Football's Magic Money Tree

[Chester Perry]

It seems that Alex Hearn has conceded in the takeover race for West Brom and has also been magnanimous in defeat with regard to how the debt the current owner of the club will be repaid, including the removal of those eye-watering interest rates that were kicking in. All in all it seems like a series of wins for West Brom particularly as Chris Farnell no longer appears to be in the picture

from The Athletic

West Brom takeover edges closer as owner Guochuan Lai agrees to repay loan
https://archive.ph/mqJlU

Take over deal agreed, another American owner with a Florida connection

from The Telegraph

West Brom agree £60m takeover to end Guochuan Lai's turbulent reign
Florida-based businessman Shilen Patel agrees to buy 87.8 per cent shareholding in Championship club's parent company
https://archive.ph/Wbw6m

[Chester Perry]

So here it is - somewhat understated, but clear nevertheless. 777 Partners campaign of drip feeding Everton is now starting to see elements of the media wanting the Premier to make a decision before it has satisfied itself one way or another

from The Athletic

Everton’s 777 takeover delay is hurting everyone – it’s time for a decision
https://archive.ph/9KdsQ

[DAVETHEVICAR]

I think the delay is getting tiresome and it should be sorted out one way or another immediately.
Just my opinion of course

[Chester Perry]

I think the delay is getting tiresome and it should be sorted out one way or another immediately.
Just my opinion of course

But given the repeated stories of 777 Partners giving information late and/or with not enough detail behind you have to wonder where the delays are actually emanating from. There is certainly a pattern of delay in all other dealings the 777 Partners have across all their business interests and that includes football. It is just one of the reasons behind what Josh Wander freely admitted to a court last summer "I get sued a lot".

[Chester Perry]

For those who have read little or nothing about 777 Partners take the time out to read this latest article from Josimar Football about the players in the proposed takeover of Everton - some of it has been covered in previous posts, including contributions from The Esk - but what it clearly shows is that 777 partners have not been all that forthcoming about everything in regards to the Everton acquisition

Everton or bust?
A new document reveals who exactly is behind attempts by 777 Partners to acquire Everton, and just how badly the Miami investment firm needs Premier League approval for the deal.
https://josimarfootball.com/2024/02/16/everton-or-bust/
https://archive.ph/15K8L

[Chester Perry]

Breaking from The Times - this seems a pretty fundamental question, which 777 Partners should have provided appropriate evidence for by now

Premier League asks 777 Partners to show they can fund Everton
American company has agreed to buy Farhad Moshiri’s 94 per cent stake but it appears the English top flight still has fundamental misgivings about the takeover
https://archive.ph/m1Cp2

[Chester Perry]

Meanwhile it seems 777 Partners are losing yet another executive - Chief Financial Officer Damien Alfalla

from Semafor - and also being reported by Bloomberg, the Journalists note at the end of the article is quite the statement

777’s CFO resigns with Everton bid pending
https://archive.ph/iDvYn

[Chester Perry]

Meanwhile it seems 777 Partners are losing yet another executive - Chief Financial Officer Damien Alfalla

from Semafor - and also being reported by Bloomberg, the Journalists note at the end of the article is quite the statement

777’s CFO resigns with Everton bid pending
https://archive.ph/iDvYn

Paul Brown who has been writing about 777 Partners with Philippe Auclair for Josimar has posted this about the the 777 Partners CFO leaving

"Been told this is part of a “gigantic exodus” from 777."
https://twitter.com/pbsportswriter/stat ... 2471094426

[bfcjg]

Everton fans should be clearly worried, the posters they hold up slagging of the Premier league and corruption everywhere etc yet they want to get " in bed " with this bunch...unbelievable. They need to realise that the rules are being ( hopefully) enforced to protect clubs.

[Wile E Coyote]

probably better thinking the game is clean , decades of fans had no interest or conversations about financing.
It presumably stank back then too. But thesedays the journalists celebrate unearthing the essence of corruption and double dealing. We as supporters nail our colours to various masts, but its obvious we are being fleeced and talked down to. The offices of the football clubs are intent on doing filthy deals that are totally at odds with what a great game football can be.

[RammyClaret61]

I found it funny this week when the Ratcliffe/Man U deal was given the go ahead. Everton fans were first on the scene wanting to know how that was done so quickly, when theirs is still ongoing. Stating more evidence of a corrupt FA and just against Everton.
Also with their points deduction. Why so quick when nothing for Man City? No grasp of the fact Everton pleaded guilty. Or that city’s is so complicated, and they’re not assisting with the inquiry. It’s just all a plot against Everton.

[Chester Perry]

I found it funny this week when the Ratcliffe/Man U deal was given the go ahead. Everton fans were first on the scene wanting to know how that was done so quickly, when theirs is still ongoing. Stating more evidence of a corrupt FA and just against Everton.
Also with their points deduction. Why so quick when nothing for Man City? No grasp of the fact Everton pleaded guilty. Or that city’s is so complicated, and they’re not assisting with the inquiry. It’s just all a plot against Everton.

I find it quite telling that Manchester City have fought all their cases on points of technicality, never on the charges themselves - remember they accepted their punishment from UEFA in 2014 (along with PSG) but never admitted guilt but were comfortable enough with a massive fine and no exclusion from the Champions League - not that they even paid all the fine

Manchester City accept £49m fine and transfer cap from Uefa over FFP
Fine is conditional on maximum losses until 2015
Club's transfers limited to £49m net in next window
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... p-uefa-ffp

What we don't know is how many times that Manchester City have been in court challenging various technical aspects of the Premier Leagues charges, jurisdiction, rights of access relevant materials from Manchester City, even the validity of evidence from Football Leaks (as it was obtained illegally, not that the content was legitimate) - though there have been at least two in the High Court that City have lost, I am reasonably confident that there have been a number of others.

Everton's appeal, like all appeals is based on the technicalities surrounding their hearing, I hope they fail, the Premier Leagues processes for these hearings needs a rigorous shakedown and robust challenge before the Manchester City case is heard. Any weakness in it, needs to be snuffed out in advance. That said, I expect that Everton's points penalty will be reduced.

[Chester Perry]

This is a much better use of the ECJ's judgement and revised UEFA rules than Super League, though it could still perpetuate imbalance domestically

from The Guardian

Baltic League could be pioneer for cross-border football in Europe
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia is thought by many to be the best region within Uefa boundaries to pilot an integrated league
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... -in-europe
https://archive.ph/m7qN7

[Chester Perry]

Interesting article in The New York Times - Is Sheffield the true home/birthplace of codified football and the game we know and love. Incidentally the Prof Wilson mentioned is Rob Wilson, who used to feature on this thread regularly before Elon made his move and destroyed our access to twitter without a log on

An English City Gave Soccer to the World. Now It Wants Credit.
https://archive.ph/xNrTX

[No Ney Never]

Breaking from The Times - this seems a pretty fundamental question, which 777 Partners should have provided appropriate evidence for by now

Premier League asks 777 Partners to show they can fund Everton
American company has agreed to buy Farhad Moshiri’s 94 per cent stake but it appears the English top flight still has fundamental misgivings about the takeover
https://archive.ph/m1Cp2

Not sure that I would be comfortable funding to the level 777 are without being principal creditor. Who has first legal charge over the new stadium? Is there other additional legal charges registered?

[Chester Perry]

Not sure that I would be comfortable funding to the level 777 are without being principal creditor. Who has first legal charge over the new stadium? Is there other additional legal charges registered?

Principal lender on the Stadium is MSP Partners (£140m) who wanted to take over the club last summer but were blocked by the Principal Lenders to the club, who are Rights and Media Funding (£200m+), another lender with a specific charge on the club is Metrobank (this is being paid down annually and is currently thought to be around £13m)

there is more worrying issues surrounding those 777 Partners loans - most of the money has been provided to them at high rates of interest, and there is a though that some of the monies are i.o.u's rather than hard cash. The general theory is that 777 need the stadium to meet their need to refinance much of their existing credit - before we start with Everton's issues.

[Chester Perry]

It appears that the Bundesliga is going to try for a third time in as many years to get Private Equity funding to help develop the league - In some ways it feels like those that run the league will keep trying until they get the vote they want - and yes The vultures are at the door

BUNDESLIGA RENEWS PURSUIT OF PE MONEY TO BOLSTER GLOBAL STANDING
https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fw ... 4741729%2F

Beyer Leverkusen stretched their lead to 5 points today over Bayern Munich after defeating them. Yer this was a weekend marred with protests across German Football, dome (not all) were about one of the things that Leverkusen's non-German Fernando Carro is actively demanding in this article - external investment. including Private Equity.

from The Financial Times

German football needs to open up to outside investors says Leverkusen boss
Fernando Carro, CEO of the Bayer-owned side, believes scrapping the rule tying control of teams to club members will revive the Bundesliga
https://archive.ph/mlD5u

It may be what the clubs want but not what the football supporters want. German football fans are more proactive than most when they have a statement to make - certainly much more organised, as the regular unified protests across the Bundesliga have shown once again in recent weeks. This is one of the most original ones I have ever seen

from The Independent

Remote control cars with flares invade pitch during match in Germany
The 2. Bundesliga match between Hansa Rostock and Hamburg was interrupted by the protest at external investment into German football
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foo ... 97942.html
https://archive.ph/2q6wS

[Chester Perry]

Here is what I believe a great example of football being using as a political relationship tool

we have this from The Athletic, which all seems like business as normal for CFG as a football enterprise

Manchester City owner CFG announces ‘football collaboration’ with Istanbul Basaksehir
https://archive.ph/CQXvR

It pays however to understand who has interests in both organisations - The Abu Dhabi connection at CFG is well known, with Burnley having played Basakshir in public a number of you will be aware of the club's relationship with Turkish Premier Erdogan

There is another angle to look at this and it brings to mind the tenure of Roberto Mancini at the club, where infamously he made a significant top up to his City salary via a consulting agreement for a 'few days' a year in Abu Dhabi. These collaborations from the City group (there is another in Singapore) could be a way to do similar for Pep Guardiola. It is possible that this is a way of rewarding Pep without the payments being made by the club.

[Chester Perry]

Our Evertonian friend Paul - 'The Esk' with some more revelations about 777 Partners

Everton, reinsurance and Bermuda, how are they connected?
https://theesk.org/2023/11/09/everton-r ... connected/

So there is more to the story of insurance, reinsurance and the source of 777 Partners funds with which they hope to complete the purchase of Everton

This story appeared last week from a publication that I am unfamiliar with * it is a fascinating finance journalism breakdown of the approach that is fast sweeping across the Investment world and in the case of 777 Partners led to that recent downgrade in their investment rating - and the kind of thing (to my eyes at least) that led to the financial crash of 2008 - I have previously mentioned that CDO's are once again on the rise

The money behind soccer’s mystery buyer
https://archive.li/f8f4O

Well the chaps at Josimar Football have picked up on the above and done some further digging into related parties

Trials and tribulations
777 remain confident their takeover of crisis club Everton will proceed, and Josimar can reveal the source of funding for the purchase. But the man behind that money is accused of fraud in an ongoing US lawsuit.
https://archive.ph/rY3s0

more problems for 777 and their prime source of funds from within their group

AM Best Downgrades Credit Ratings of 777 Re. Ltd.; Maintains Under Review With Negative Implications Status
https://news.ambest.com/NewsContent.asp ... &altsrc=23
https://archive.ph/K3vto

[Chester Perry]

Paul Brown who has been writing about 777 Partners with Philippe Auclair for Josimar has posted this about the the 777 Partners CFO leaving

"Been told this is part of a “gigantic exodus” from 777."
https://twitter.com/pbsportswriter/stat ... 2471094426

are these two things the same or both happening concurrently

from The Mail

EXCLUSIVE - Everton buyers 777 Partners implement major staff cost-cutting measures and make redundancies in their London and Miami offices... as Toffees' takeover stalls amid Premier League scrutiny
Everton have been waiting nearly five months for their takeover to be approved
The Premier League have been scrutinising their potential buyers 777 Partners
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... eague.html
https://archive.ph/XU0wy

[elwaclaret]

Interesting article in The New York Times - Is Sheffield the true home/birthplace of codified football and the game we know and love. Incidentally the Prof Wilson mentioned is Rob Wilson, who used to feature on this thread regularly before Elon made his move and destroyed our access to twitter without a log on

An English City Gave Soccer to the World. Now It Wants Credit.
https://archive.ph/xNrTX

Popular myth that Sheffield codified football… I did my History M-Res (Master of Research) on the very subject. The Sheffield Rules were closer to modern Rugby League than London Rules (FA) which was one of five or six versions of the rules running at the time… all called football clubs. Rugby was a game developed because they started running while holding the ball… while playing Football.

Sheffield rules were adopted by Manachster FA… and is why United and City, Liverpool and Everton joined the Lancashire FA … London Rules (FA Cup) which they also qualified for as members of the County Palatine. Arsenal had to move North of the River because only those teams came under London FA jurisdiction.

[Chester Perry]

Another podcast from Unofficial Partner and another subject that is likely to have a significant effect on the game - it is only touched upon here but I thing the use of AI analysis in game is one of the big threats for those that the resources to dominate. It is obvious that the game is moving towards play-books (like we see in the NFL and NBA) and all clubs in the Premier League already have analysts working in play and providing feeds to the benches - the rule book demands the facilities for it at all Premier League clubs for away teams. Of course the use and opportunity will be much wider than that.

AI in Sport: Regulate or let it loose?
https://www.unofficialpartner.com/podca ... t-it-loose

A conversation on the potential and limits of AI technology in a sports context, both performance and commercial. What's possible, what's probable, what will get in the way of progress. Will AI be an engine for inequality between the haves and have nots of sport, and what can we do now, today, to embrace the coming wave.

Our guests are two leading experts in sport and technology.

Gonzalo Zarza is Chief Data Officer of Sportian and holds a PhD in this space.

Leanne Bats, head of web3 at New Zealand rugby and president of The Rugby DAO, the decentralized group aiming to bring fan powered revolution and innovation to rugby.

[Royboyclaret]

Another podcast from Unofficial Partner and another subject that is likely to have a significant effect on the game - it is only touched upon here but I thing the use of AI analysis in game is one of the big threats for those that the resources to dominate. It is obvious that the game is moving towards play-books (like we see in the NFL and NBA) and all clubs in the Premier League already have analysts working in play and providing feeds to the benches - the rule book demands the facilities for it at all Premier League clubs for away teams. Of course the use and opportunity will be much wider than that.

AI in Sport: Regulate or let it loose?
https://www.unofficialpartner.com/podca ... t-it-loose

A conversation on the potential and limits of AI technology in a sports context, both performance and commercial. What's possible, what's probable, what will get in the way of progress. Will AI be an engine for inequality between the haves and have nots of sport, and what can we do now, today, to embrace the coming wave.

Our guests are two leading experts in sport and technology.

Sadly Burnley are one of the "have nots" in sport.....and nothing likely to change in the immediate future.

Gonzalo Zarza is Chief Data Officer of Sportian and holds a PhD in this space.

Leanne Bats, head of web3 at New Zealand rugby and president of The Rugby DAO, the decentralized group aiming to bring fan powered revolution and innovation to rugby.

[Chester Perry]

Trading of players has been happening for around 130 years, compensation for taking a manager (and his backroom staff) has only seemed to be a thing since the millennium, so it was perhaps inevitable that new roles such as Sporting Director would fall under the compensation thing - It seems Dan Ashworth (who has a very strong record) will be setting a high bar if this article is anything to go by, It appears that Newcastle have some very tight contracts, if the suggested 2 year gardening leave is anything to go by. Of course the money will greatly hep Newcastle in their FFP/PSR balancing act this season and potentially cause problems for Manchester United's.

from The Telegraph

Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth placed on gardening leave as Man Utd face £20m demand
Exclusive: Sporting director has asked Newcastle to leave for the Sir Jim Ratcliffe revolution at Old Trafford
https://archive.ph/WZ8dM

[Chester Perry]

more problems for 777 and their prime source of funds from within their group

AM Best Downgrades Credit Ratings of 777 Re. Ltd.; Maintains Under Review With Negative Implications Status
https://news.ambest.com/NewsContent.asp ... &altsrc=23
https://archive.ph/K3vto

The chaps at Josimar Football with more on this and how if some re-definitions of the financial issues at 777 partners affiliates were to occur then further downgrades would likely occur

Credit in the straight world
Credit Rating agency AM Best has slashed the rating of 777re, one of 777 Partners’s main sources of financing, from ‘fair’ to ‘weak’ and ‘very weak’, casting more doubts around the US group’s ability to sustain its current commitments, in football and elsewhere.
https://josimarfootball.com/2024/02/19/ ... ght-world/
https://archive.ph/WtO7g

[Chester Perry]

Another deeply interesting podcast from Unofficial Partner, this time it is an interview with Jason Stockwood co-owner of Grimsby Town and writer of a monthly football column in The Guardian - which usually gets a link from me on this thread

In the podcast he talks briefly about this particular piece which was yet to be published at the time of recording

It is something I have been saying for years , but I have never seen it as clearly argued as here by Jason Stockwood in his Guardian Column. Football is very definitely not like any other business

Running a football club has shown me the sport is a rule unto itself
From having no ‘profit motive’ as a primary objective to the practice of buying and selling players, different norms apply
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... nto-itself
https://archive.ph/3hsQd

The podcast itself is quite broad in range but tends to stick to his socialist themes and his approach to business and investment/ I like how he talks about football being to emotional for cold business systems and how he then goes onto talk about how he finds football and its inherent elements of chance, culture and emotion do not seem suited to Private Equity's systemic approach, particularly as a lot of Private Equity entities involving themselves in club football are employing a more Venture Capital model to which they are not suited or overly experienced in.

UP374 Jason Stockwood: The Grimsby Town owner on private equity, socialism and Ryan Reynolds
https://www.unofficialpartner.com/podca ... n-reynolds

the blurb

Jason Stockwood grew up in Grimsby, became a hugely successful tech entrepreneur and came back to his home town to buy the local football club, Grimsby Town FC.

One of the best articulations on the reality of the football business, the mistakes and myths, the role and limits of private equity in sport and the ineffable magic that makes football so very different than any other industry.

[Chester Perry]

more problems for 777 and their prime source of funds from within their group

AM Best Downgrades Credit Ratings of 777 Re. Ltd.; Maintains Under Review With Negative Implications Status
https://news.ambest.com/NewsContent.asp ... &altsrc=23
https://archive.ph/K3vto

Lifelong Everton fan The Esk with his take on the above news of a further rating downgrade on 777 Re.

Bermuda & its relevance to Everton’s proposed takeover by 777 partners (revisited)
https://theesk.org/2024/02/20/bermuda-i ... revisited/
https://archive.ph/Q7g0P

[Chester Perry]

Another deeply interesting podcast from Unofficial Partner, this time it is an interview with Jason Stockwood co-owner of Grimsby Town and writer of a monthly football column in The Guardian - which usually gets a link from me on this thread

In the podcast he talks briefly about this particular piece which was yet to be published at the time of recording



The podcast itself is quite broad in range but tends to stick to his socialist themes and his approach to business and investment/ I like how he talks about football being to emotional for cold business systems and how he then goes onto talk about how he finds football and its inherent elements of chance, culture and emotion do not seem suited to Private Equity's systemic approach, particularly as a lot of Private Equity entities involving themselves in club football are employing a more Venture Capital model to which they are not suited or overly experienced in.

UP374 Jason Stockwood: The Grimsby Town owner on private equity, socialism and Ryan Reynolds
https://www.unofficialpartner.com/podca ... n-reynolds

the blurb

Jason Stockwood grew up in Grimsby, became a hugely successful tech entrepreneur and came back to his home town to buy the local football club, Grimsby Town FC.

One of the best articulations on the reality of the football business, the mistakes and myths, the role and limits of private equity in sport and the ineffable magic that makes football so very different than any other industry.

Within the above podcast Jason Stockwood makes a case for the EFL clubs to not agree a deal with the Premier League, He is of a fervent belief that an Independent Regulator for Football would give them a much better one than they can negotiate for themselves - I am not so sure and it would require EFL clubs to wait at least 18 months from now for it to be determined *and possibly a while longer), which is too long for most of the clubs. that does not mean that the EFL clubs are not campaigning hard. One wonders what Alan Pace shared with the Championship clubs when they met the other week (viewtopic.php?f=2&t=74339)

from The Telegraph

EFL clubs’ ‘venomous’ opposition to latest New Deal terms triggers emergency Premier League summit
Top-tier clubs will meet next week in an attempt to agree financial settlement with the EFL before legislation is introduced to parliament
https://web.archive.org/web/20240220234 ... nt-summit/

[Chester Perry]

More wrongdoing at Barcelona and more FFP related payments to reduce their squad budget - this is what happens when you persistently seek to flex/stretch rules and cut corners. They will delay by appealing again (this has been running for four years already) but one wonders what practice they have been following in the meantime and if they have built themselves up another big problem.

from The Athletic

Barcelona ordered to pay €22.7m due to incorrect tax payments
https://archive.ph/uQeHE

Not related but will add to Barcelona's future cash flow problems, because while it limits what can be spent this season, the club has contracts with players that entitles them to more, to date, and this has been going on for 3 years now, this means that outstanding salaries are to be paid in the future, thereby reducing spending on additional/new players in those years. It is a crazy situation but Barcelona are still paying players that have either retired or moved onto other clubs as a result of these caps, It shows the limitations and dangers of some of La Liga's financial regulations

from The Athletic

La Liga reduces Barcelona’s spending cap to €204m
https://archive.ph/rxokc

[Vegas Claret]

Not related but will add to Barcelona's future cash flow problems, because while it limits what can be spent this season, the club has contracts with players that entitles them to more, to date, and this has been going on for 3 years now, this means that outstanding salaries are to be paid in the future, thereby reducing spending on additional/new players in those years. It is a crazy situation but Barcelona are still paying players that have either retired or moved onto other clubs as a result of these caps, It shows the limitations and dangers of some of La Liga's financial regulations

from The Athletic

La Liga reduces Barcelona’s spending cap to €204m
https://archive.ph/rxokc

always tickles me when Barcelona and Madrid complain about money

[Chester Perry]

Brentford have reportedly been put up for sale at value that will be closely watch by many others including ALK/VSL - yes they have a certain level of Premier League stability though if the promoted teams were better they would be on much more of a struggle against relegation this season. They also have a shiny new stadium in London with all the bells and whistles but that capacity is severely limited

from The Telegraph

Brentford put up for sale as owner brings in Rothschild to drive £400m valuation
Matthew Benham is exploring opportunities for investment having taken full ownership of the club 12 years ago
https://archive.ph/5Dpcb

[Chester Perry]

Brentford have reportedly been put up for sale at value that will be closely watch by many others including ALK/VSL - yes they have a certain level of Premier League stability though if the promoted teams were better they would be on much more of a struggle against relegation this season. They also have a shiny new stadium in London with all the bells and whistles but that capacity is severely limited

from The Telegraph

Brentford put up for sale as owner brings in Rothschild to drive £400m valuation
Matthew Benham is exploring opportunities for investment having taken full ownership of the club 12 years ago
https://archive.ph/5Dpcb

The Times are suggesting that Mathew Benham values Brentford substantially higher

Matthew Benham appoints bank to oversee £500m sale of Brentford
Businessman, who has transformed the Premier League club since taking control in 2012, would like to remain majority owner but that may change if he finds right buyer
https://archive.ph/UfqtQ

[CoolClaret]

Be interesting to see if anyone pays that for Brentford.

Of course, being in London and what not I understand the difference in property valuation but I wouldn't have thought Brentford (even with inflation) to be worth over 2x what Garlick ended up selling BFC for in 2020.

[Chester Perry]

Be interesting to see if anyone pays that for Brentford.

Of course, being in London and what not I understand the difference in property valuation but I wouldn't have thought Brentford (even with inflation) to be worth over 2x what Garlick ended up selling BFC for in 2020.

Indeed, that is why is said many would be watching - that said, I stick by statement, made some time back, about believing that ALK/VSL are working on the assumption that they will make a £300m - £500m profit on their time at the club.

[Chester Perry]

It may be what the clubs want but not what the football supporters want. German football fans are more proactive than most when they have a statement to make - certainly much more organised, as the regular unified protests across the Bundesliga have shown once again in recent weeks. This is one of the most original ones I have ever seen

from The Independent

Remote control cars with flares invade pitch during match in Germany
The 2. Bundesliga match between Hansa Rostock and Hamburg was interrupted by the protest at external investment into German football
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foo ... 97942.html
https://archive.ph/2q6wS

For the third time the Bundesliga have failed in their attempts to bring in external investment - as before the actions of the fans have played a significant role - fans in this country should take note

from The Guardian

German football league drops plan to sell Bundesliga stake after fan protests
Fans had gone to extreme lengths to draw attention to issue
‘Continuation of the process no longer seems possible’
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... n-protests
https://archive.ph/hCwfc

[Chester Perry]

I have been posting about the problems created by the multi-club model for around 6 years now on this thread - why is it that FIFA an in particular UEFA among the other Confederations are just now sensing it to be a problem. In FIFA's case it's close relationships with and commercial dependency on the autocratic nations and federations means they have taken a very relaxed approach - UEFA are trying to push FIFA into some action before the 32 team Club World Cup in 2025 but given where much of the finance for it is coming from I do not expect much to change.

from The Independent

Fifa and Uefa facing potentially unfixable problem over multi-club ownership
Several top European teams including Man City are part of multi-ownership groups which can impact on transfers and tournaments as well as actual club history
https://archive.ph/KGV2F

[Chester Perry]

Josimar Football with more tales of suspicious betting and 'friendlies arranged by third parties The murky world of betting and how the unscrupulous use it to their advantage

Games of doubts
More suspicious betting on friendlies, more fixed games and more outrage this winter amongst the clubs affected but still no sign of football’s governing bodies taking any serious action.
https://josimarfootball.com/2024/02/22/games-of-doubts/
https://archive.ph/yG3Kj

[Chester Perry]

It may be what the clubs want but not what the football supporters want. German football fans are more proactive than most when they have a statement to make - certainly much more organised, as the regular unified protests across the Bundesliga have shown once again in recent weeks. This is one of the most original ones I have ever seen

from The Independent

Remote control cars with flares invade pitch during match in Germany
The 2. Bundesliga match between Hansa Rostock and Hamburg was interrupted by the protest at external investment into German football
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foo ... 97942.html
https://archive.ph/2q6wS

For the third time the Bundesliga have failed in their attempts to bring in external investment - as before the actions of the fans have played a significant role - fans in this country should take note

from The Guardian

German football league drops plan to sell Bundesliga stake after fan protests
Fans had gone to extreme lengths to draw attention to issue
‘Continuation of the process no longer seems possible’
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... n-protests
https://archive.ph/hCwfc

How German fans rode on the back of general political momentum to bring an end to Bundesliga ambitions for external (Private Equity) investment, crucially they included an element that modern politics demands, they made it entertaining for the casual observer

from The Guardian

‘We won’t be remote-controlled’: how German football fans took on investors and won
Toy cars mounted with flares and other stunts have disrupted Bundesliga matches. Now fans’ dogged defiance appears to have paid off
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/ ... rs-and-won
https://archive.ph/89ufo

[Chester Perry]

Matt Slater's Business of Football column covers some familiar recent topics on this thread and rightly wonders why David Dean is sticking his oar into the Everton takeover

from The Athletic

David Dein lobbies for Everton’s 777 takeover, more ‘new deal’ rows – The Business of Football
https://archive.ph/xuBX2

[Chester Perry]

When fans are organised they can make the games authorities look ridiculous. Legia Warsaw's Ultras saw their section closed, by UEFA, to all but under 14's after some rather unsavoury activity for last nights game against Molde, they simply took over another section of the ground and revealed themselves as the teams lined up

from The Mail

Legia Warsaw ultras unveil 'surprise motherf*****s!' banner and let off fireworks at Europa Confence League tie despite UEFA ban after fan trouble
The ultras section was closed for home tie against Molde following fan trouble
Fans moved to another part of the stadium and unfurled a provocative banner
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... ouble.html
https://archive.ph/AlhQ0

[Chester Perry]

as football in England (and Europe's elite leagues) takes on more and more of American practices, the accessibility that was once considered the right of the ordinary fan has gradually dissipated, and that trend is only speeding up with ordinary fans given less seats proportionately each season. Such fans are actually becoming part of the entertainment and not just for the TV audiences, which is why many clubs are actively trying to artificially generate the atmosphere at games with drummers, flags, clackers and other nonsense. Meanwhile we have the insidious intrusion variable pricing as 'market values' for seats are tested and matches are rebranded as events - the price elasticity of a one off event is significantly greater than a season ticket. As with most things Chelsea are the club that are phasing out traditional European understanding of what football should be.

from The Telegraph

Chelsea's £5k hospitality ticket vs. Man Utd could set Premier League record
Chelsea’s Supporters’ Trust have called the decision 'alarming' and 'totally unaffordable for your average football supporter'
https://archive.ph/3BNBL

this story reminded me of a recent podcast from Unofficial Partner, which was ostensibly looking at prices of Super Bowl tickets. One of the takeaways was that in US sport and increasingly in Europe tickets are placed deliberately with what we used to call the secondary market, so market demand will dictate the price and allow promoters/clubs to maximise revenues (and accessibility for those willing and able to pay the price) and which leads to increasing numbers of tourists and away fans placed in various areas of what were once considered home areas, with some believe that the price paid allows them to be as obnoxious to home fans as they want.

UP371 What the Super Bowl reveals about the big event ticket market
https://www.unofficialpartner.com/podca ... ket-market

the blurb
Unofficial Partner|2/9/2024
The Super Bowl is the biggest day in sport.

So who will be in Vegas for the game and how much have they paid for a ticket?

And of course, has Taylor Swift had an impact on demand and price for those tickets?

We're joined by Cris Miller, Chief Business Officer at StubHub and Global Managing Director at viagogo.
Cris is joined by Rob Wilson, Professor of Applied Sport Finance at Sheffield Business School.

[Chester Perry]

I think I have posted about this before somewhere on this board

from The Independent

Premier League’s auditor awarded key contract related to independent regulator
Sources have expressed concern over a potential conflict of interest.
https://archive.ph/B5yWl

[Chester Perry]

With all the different proposals being postulated in the last few weeks - there is actually very little publicly available documentation for fans to get hold of and read. In some cases such as Project big Picture and the European Premier League that may not be too surprising, but in the case of the much trumpeted Saving our Beautiful Game backed by ex FA Chair David Bernstein, Ex FA Exec/North West Tonight Presenter David Davies, some peoples King in the North Andy Burnham and Gary Neville amongst others it was a surprise - for all the online articles there was no link to this manifesto - well after trawling through several pages of a google search I have found the document and a supporting website

website https://www.ourbeautifulgame.co.uk/

the Manifesto - Saving Our Beautiful Game - https://static1.squarespace.com/static/ ... e_2020.pdf

now to find copies of the Project Big Picture - ideally as many of the iterations as i can though v 17 and 18 appear to be what got Rick Parry so excited

Interesting stuff reported here by Martin Zeigler as a final entry in his weekly column today

from The Times
https://archive.ph/Kz0bp

Punishing City would be a sporting tragedy, says Bernstein

David Bernstein, the former FA and Manchester City chairman, has claimed the Premier League’s financial regulations “are detrimental in many ways to the game”.

Bernstein, who has been campaigning for an independent regulator for football, said it would be a “sporting tragedy” if City were found guilty of 115 breaches of Premier League rules.

“The way clubs are being asked to control their spending is actually anti-competitive. It is making it difficult for clubs with new money now to challenge the establishment,” he told the Blue Moon Podcast.

“If City’s amazing success and the quality of the way it’s been done both with a great manager and a wonderful team, is tarnished by this, it will be a bit of a sporting tragedy.”

you can listen to the actual Podcast here https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/l ... 0646455520

I find it interesting that folks like Bernstein and Burnham can campaign against the ills of football at times like 'Project Big Picture' and 'Super League' by demanding an Independent regulator for football, The cry foul when their clubs are penalised for rules voted on by clubs and heard by an independent commission, and then blaming the Premier League (a collection of 20 clubs) for the independent commissions judgements and timetable.

[Chester Perry]

How German fans rode on the back of general political momentum to bring an end to Bundesliga ambitions for external (Private Equity) investment, crucially they included an element that modern politics demands, they made it entertaining for the casual observer

from The Guardian

‘We won’t be remote-controlled’: how German football fans took on investors and won
Toy cars mounted with flares and other stunts have disrupted Bundesliga matches. Now fans’ dogged defiance appears to have paid off
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/ ... rs-and-won
https://archive.ph/89ufo

Tariq Panja and Rory Smith with more detail on how German fans brought an end to the quest for Private Equity money in the Bundesliga

from The New York Times

Bowing to Fan Revolt, German Soccer Rejects $1 Billion Investment
A proposed marketing partnership with a private equity firm was abandoned after weeks of protests that disrupted matches across the country.
https://archive.ph/ahA2t

[Chester Perry]

we are well aware of the wealth of UEFA's Champions League - The only annual football competition to raise and distribute more revenue than The Premier League. And as FIFA continues it's drive to bring continents together with it's 32 team Club World Cup in 2025, where participating teams are believed to be getting a minimum $50m each, other confederations will send successful competitors from their equivalent competitions. Of course these confederations do not have the wealth, history, geography and worldwide media interest of UEFA's competition, which means costs can often exceed revenues particularly in the early stages - not unlike UEFA's Conference League and consequent cost cutting by clubs is causing problems for players.

A new report from FIFAPRO the players union has raised a number of issues about the Asion Champions League

FIFAPRO Asia/Oceania
AFC Champions League Analysis Report: Counting the cost for players and clubs
https://fifpro.org/media/wizhphjr/fifpr ... t-2024.pdf

for those who do not want to read the report, Rory Smith reports on it here

from The New York Times

Want to Play in Asia’s Champions League? It Will Cost You.
The cost of business in Asia’s elite tournament keeps going up. The rewards do not.
https://archive.ph/DTDig

[Chester Perry]

Of course it is not just at the elite levels of Asian Football where costs are high and financial returns are poor

here is Rory Smith again for the New York Times - the title reminds me of Brewsters Millions

Want to Lose a Lot of Money, Fast? Buy a Small Soccer Team in England.
The country’s lower leagues offer a tempting entry to ownership. But the sport’s economics mean even multimillionaires can struggle to compete.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/24/worl ... teams.html

[Chester Perry]

As the 8th anniversary of Farhad Moshiri's arrival approaches (this coming Tuesday) The Esk takes a look at how the problems at Everton can be resolved

How Moshiri can end Everton’s paralysis now
An assessment of Moshiri’s culpability in Everton’s position and a suggestion as to how he can partially redeem himself
https://theesk.org/2024/02/25/how-moshi ... lysis-now/

[Chester Perry]

I always get the impression initial points deductions are given with an acceptance that there will be an appeal and a reduction granted, so the first penalty is always high with the intention/hope the appeal will see the desired penalty actually given. So with the inevitable points reduction for Everton now confirmed (viewtopic.php?f=2&t=74661) it is time to move on to the next set of cases - first up Nottingham Forest, seemingly next week

from The Telegraph

Nottingham Forest’s crunch hearing over spending breaches to start next week
Exclusive: Forest have hired sports lawyer Nick De Marco KC and a key part of their defence will focus on the sale of Brennan Johnson
https://archive.ph/w8M6F

[Chester Perry]

Some interesting stuff in this report, about the fears now held by other clubs - as well as snippets about what the appeals panel said the original panel got wrong

from The Telegraph

Spending rules chaos as clubs push for changes after Everton reprieve
Premier League club are now five points clear of the relegation zone after an independent panel slashed the punishment
https://web.archive.org/web/20240226222 ... les-dyche/

[Westleigh]

I would love to know what the bottom line would be if A Pace and all his colleagues pulled out tomorrow ,could we every survive without becoming another Bury ?