Fateh, Al Tai and Al Shoulla. Interested parties have until 5 July to submit qualification documents.

The five clubs have completed the regulatory procedures required to enter the sale process, while additional clubs are being prepared for future offerings, with the timing of future sales expected to depend on the readiness of both clubs and prospective investors.

Separately, negotiations over the proposed sales of Al Najmah and Al Akhdoud are ongoing, with ownership transfers expected to follow the signing of final agreements.

PIF downscaling

The latest sales process follows the Public Investment Fund's disposal of a 70 per cent stake in Al-Hilal earlier this year.

The Saudi sovereign wealth fund has also reportedly explored bringing minority investors into Newcastle United as it seeks funding for the club's proposed stadium development.

Real Madrid have extended their sponsorship agreement with Emirates, ensuring the airline will remain the club’s main shirt sponsor until 2031. According to Spanish newspaper AS, the renewed deal is worth close to €100 million per season.

The reported figure would represent an increase from the previous agreement, which AS valued at between €70 million and €80 million annually. The new contract would make Real Madrid the highest-earning club in world football from a shirt sponsorship deal.

Emirates partnership eith Real Madrid began in 2011 and became the club's primary shirt sponsor in 2013.

Commercial relationship expands

Real Madrid said in a statement that Emirates branding will continue to feature across the men’s and women’s football teams, the basketball division and the club’s youth academy. The club also said the renewal makes “Fly Emirates” the longest-running shirt sponsor in LaLiga history.

Club president Florentino Pérez described the agreement as a reflection of the relationship between the two organisations.

“This agreement is a partnership that reflects the very special relationship we have built over the years. We have been and continue to be together during one of the most successful periods in our history.”

Lyon file criminal complaint against former management

Olympique Lyon have filed a criminal complaint against former management after an internal investigation allegedly identified unjustified financial flows worth several hundred million euros between May 2023 and June 2025, the club and parent company Eagle Football Group said on Monday.

The complaint, submitted to prosecutors in Lyon last week, relates to suspicions of embezzlement, the publication of false accounts and the dissemination of misleading information. Lyon said the allegations emerged from an internal review of transactions carried out during the period examined.

The move follows a dispute between the club’s current leadership and former president John Textor, who was replaced by Michele Kang last summer. Lyon and Eagle Football Group did not identify individuals targeted by the complaint.

Textor responds

Earlier this year, Textor filed a confidential criminal complaint against Kang, alleging corruption, abuse of corporate power, the presentation of inaccurate accounts and the dissemination of false or misleading information. He also reported the alleged violations to France’s markets regulator.

Responding in a separate statement, Textor said: “It is clear that the criminal complaint just filed by EFG is an attempt to shift the focus, away from Ms. Kang, as the investigations concerning our April complaint will soon reach critical milestones.” He added that he had publicly challenged Lyon’s accounting and described Eagle Football Group’s concerns about opaque transactions as “great irony”.

Iran say FIFA withdrew World Cup fan ticket allocation

Iran’s football federation (FFIRI) says FIFA has withdrawn the country’s allocation of supporter tickets for the 2026 World Cup, days before the tournament begins, leaving fans who had already made travel plans unable to access seats through official channels. The federation said it had started distributing tickets before being informed the allocation was no longer available.

Under FIFA regulations, each participating federation receives 8 per cent of tickets for its matches to distribute to supporters. Iran’s group-stage fixtures are scheduled against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, and Egypt in Seattle.

The FFIRI said the decision was “contrary to the spirit governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries”, and questioned whether political considerations had influenced the process.

Federation seeks FIFA response

The federation did not identify who made the decision but called on FIFA to uphold its principles of neutrality and fairness. FIFA had not publicly commented on the specific ticketing issue, although it has said it remains in dialogue with Iranian football officials.

The latest dispute follows months of uncertainty around Iran’s participation in the tournament. The team moved its training base from the US to Mexico amid visa and security concerns linked to regional conflict, while several members of the delegation were reportedly denied entry to the United States.