How Aston Villa have made a three year £179m loss be a £17m loss for FFP - Mel would be so proud
https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 0466178048
This is the first time I have ever seen Academy costs highlighted in this way - look at the size of them
a bit more detail on @KieranMaguires perspective in this article which paints a very rosy picture
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/ ... h-17860469
so there you have it a club that has been"financially doped" or "rescued" (depending on your perspective) over the last few years - will the investment pay off or will this be another club trained to live beyond it's means that can look forward to another financial collapse when the owners have had enough
Football's Magic Money Tree
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
@KieranMaguire looks at the financial reality of life bouncing between League 1 and the Championship
Luton 2018/19 financial results https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 5513678849
Barnsley 2018/19 financial results https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 6494486528
Luton 2018/19 financial results https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 5513678849
Barnsley 2018/19 financial results https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 6494486528
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
I have been saying for a while that that the Premier League is in a financial mess - theses guys are amongst the few that have been arguing the case for longer - 11 clubs posted their 2018/19 accounts so far - not a pretty picture for a sustainable product
https://twitter.com/vysyble/status/1235206382917496834
https://twitter.com/vysyble/status/1235206382917496834
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
A strange one from Switzerland - the Swiss Attorney General as been sanctioned for misconduct in a FIFA investigation - anywhere else he would have been sacked - there an 8% salary cut for 1 year
Swiss prosecutor disciplined for misconduct in FIFA case
GRAHAM DUNBAR (AP Sports Writer)
The Associated Press Mar 4, 2020, 12:30 PM
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber was disciplined Wednesday for misconduct during an investigation of FIFA, including failing to tell the truth about an undisclosed meeting with the soccer body's president Gianni Infantino.
The ruling of a panel overseeing the federal prosecution office also found Lauber obstructed its disciplinary investigation and had not grasped how his conduct was problematic.
''On several occasions he did not speak the truth, acted in a disloyal manner, violated the code of conduct of the federal prosecutor's office and obstructed the (disciplinary) investigation,'' the ruling stated.
Lauber was fined 8% of his salary for one year, the oversight panel ordered. The amount of salary involved was not disclosed.
In fallout from scrutiny of his role in the five-year soccer corruption case, Lauber was recused from the sprawling FIFA investigation last year by Switzerland's federal criminal court.
Lauber was not formally involved in indictments last month issued against Qatari soccer and television executive Nasser al-Khelaifi, the president of French champion Paris Saint-Germain, and former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.
Four soccer officials from Germany and Switzerland - including Valcke's predecessor at FIFA, Urs Linsi - were also indicted last August on charges linked to an irregular payment between FIFA and organizers of the 2006 World Cup. German soccer great Franz Beckenbauer is also implicated.
Still, Lauber was given a renewed four-year mandate last September by Swiss lawmakers while the disciplinary probe was ongoing.
Key to the disciplinary case was a June 2017 meeting Lauber had with Infantino at a hotel in the Swiss capital Bern at which the prosecutor took no notes.
Lauber had previously acknowledged two undeclared meetings he had in 2016 with the recently elected Infantino when they were reported in the Football Leaks series of confidential documents published in November 2018.
In 2018, Lauber called a news conference and said the first two Infantino meetings were justifiable exchanges with FIFA's new leader about long-running investigations affecting soccer's world body. They were brokered in part by a prosecutor who was Infantino's friend since childhood.
However, the third 2017 meeting remained secret for several more months.
Swiss prosecutor disciplined for misconduct in FIFA case
GRAHAM DUNBAR (AP Sports Writer)
The Associated Press Mar 4, 2020, 12:30 PM
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber was disciplined Wednesday for misconduct during an investigation of FIFA, including failing to tell the truth about an undisclosed meeting with the soccer body's president Gianni Infantino.
The ruling of a panel overseeing the federal prosecution office also found Lauber obstructed its disciplinary investigation and had not grasped how his conduct was problematic.
''On several occasions he did not speak the truth, acted in a disloyal manner, violated the code of conduct of the federal prosecutor's office and obstructed the (disciplinary) investigation,'' the ruling stated.
Lauber was fined 8% of his salary for one year, the oversight panel ordered. The amount of salary involved was not disclosed.
In fallout from scrutiny of his role in the five-year soccer corruption case, Lauber was recused from the sprawling FIFA investigation last year by Switzerland's federal criminal court.
Lauber was not formally involved in indictments last month issued against Qatari soccer and television executive Nasser al-Khelaifi, the president of French champion Paris Saint-Germain, and former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.
Four soccer officials from Germany and Switzerland - including Valcke's predecessor at FIFA, Urs Linsi - were also indicted last August on charges linked to an irregular payment between FIFA and organizers of the 2006 World Cup. German soccer great Franz Beckenbauer is also implicated.
Still, Lauber was given a renewed four-year mandate last September by Swiss lawmakers while the disciplinary probe was ongoing.
Key to the disciplinary case was a June 2017 meeting Lauber had with Infantino at a hotel in the Swiss capital Bern at which the prosecutor took no notes.
Lauber had previously acknowledged two undeclared meetings he had in 2016 with the recently elected Infantino when they were reported in the Football Leaks series of confidential documents published in November 2018.
In 2018, Lauber called a news conference and said the first two Infantino meetings were justifiable exchanges with FIFA's new leader about long-running investigations affecting soccer's world body. They were brokered in part by a prosecutor who was Infantino's friend since childhood.
However, the third 2017 meeting remained secret for several more months.
Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Hi Chester (and fellow UTCers),
I don't know whether you've mentioned this previously but French media reporting tonight that the City Football Group - owners of Manchester City - are on the verge of buying Second Division club Nancy. Franchising continues.
I don't know whether you've mentioned this previously but French media reporting tonight that the City Football Group - owners of Manchester City - are on the verge of buying Second Division club Nancy. Franchising continues.
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Good spot ecc - no I didn't know about it - but it makes sense from a player development sense in the French, North African and European market and gives them an extra farm to get players to the required level for import to the UK post Brexit completion
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
David Conn appears to have been talking to a few people about those EFL reviews in it's Governance and how it handled the Bury farce
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... ners-wages
I still believe the conclusion that absolves the EFL simply because the end was inevitable is the wrong one - the EFL allowed that desperate situation to develop in the first place - that is the core of everything that @AndyhHolt has been saying is wrong with the game and its administration, and he knows as he has sought to compete against Bury while trying to keep his own club sustainable
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... ners-wages
I still believe the conclusion that absolves the EFL simply because the end was inevitable is the wrong one - the EFL allowed that desperate situation to develop in the first place - that is the core of everything that @AndyhHolt has been saying is wrong with the game and its administration, and he knows as he has sought to compete against Bury while trying to keep his own club sustainable
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
The BBC have picked up the Bassini takeover approach for Oldham story
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51738146
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51738146
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
@TariqPanja reflects on what has been a difficult few days for agents (he is the one who has kept pointing out the strange deals involving Mendes by the way) - Remember these Agents are currently fighting FIFA attempts to regulate them - from the New York Times
In Spain, Soccer Transfers and ‘Ghost Clubs’ Collide in a Tax-Fraud Case
The Spanish authorities charged a powerful soccer agent and accused him of hiding millions of dollars in commissions as he worked in the player-transfer market.
By Tariq Panja - March 4, 2020 - Updated 4:47 p.m. ET
The luxury homes on a Spanish island and the gleaming yachts moored in Mediterranean ports were all trappings of a life well-lived.
They were also, according to the Spanish authorities, the fruits of a multimillion-dollar money laundering and tax-evasion operation controlled by one of world soccer’s most powerful soccer agents, which last month resulted in criminal indictments against the agent, Abdilgafar Fali Ramadani, and several of his associates.
According to the authorities, Ramadani was at the center of the scheme in which a group of agents connected to him were able to exploit lax regulations and hide millions of dollars in commissions by moving athletes through several so-called “ghost” clubs in Belgium, Serbia and Cyprus. By doing so, the authorities said, the agents avoided paying taxes on the payments they received for brokering the deals.
Reached by telephone, Ramadani declined to comment on the charges. His Berlin-based agency, Lian Sports, has grown to represent some of soccer’s most sought-after players.
Like dozens of other investigations that have roiled European sports in recent years, leading to high-profile tax cases against players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and financial examinations of clubs like Paris St.-Germain and Manchester City, the Ramadani case, named Operation Lanigan, stemmed from a leak of documents — the so-called Football Leaks files — that have shined a light on soccer’s business, and on a murky player-trading industry that is worth more than $7 billion annually.
When Football Leaks hacked documents related Ramadani and then leaked them to news media outlets or published them online, Spanish prosecutors got a window into the operation, and a road map to the agents who profited from it.
“They got information from Football Leaks and then decided to start the case with the special prosecutor’s office responsible for organized crime and anti-corruption,” Borja Pastor de la Morena, an official at Europol, an organization that coordinates Pan-European investigations, said in a telephone interview.
The investigation’s main findings, Morena said, were the agents’ use of intermediary clubs in second- and third-tier European leagues as waystations in player trades. One teenage player bought by a Cypriot team for just over $2 million, for example, was sold six days later for more than triple the price. Another was on the same club’s books for only eight days.
The indictments, and the details of the case, come at a delicate moment for the sport’s biggest agents. In recent months, the agents — often professional rivals — have joined forces in efforts to reject plans by soccer’s governing body, FIFA, to tame their industry by capping commissions and introducing stringent licensing regulations and compulsory examinations.
The investigation, according to Morena, also suggested close links between a handful of top agents.
Ramadani, for example, was not the only agent to profit from moving players through the Cypriot team Apollon Limassol. The team turned over documents related to player transfers to Cypriot authorities and to FIFA, according to a person familiar with the investigation. One of Ramadani’s most important clients, Real Madrid’s Serbian striker Luca Jovic, was among those whose transfer history includes a brief stopover with Apollon.
After the ghost transfers were made, the Spanish authorities said, the agents and their partners are accused of using a sophisticated network of companies to acquire assets while hiding their ownership. At least €10 million (about $11.1 million) found its way into Spain through the purchase of assets including real estate on the island of Mallorca and several yachts.
Events in Portugal this week suggested the Football Leaks evidence could yet yield further charges, and implicate other significant figures in soccer. In Portugal, the authorities on Wednesday raided the offices and homes of some of country’s biggest soccer teams, as well as some belonging to Gestifute, perhaps the most influential soccer agency in the world. Gestifute is run by Jorge Mendes, whose clients include the Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo and Tottenham Hotspur’s manager, José Mourinho.
A statement by the Portuguese attorney general’s office said nearly 300 tax inspectors and police personnel were involved in more than 70 raids linked to an operation nicknamed Offside. Portugal’s two biggest teams, Porto and Benfica, confirmed they were cooperating with authorities.
Following the raids, Portuguese authorities said they had identified 47 suspects, a group, they said, that includes soccer players, agents, lawyers as well as sporting directors, officials at soccer clubs responsible for trading activities.
Until now, the authorities in Portugal have been reluctant to act on evidence from Football Leaks, a trove of data that had been illicitly secured by a 31-year-old Portuguese citizen, Rui Pinto. Pinto had evaded justice for years, hiding in Budapest until his capture on a Portuguese arrest warrant last year led to his extradition.
Pinto has been kept in preventive custody in a Lisbon jail for more than a year. He is expected to stand trial this summer on more than 90 counts, the most serious of which is tied to accusations that he made an extortion attempt on a soccer agency.
In many cases, Morena said, “the players who are involved in the transfers did not need to set foot in the intermediary club.”
In Spain, Soccer Transfers and ‘Ghost Clubs’ Collide in a Tax-Fraud Case
The Spanish authorities charged a powerful soccer agent and accused him of hiding millions of dollars in commissions as he worked in the player-transfer market.
By Tariq Panja - March 4, 2020 - Updated 4:47 p.m. ET
The luxury homes on a Spanish island and the gleaming yachts moored in Mediterranean ports were all trappings of a life well-lived.
They were also, according to the Spanish authorities, the fruits of a multimillion-dollar money laundering and tax-evasion operation controlled by one of world soccer’s most powerful soccer agents, which last month resulted in criminal indictments against the agent, Abdilgafar Fali Ramadani, and several of his associates.
According to the authorities, Ramadani was at the center of the scheme in which a group of agents connected to him were able to exploit lax regulations and hide millions of dollars in commissions by moving athletes through several so-called “ghost” clubs in Belgium, Serbia and Cyprus. By doing so, the authorities said, the agents avoided paying taxes on the payments they received for brokering the deals.
Reached by telephone, Ramadani declined to comment on the charges. His Berlin-based agency, Lian Sports, has grown to represent some of soccer’s most sought-after players.
Like dozens of other investigations that have roiled European sports in recent years, leading to high-profile tax cases against players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and financial examinations of clubs like Paris St.-Germain and Manchester City, the Ramadani case, named Operation Lanigan, stemmed from a leak of documents — the so-called Football Leaks files — that have shined a light on soccer’s business, and on a murky player-trading industry that is worth more than $7 billion annually.
When Football Leaks hacked documents related Ramadani and then leaked them to news media outlets or published them online, Spanish prosecutors got a window into the operation, and a road map to the agents who profited from it.
“They got information from Football Leaks and then decided to start the case with the special prosecutor’s office responsible for organized crime and anti-corruption,” Borja Pastor de la Morena, an official at Europol, an organization that coordinates Pan-European investigations, said in a telephone interview.
The investigation’s main findings, Morena said, were the agents’ use of intermediary clubs in second- and third-tier European leagues as waystations in player trades. One teenage player bought by a Cypriot team for just over $2 million, for example, was sold six days later for more than triple the price. Another was on the same club’s books for only eight days.
The indictments, and the details of the case, come at a delicate moment for the sport’s biggest agents. In recent months, the agents — often professional rivals — have joined forces in efforts to reject plans by soccer’s governing body, FIFA, to tame their industry by capping commissions and introducing stringent licensing regulations and compulsory examinations.
The investigation, according to Morena, also suggested close links between a handful of top agents.
Ramadani, for example, was not the only agent to profit from moving players through the Cypriot team Apollon Limassol. The team turned over documents related to player transfers to Cypriot authorities and to FIFA, according to a person familiar with the investigation. One of Ramadani’s most important clients, Real Madrid’s Serbian striker Luca Jovic, was among those whose transfer history includes a brief stopover with Apollon.
After the ghost transfers were made, the Spanish authorities said, the agents and their partners are accused of using a sophisticated network of companies to acquire assets while hiding their ownership. At least €10 million (about $11.1 million) found its way into Spain through the purchase of assets including real estate on the island of Mallorca and several yachts.
Events in Portugal this week suggested the Football Leaks evidence could yet yield further charges, and implicate other significant figures in soccer. In Portugal, the authorities on Wednesday raided the offices and homes of some of country’s biggest soccer teams, as well as some belonging to Gestifute, perhaps the most influential soccer agency in the world. Gestifute is run by Jorge Mendes, whose clients include the Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo and Tottenham Hotspur’s manager, José Mourinho.
A statement by the Portuguese attorney general’s office said nearly 300 tax inspectors and police personnel were involved in more than 70 raids linked to an operation nicknamed Offside. Portugal’s two biggest teams, Porto and Benfica, confirmed they were cooperating with authorities.
Following the raids, Portuguese authorities said they had identified 47 suspects, a group, they said, that includes soccer players, agents, lawyers as well as sporting directors, officials at soccer clubs responsible for trading activities.
Until now, the authorities in Portugal have been reluctant to act on evidence from Football Leaks, a trove of data that had been illicitly secured by a 31-year-old Portuguese citizen, Rui Pinto. Pinto had evaded justice for years, hiding in Budapest until his capture on a Portuguese arrest warrant last year led to his extradition.
Pinto has been kept in preventive custody in a Lisbon jail for more than a year. He is expected to stand trial this summer on more than 90 counts, the most serious of which is tied to accusations that he made an extortion attempt on a soccer agency.
In many cases, Morena said, “the players who are involved in the transfers did not need to set foot in the intermediary club.”
Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Hi Chester,
Yes, the logic of buying a French club can't be faulted. Nancy have a pretty good youth system but one would imagine investment will be made to turn it into a very good one.
The club is not well known outside France but it's a historic club which produced a certain Michel Platini. Whilst i've never been able to abide the man - well before his "football political" career - due to his horrendous arrogance one cannot take away his ability as a player.
Personally I don't think the owners of one club should be allowed to buy another. But for the moment FIFA and UEFA allow it.
As for Mendes and money laundering. What can you say?
Apparently everything is okay at Wolves.
Yes, the logic of buying a French club can't be faulted. Nancy have a pretty good youth system but one would imagine investment will be made to turn it into a very good one.
The club is not well known outside France but it's a historic club which produced a certain Michel Platini. Whilst i've never been able to abide the man - well before his "football political" career - due to his horrendous arrogance one cannot take away his ability as a player.
Personally I don't think the owners of one club should be allowed to buy another. But for the moment FIFA and UEFA allow it.
As for Mendes and money laundering. What can you say?
Apparently everything is okay at Wolves. -
Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
ecc - I share your loathing of Platini - I recognised he was a quality player but could care for him either for France or Juventus (must be something about that club - I have just realised I have never warmed to them
I think my views on football farming operations and Mendes at Wolves have been clear for a long time
I think my views on football farming operations and Mendes at Wolves have been clear for a long time
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
are those investors (and foreign audiences) going to get what they want from the International Champions Cup - this report in the Mail suggests so
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... d-Cup.html
no thought here about the players just a territorial mark in the sand from the ECA/UEFA as the post 2024 Calendar discussions get under way I suspect - this news follows Gianni Infantino's plea at the UEFA Congress on Tuesday that the whole world needs to be part of the calendar debate which he actually kick-started the week before
https://twitter.com/gdunbarap/status/12 ... 2145577985
EDIT of course we have known about this for some time as @TariqPanja (who told us about it in the first place) reminds us https://twitter.com/tariqpanja/status/1 ... 7814634496
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... d-Cup.html
no thought here about the players just a territorial mark in the sand from the ECA/UEFA as the post 2024 Calendar discussions get under way I suspect - this news follows Gianni Infantino's plea at the UEFA Congress on Tuesday that the whole world needs to be part of the calendar debate which he actually kick-started the week before
https://twitter.com/gdunbarap/status/12 ... 2145577985
EDIT of course we have known about this for some time as @TariqPanja (who told us about it in the first place) reminds us https://twitter.com/tariqpanja/status/1 ... 7814634496
Last edited by Chester Perry on Thu Mar 05, 2020 11:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Briefly back to Platini - who you may not be aware is trying to get back into football by standing to be head of the global players union FIFAPRO (think Gordon Taylor on steroids) - anyhow Platini has just had his appeal against the global football ban (which has actually expired) rejected by the European Court of Human Rights
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... s-football
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... s-football
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Both Aston Villa and Leicester City have settled sexual abuse claims with victims who were under their clubs care - 13 years after the abuser was jailed for his actions, 8 years after he died and weeks before the victims compensation claim appeared at the High Court - Football must do better than this
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51665092
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51665092
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Southend join Macclesfield in failing to pay wages on time at the end of February
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51718893
and yet the EFL still fail to act, reject the recommendations of it's governance review, trumpet their absolution in the Bury review and still do not publicly publish either - I have just checked
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51718893
and yet the EFL still fail to act, reject the recommendations of it's governance review, trumpet their absolution in the Bury review and still do not publicly publish either - I have just checked
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Thursday's Price of Football Podcast - comparison of Financial accounts of Wolves promoted in 2018 and Swansea relegated 2018 for their 2018/19 financial results, why sackings are occurring faster, the impact of new immigration rules and something on AFC Fylde
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t ... 3ebf350e96
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t ... 3ebf350e96
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
The FT suggests that Gianni Infantino has greatly inflated the value of his proposed club world cup - quelle surprise!
https://www.ft.com/content/961964a0-5c9 ... 9c2307bcd4
https://www.ft.com/content/961964a0-5c9 ... 9c2307bcd4
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
It is day one of the FT Football Summit in London today - and Andrea Agnelli is continuing his personal mission to dictate who should play in European club football competitions
https://twitter.com/RobHarris/status/12 ... 1441523713
https://twitter.com/RobHarris/status/12 ... 1441523713
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
All of us have watched live football on the telly at some point, all of us will have favourite and hated commentators, some (whether you like them or not become part of the fabric of the game - 90min have been doing a series of interviews with those who have - called #voicesoffootball - there are some fascinating snippets in each so far
Episode 1 - Peter Drury https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4An8XHGZEI
Episode 2 - Clive Tyldesley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_egB7QTXEs
Episode 3 - Martin Tyler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1scoErbhASc
Episode 4 - Barry Davies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qucWtQD_EtQ
Episode 1 - Peter Drury https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4An8XHGZEI
Episode 2 - Clive Tyldesley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_egB7QTXEs
Episode 3 - Martin Tyler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1scoErbhASc
Episode 4 - Barry Davies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qucWtQD_EtQ
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Interesting article from Simon Chadwick for SportsBusiness - looking at the Silverlake investment in CFG - he has been suggesting for quite some time now that the ultimate aim of CFG (from a sporting perspective) is to break the establish structures of Football's authorities
Simon Chadwick | Silver Lake’s stake in City Football Group is no mindless gamble
Professor Simon Chadwick, director of Eurasian Sport at emlyon Business School in Paris, explains why American private equity investor Silver Lake's $500m investment in City Football Group is a safe bet.
'Taking a punt’ is a phrase often used by sports gamblers when placing a bet on the outcome of a match or race. Casual gamblers may have neither method nor reason in placing their bets, though more serious punters will study form in the hope of placing bets that yield a healthy financial return.
Some might argue that the American private equity investor Silver Lake recently engaged in a casual bet when it took a $500m stake in the City Football Group, valuing it at $4.8bn (€4.3bn) overall.
This line of argument presumably became more resonant when, in February, European football’s governing body Uefa banned Manchester City from the Champions League for two seasons following “serious breaches” of its financial fair play rules. Surely Silver Lake made a big mistake last December when it bought into CFG?
For a business that is already invested into such global success stories as Alibaba and AMC, the Silver Lake blind punt hypothesis would appear to be considerably wide of the mark.
Indeed, in the weeks following Uefa’s FFP announcement, it was revealed that Silver Lake is going ahead with plans to build a £350m (€401m/$448m) entertainment complex adjacent to City’s Etihad stadium in Manchester.
In combination with Silver Lake’s initial outlay on CFG, this commitment implies that the California-based outfit is not so much an blindly optimistic casual punter but a considered risk-taker that has undertaken its due diligence.
Betting analogy aside, these latest episodes reveal much about the strategy and direction being taken by a business only with its main offices located in East Manchester.
In corporate terms, Uefa plans to ban Manchester City from its competitions but it can’t ban CFG. This is an important detail, as City increasingly represents just one element in a growing and increasingly diversified investment portfolio. It has long been the intention of CFG’s chief executive Ferran Soriano to create a global entertainment company, founded on a franchise model that derives its operating principles from Walt Disney.
As such, City is only one of CFG’s growing number of franchise clubs across the world. Some of these clubs, such as Mumbai City in India and Sichuan Jiuniu in China, are striking. The former is Bollywood capital of the world, whilst Chengdu (where the latter is based) is fast becoming China’s most important cultural hub. This is prime Silver Lake territory, hence it would be no surprise to see entertainment complexes being constructed as part of the rollout strategies employed by CFG in India and China.
At the same time, CFG has been investing heavily in digital developments (such as the ‘Cityzens’ platform now being used to engage fans with Manchester City), reinforcing its developing presence in the entertainment sector. Some have even speculated that the business may be looking to creating its own ‘straight to consumer’ delivery channels thereby circumventing existing collective broadcasting agreements.
All of this suggests that Uefa’s action against the English football club that CFG owns may at worst be an inconvenience rather than an existential crisis for the business.
Alternatively, CFG may of course be confident that they can challenge and win Uefa’s ruling when it goes before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Otherwise, CFG may seek to pursue redress through the international legal system.
However, rather than fighting short-term legal battles, CFG’s strategy may ultimately be about challenging the legitimacy of localised governance standards being applied to a business operating globally. Indeed, one of the intended endgames could be that CFG pushes European football so far beyond the brink that it obliterates the current regulatory framework and comes out the winner of a contest that fundamentally changes for football forever.
Whatever the outcome of Manchester City’s Uefa travails, one can nevertheless rest assured that Silver Lake’s investment in CFG is no random punt. It is more a safe bet based upon sound judgement, driven by football’s continued morphing into an entertainment commodity, and by the rise of Asian states that have little regard for rules and standards they neither accept nor even recognise.
Simon Chadwick | Silver Lake’s stake in City Football Group is no mindless gamble
Professor Simon Chadwick, director of Eurasian Sport at emlyon Business School in Paris, explains why American private equity investor Silver Lake's $500m investment in City Football Group is a safe bet.
'Taking a punt’ is a phrase often used by sports gamblers when placing a bet on the outcome of a match or race. Casual gamblers may have neither method nor reason in placing their bets, though more serious punters will study form in the hope of placing bets that yield a healthy financial return.
Some might argue that the American private equity investor Silver Lake recently engaged in a casual bet when it took a $500m stake in the City Football Group, valuing it at $4.8bn (€4.3bn) overall.
This line of argument presumably became more resonant when, in February, European football’s governing body Uefa banned Manchester City from the Champions League for two seasons following “serious breaches” of its financial fair play rules. Surely Silver Lake made a big mistake last December when it bought into CFG?
For a business that is already invested into such global success stories as Alibaba and AMC, the Silver Lake blind punt hypothesis would appear to be considerably wide of the mark.
Indeed, in the weeks following Uefa’s FFP announcement, it was revealed that Silver Lake is going ahead with plans to build a £350m (€401m/$448m) entertainment complex adjacent to City’s Etihad stadium in Manchester.
In combination with Silver Lake’s initial outlay on CFG, this commitment implies that the California-based outfit is not so much an blindly optimistic casual punter but a considered risk-taker that has undertaken its due diligence.
Betting analogy aside, these latest episodes reveal much about the strategy and direction being taken by a business only with its main offices located in East Manchester.
In corporate terms, Uefa plans to ban Manchester City from its competitions but it can’t ban CFG. This is an important detail, as City increasingly represents just one element in a growing and increasingly diversified investment portfolio. It has long been the intention of CFG’s chief executive Ferran Soriano to create a global entertainment company, founded on a franchise model that derives its operating principles from Walt Disney.
As such, City is only one of CFG’s growing number of franchise clubs across the world. Some of these clubs, such as Mumbai City in India and Sichuan Jiuniu in China, are striking. The former is Bollywood capital of the world, whilst Chengdu (where the latter is based) is fast becoming China’s most important cultural hub. This is prime Silver Lake territory, hence it would be no surprise to see entertainment complexes being constructed as part of the rollout strategies employed by CFG in India and China.
At the same time, CFG has been investing heavily in digital developments (such as the ‘Cityzens’ platform now being used to engage fans with Manchester City), reinforcing its developing presence in the entertainment sector. Some have even speculated that the business may be looking to creating its own ‘straight to consumer’ delivery channels thereby circumventing existing collective broadcasting agreements.
All of this suggests that Uefa’s action against the English football club that CFG owns may at worst be an inconvenience rather than an existential crisis for the business.
Alternatively, CFG may of course be confident that they can challenge and win Uefa’s ruling when it goes before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Otherwise, CFG may seek to pursue redress through the international legal system.
However, rather than fighting short-term legal battles, CFG’s strategy may ultimately be about challenging the legitimacy of localised governance standards being applied to a business operating globally. Indeed, one of the intended endgames could be that CFG pushes European football so far beyond the brink that it obliterates the current regulatory framework and comes out the winner of a contest that fundamentally changes for football forever.
Whatever the outcome of Manchester City’s Uefa travails, one can nevertheless rest assured that Silver Lake’s investment in CFG is no random punt. It is more a safe bet based upon sound judgement, driven by football’s continued morphing into an entertainment commodity, and by the rise of Asian states that have little regard for rules and standards they neither accept nor even recognise.
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
The harsh financial realities of the Chinese football pyramid
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1005265/w ... er-success
http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1005265/w ... er-success
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
The EFL finally recognises it needs external advice on how to negotiate it's tv rights - this article talks about the international rights but it is probably a positive step for them
https://fcbusiness.co.uk/news/efl-seeks ... agreement/
https://fcbusiness.co.uk/news/efl-seeks ... agreement/
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Following Platini's loss at the European Court of Human Rights FIFA is rubbing it's hands over the suit of him and Sepp Blatter to recover monies it claims were illegally paid (and led to the downfall of both as had been posted in this thread previously)
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... are_btn_tw
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... are_btn_tw
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
La Liga has been trumpeting the success of it's financial controls this week, they are much stricter than any other major league and UEFA's unlike the Premier League
https://newsletter.laliga.es/global-fut ... -fair-play
https://newsletter.laliga.es/global-fut ... -fair-play
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
It comes as no surprise that Oldham's owner plans to pay his most pressing bills at the point his club needs to or die - after all it has become the recognised (EFL accepted)? practice
https://twitter.com/MikeMinay/status/12 ... 3467715587
the news he is not intending to sell - at least to Bassini is welcome though
https://twitter.com/MikeMinay/status/12 ... 3467715587
the news he is not intending to sell - at least to Bassini is welcome though
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
This is going to rub a few noses up the wrong way - UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin says it is time for the English to give up the league cup for the sake of everyone else - part of an exclusive interview with the Times
‘Traditionalist’ English must axe League Cup, says Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin
Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports Reporter
Thursday March 05 2020, 5.00pm, The Times
Uefa’s president Aleksander Ceferin has said “it would be better for everyone” if the English Football League Cup was dropped to ease fixture congestion.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Times, Ceferin, 52, insisted there has been no final decision to expand the Champions League — although he did not rule out there being extra matches — and said that he understood why Manchester City fans were booing the Uefa anthem after the club’s ban from European football.
Ceferin, a Slovenian lawyer who was elected to the most powerful position in European football in 2016, also defended his close relationship with Andrea Agnelli, 44, the Juventus president who is head of the European Clubs’ Association (ECA), spoke out about his fears of the rise of the far right in Europe, and revealed that Uefa will move to end fractional VAR offside calls.
Uefa has spent the past year involved in talks over Champions League reform with the ECA pushing for more games and more guaranteed places. The prospect of more matches would be a problem in English football’s packed fixture calendar particularly, and Ceferin questioned whether having two cup competitions was sustainable — but accepted that the smaller clubs would need financial compensation if it was reduced to one.
Speaking in Amsterdam, he said: “The League Cup is off in France already. Only England remains. I think that everybody knows that it would be better for everyone if that were not played any more.
“Some proposals are ‘more matches’, some proposals are different distribution of solidarity [payments]. We have many proposals on the table.
“Whatever evolution you have, you won’t satisfy everyone. I’m not naive enough to think that everybody will be happy. Everybody will have to step back a bit.”
Real Madrid and other big clubs have raised the prospect of a breakaway “Super League” but Ceferin warned they might be playing with fire if they leave the Uefa competition.
“They shouldn’t forget that the Champions League is the biggest club sports competition in the world, with some tradition,” he said. “You don’t just say, ‘Now I play differently’ and all the fans go and watch you.”
Uefa’s two-year ban for Manchester City for Financial Fair Play breaches — which is being challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport — has led to an outpouring of vitriol towards the European governing body by fans, to the extent that Uefa staff have been warned not to wear official clothing at their matches.
Ceferin insisted that he has not been involved in the case nor the sanction imposed by the independent Club Financial Control Board, but understood the fans’ reaction such as booing the Uefa anthem.
“It’s normal, in a way I understand it. You know how fans are,” he said. “They are our club. I don’t hate a club if they are in some kind of process.
“The ExCo [executive committee] doesn’t decide anything about Financial Fair Play, anything. It’s very good because we have independent bodies. I don’t want to know: I didn’t speak, I didn’t sit with them, and I don’t want to see them.
“The moment you interfere . . . and me, as a lawyer, if I started reading the documents I would have my own opinion, then I might express the opinion, and I don’t want it. No one from the ExCo knew about the decisions that they made. I got the information one hour before it was published.”
Part of the criticism directed at Uefa is that Ceferin is too close to Agnelli — he is the godfather of one of the Italian’s children — and that having Agnelli and the Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi as ECA representatives on the Uefa executive committee is a possible conflict of interest.
Ceferin insisted that he could distance himself from Agnelli and Al Khelaifi when necessary and that they often disagreed.
“Of course, of course,” he added. “It bothers some, especially the ones who would like to divide and conquer. The ones who like to say, ‘We want a Super League’. For me, these are cheap rumours, and we fight at the meetings, we disagree, we have different interests.”
This week Uefa took steps to ensure its disciplinary panel will be more diverse after criticism that an all-white and all-male body does not have the right perspective to decide on sanctions for cases such as racism. Ceferin said it was a first step, but admitted he was seriously worried about the impact of right-wing extremism in Europe on racism in football.
“You have right-wing extremists, populists everywhere, threatening people from other continents — thank God the economic situation is still OK. Imagine that we come to a serious crisis — then, those right-wing extremists would come to power.
“I’m worried about the situation in Europe. I see it in every country, populists shouting, threatening and intelligent people too.
“I spoke with a famous guy from football from England, who said, ‘I support Brexit.’ I said, ‘Yeah, why?’, ‘Because of migrants,’ he said. ‘There are too many migrants’. He’s a very famous guy. Do you think that right-wing idiots, who come to our matches care about football? They just want to present their idiotic ideology.”
Ceferin also revealed that Uefa will change its VAR system so that thicker lines are used for offside decisions in the Champions League next season and possibly Euro 2020 matches to prevent attackers being penalised for fractional offsides.
“Yes, yes absolutely,” he said. “Thicker lines are essential for me, because when you lose a match worth €100 million because of 1cm, because your foot is long or your nose is long, it’s a bit too much.
“The line that is drawn is a subjective thing because he or she draws it in a van or wherever they are. It has to be a clear and obvious mistake. There’s no way back now [with VAR] but let’s see how we improve it.”
‘Traditionalist’ English must axe League Cup, says Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin
Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports Reporter
Thursday March 05 2020, 5.00pm, The Times
Uefa’s president Aleksander Ceferin has said “it would be better for everyone” if the English Football League Cup was dropped to ease fixture congestion.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Times, Ceferin, 52, insisted there has been no final decision to expand the Champions League — although he did not rule out there being extra matches — and said that he understood why Manchester City fans were booing the Uefa anthem after the club’s ban from European football.
Ceferin, a Slovenian lawyer who was elected to the most powerful position in European football in 2016, also defended his close relationship with Andrea Agnelli, 44, the Juventus president who is head of the European Clubs’ Association (ECA), spoke out about his fears of the rise of the far right in Europe, and revealed that Uefa will move to end fractional VAR offside calls.
Uefa has spent the past year involved in talks over Champions League reform with the ECA pushing for more games and more guaranteed places. The prospect of more matches would be a problem in English football’s packed fixture calendar particularly, and Ceferin questioned whether having two cup competitions was sustainable — but accepted that the smaller clubs would need financial compensation if it was reduced to one.
Speaking in Amsterdam, he said: “The League Cup is off in France already. Only England remains. I think that everybody knows that it would be better for everyone if that were not played any more.
“Some proposals are ‘more matches’, some proposals are different distribution of solidarity [payments]. We have many proposals on the table.
“Whatever evolution you have, you won’t satisfy everyone. I’m not naive enough to think that everybody will be happy. Everybody will have to step back a bit.”
Real Madrid and other big clubs have raised the prospect of a breakaway “Super League” but Ceferin warned they might be playing with fire if they leave the Uefa competition.
“They shouldn’t forget that the Champions League is the biggest club sports competition in the world, with some tradition,” he said. “You don’t just say, ‘Now I play differently’ and all the fans go and watch you.”
Uefa’s two-year ban for Manchester City for Financial Fair Play breaches — which is being challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport — has led to an outpouring of vitriol towards the European governing body by fans, to the extent that Uefa staff have been warned not to wear official clothing at their matches.
Ceferin insisted that he has not been involved in the case nor the sanction imposed by the independent Club Financial Control Board, but understood the fans’ reaction such as booing the Uefa anthem.
“It’s normal, in a way I understand it. You know how fans are,” he said. “They are our club. I don’t hate a club if they are in some kind of process.
“The ExCo [executive committee] doesn’t decide anything about Financial Fair Play, anything. It’s very good because we have independent bodies. I don’t want to know: I didn’t speak, I didn’t sit with them, and I don’t want to see them.
“The moment you interfere . . . and me, as a lawyer, if I started reading the documents I would have my own opinion, then I might express the opinion, and I don’t want it. No one from the ExCo knew about the decisions that they made. I got the information one hour before it was published.”
Part of the criticism directed at Uefa is that Ceferin is too close to Agnelli — he is the godfather of one of the Italian’s children — and that having Agnelli and the Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi as ECA representatives on the Uefa executive committee is a possible conflict of interest.
Ceferin insisted that he could distance himself from Agnelli and Al Khelaifi when necessary and that they often disagreed.
“Of course, of course,” he added. “It bothers some, especially the ones who would like to divide and conquer. The ones who like to say, ‘We want a Super League’. For me, these are cheap rumours, and we fight at the meetings, we disagree, we have different interests.”
This week Uefa took steps to ensure its disciplinary panel will be more diverse after criticism that an all-white and all-male body does not have the right perspective to decide on sanctions for cases such as racism. Ceferin said it was a first step, but admitted he was seriously worried about the impact of right-wing extremism in Europe on racism in football.
“You have right-wing extremists, populists everywhere, threatening people from other continents — thank God the economic situation is still OK. Imagine that we come to a serious crisis — then, those right-wing extremists would come to power.
“I’m worried about the situation in Europe. I see it in every country, populists shouting, threatening and intelligent people too.
“I spoke with a famous guy from football from England, who said, ‘I support Brexit.’ I said, ‘Yeah, why?’, ‘Because of migrants,’ he said. ‘There are too many migrants’. He’s a very famous guy. Do you think that right-wing idiots, who come to our matches care about football? They just want to present their idiotic ideology.”
Ceferin also revealed that Uefa will change its VAR system so that thicker lines are used for offside decisions in the Champions League next season and possibly Euro 2020 matches to prevent attackers being penalised for fractional offsides.
“Yes, yes absolutely,” he said. “Thicker lines are essential for me, because when you lose a match worth €100 million because of 1cm, because your foot is long or your nose is long, it’s a bit too much.
“The line that is drawn is a subjective thing because he or she draws it in a van or wherever they are. It has to be a clear and obvious mistake. There’s no way back now [with VAR] but let’s see how we improve it.”
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Every now and again we get round to the thorny subject of club valuation - almost exclusively the people who offer valuations are not the ones who are actually able/wanting to buy. At today's FT Football Summit Bob Ratcliffe (brother of Jim) and head of Ineos Football (who own 2 clubs already had this to say about Premier League Club valuations
https://twitter.com/RobHarris/status/12 ... 5087112194
by top 6 I take it to mean big 6
https://twitter.com/RobHarris/status/12 ... 5087112194
by top 6 I take it to mean big 6
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
ecc mentioned this last night and now it has been confirmed - Man City are in talks with AS Nancy
https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/cit ... over-talks
Simon Chadwick seems to agree with my analysis from last night as to the why
https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/cit ... over-talks
Simon Chadwick seems to agree with my analysis from last night as to the why
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
In spite of announcing their 2018/19 financial results a month ago - Liverpool's full financial Accounts have only appeared at Companies House this week @KieranMaguire takes a look
https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 7908491264
as ever @SwissRamble looks at them in much more detail https://twitter.com/SwissRamble/status/ ... 3527065602
the full accounts can be found here https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/comp ... ng-history
https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 7908491264
as ever @SwissRamble looks at them in much more detail https://twitter.com/SwissRamble/status/ ... 3527065602
the full accounts can be found here https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/comp ... ng-history
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
@Uglygame makes a thought provoking case for a salary cap by using the NFL (which he loves deeply) as n example
https://twitter.com/uglygame/status/1235865414363574274
https://twitter.com/uglygame/status/1235865414363574274
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Talk about a change of mind - apparently Bassini has agreed a deal to buy Oldham - he still needs to show us the money and get EFL/FA approval via fit and proper
https://twitter.com/BenRansomSky/status ... 6602328066
https://twitter.com/BenRansomSky/status ... 6602328066
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
or has he - the deal to buy boundary park led to the adjournment of the administration order hearing today
https://twitter.com/kenlawrence__/statu ... 7492755456
https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/1 ... ress-made/ - you don't lie in court do you?
https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/1 ... on-threat/
https://twitter.com/kenlawrence__/statu ... 7492755456
https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/1 ... ress-made/ - you don't lie in court do you?
https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/1 ... on-threat/
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
more detail from the BBC on the Oldham thing and more confusion - are they or are they not being sold?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51768824
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51768824
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
The EFL's recent misconduct charges against Birmingham City have been dismissed by an independent panel according to the club
https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2020 ... dismissed/
the EFL are reserving judgement on whether to appeal
https://www.efl.com/news/2020/march/efl ... gham-city/
I can't read more than a couple of paragraphs of the article (paywall) but that and the tweet linking it give a few things to consider even following Birmingham's victory today
https://twitter.com/AdamCrafton_/status ... 7632121857
https://www.bcfc.com/news/articles/2020 ... dismissed/
the EFL are reserving judgement on whether to appeal
https://www.efl.com/news/2020/march/efl ... gham-city/
I can't read more than a couple of paragraphs of the article (paywall) but that and the tweet linking it give a few things to consider even following Birmingham's victory today
https://twitter.com/AdamCrafton_/status ... 7632121857
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Who would have thought that a Covid19 would be the cause of the end of the Saturday 3pm blackout - if the door is opened there will be a few boardrooms that will be wedging their foot in there to stop it closing
https://apnews.com/72526cf079ed917d41898764ae18f5c9
and at roughly £1.5m a game (currently) are all clubs going to get that tv appearance money - clubs like ours could seriously profit from this
https://apnews.com/72526cf079ed917d41898764ae18f5c9
and at roughly £1.5m a game (currently) are all clubs going to get that tv appearance money - clubs like ours could seriously profit from this
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
I said a few days ago now that for EFL clubs and below - behind closed door games would be catastrophic - seems like the media are catching up with the idea - from the Telegraph
Coronavirus ban existential threat to EFL clubs as sports industry insider predicts 'multiple Burys'
Matches behind closed doors ‘would kill clubs’, according to sports industry expert while London Marathon delay would hit charity income
By Tom Morgan, Sports News Correspondent and Ben Rumsby 6 March 2020 • 11:18pm
As the Government prepares to hold a crisis meeting with sports bodies and broadcasters on Monday to discuss the coronavirus epidemic, it has been warned that lower-league football clubs could be forced out of business and grass-roots charities severely damaged.
Government officials are likely to discuss a range of options, including the possibility that some events could be held behind closed doors. However, a senior sporting chief forecast “multiple Burys” in the English Football League if matches were played without spectators, urging ministers to delay imposing such action for as long as possible.
London Marathon organisers are also understood to be desperate to avoid postponing the race until the 11th hour, in part due to the potential impact it would have on charities for which it raises millions.
The race, scheduled for April 26, looks increasingly uncertain after the Paris marathon was pushed back from April 5 to Oct 18. The Rome marathon, which was scheduled for March 29, was cancelled, while the World Half Marathon Championships, in Gdynia, Poland, have been moved from the end of this month to October.
Legislation which could give ministers powers to suspend mass gatherings could be tabled next week. They are resistant to launching sanctions like those employed in France and Switzerland after Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer, said there was “no clear rationale” for it at present.
However, the Premier League wrote to its clubs this week to warn of the possibility of playing behind closed doors. It is the risk to the EFL that has chiefs most concerned.
A sports industry insider said: “If you played behind closed doors, it would send many of the EFL clubs under.” English football “could see multiple Burys” because “some clubs don’t have insurance against this at all”. Bolton Wanderers, Coventry City, Blackpool and Macclesfield Town have already been at severe risk of going to the wall this season. “Football is in dead trouble down those leagues,” the source added about the EFL, whose clubs depend on match-day revenue.
The Government, he added, was “well aware” of a potential doomsday scenario in which the Premier League giants – who themselves face major losses over stadium shutouts – would be unable to bail out the lower leagues.
The longer sport could continue without posing a risk in terms of spreading the virus was critical, he added. “How long these restrictions last is a major issue,” he said. “Wuhan has [had] major restrictions now for two months and the virus hasn’t gone away there yet.”
Insurance in the lower reaches of football’s pyramid was discussed by the EFL board on Thursday. Another football insider said some clubs would not be insured for the virus, warning that the impact of behind-closed-doors matches would be “substantial”. “There have been indications that government has funds for contingencies but you also have to recognise that they will have to set priorities carefully,” he said, adding it would be a case of “join the queue”.
Business interruption insurance is only valid if the Government orders matches behind closed doors. One executive at a top-tier club said season-ticket holders would be within their rights to demand partial refunds for any behind-closed-doors fixtures. “I personally think it will be a tough call to make people pay for something they haven’t received,” he said.
The EFL joined the Premier League in announcing that no pre-match handshakes would take place before games.
Sasha Ryazantsev, Everton’s chief finance officer, became the first official from England’s top tier to confirm clubs were forecasting the possibility of a mass shutout, while Steve Bruce, the Newcastle manager, has said it “looks pretty inevitable”. The Football Association was also fearful over England friendlies this month against Italy and Denmark, where Brondby have quarantined 13 people, including a player, after former Danish international Thomas Kahlenberg was diagnosed with the virus.
In other developments, Ajax assistant manager Christian Poulsen and two other coaches were told to stay at home due to concerns over infection. The European Tour golf event scheduled to start in Nairobi next Thursday was postponed.
In the UK, Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, has signalled mass gatherings could be cancelled as the virus spreads. The major sporting events covered in the UK are underwritten by Lloyd’s of London or the broader London commercial insurance market. A Government source said ministers were alert to a potential lack of insurance cover in football. “It isn’t lost on us in terms of the societal and economic factors that are in play,” he added.
The Premier League, meanwhile, played down suggestions that England’s top tier was considering the possibility of temporarily banning over 70s from grounds. Such a dramatic measure would have complicated implications for Crystal Palace as manager Roy Hodgson is 72
Coronavirus ban existential threat to EFL clubs as sports industry insider predicts 'multiple Burys'
Matches behind closed doors ‘would kill clubs’, according to sports industry expert while London Marathon delay would hit charity income
By Tom Morgan, Sports News Correspondent and Ben Rumsby 6 March 2020 • 11:18pm
As the Government prepares to hold a crisis meeting with sports bodies and broadcasters on Monday to discuss the coronavirus epidemic, it has been warned that lower-league football clubs could be forced out of business and grass-roots charities severely damaged.
Government officials are likely to discuss a range of options, including the possibility that some events could be held behind closed doors. However, a senior sporting chief forecast “multiple Burys” in the English Football League if matches were played without spectators, urging ministers to delay imposing such action for as long as possible.
London Marathon organisers are also understood to be desperate to avoid postponing the race until the 11th hour, in part due to the potential impact it would have on charities for which it raises millions.
The race, scheduled for April 26, looks increasingly uncertain after the Paris marathon was pushed back from April 5 to Oct 18. The Rome marathon, which was scheduled for March 29, was cancelled, while the World Half Marathon Championships, in Gdynia, Poland, have been moved from the end of this month to October.
Legislation which could give ministers powers to suspend mass gatherings could be tabled next week. They are resistant to launching sanctions like those employed in France and Switzerland after Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer, said there was “no clear rationale” for it at present.
However, the Premier League wrote to its clubs this week to warn of the possibility of playing behind closed doors. It is the risk to the EFL that has chiefs most concerned.
A sports industry insider said: “If you played behind closed doors, it would send many of the EFL clubs under.” English football “could see multiple Burys” because “some clubs don’t have insurance against this at all”. Bolton Wanderers, Coventry City, Blackpool and Macclesfield Town have already been at severe risk of going to the wall this season. “Football is in dead trouble down those leagues,” the source added about the EFL, whose clubs depend on match-day revenue.
The Government, he added, was “well aware” of a potential doomsday scenario in which the Premier League giants – who themselves face major losses over stadium shutouts – would be unable to bail out the lower leagues.
The longer sport could continue without posing a risk in terms of spreading the virus was critical, he added. “How long these restrictions last is a major issue,” he said. “Wuhan has [had] major restrictions now for two months and the virus hasn’t gone away there yet.”
Insurance in the lower reaches of football’s pyramid was discussed by the EFL board on Thursday. Another football insider said some clubs would not be insured for the virus, warning that the impact of behind-closed-doors matches would be “substantial”. “There have been indications that government has funds for contingencies but you also have to recognise that they will have to set priorities carefully,” he said, adding it would be a case of “join the queue”.
Business interruption insurance is only valid if the Government orders matches behind closed doors. One executive at a top-tier club said season-ticket holders would be within their rights to demand partial refunds for any behind-closed-doors fixtures. “I personally think it will be a tough call to make people pay for something they haven’t received,” he said.
The EFL joined the Premier League in announcing that no pre-match handshakes would take place before games.
Sasha Ryazantsev, Everton’s chief finance officer, became the first official from England’s top tier to confirm clubs were forecasting the possibility of a mass shutout, while Steve Bruce, the Newcastle manager, has said it “looks pretty inevitable”. The Football Association was also fearful over England friendlies this month against Italy and Denmark, where Brondby have quarantined 13 people, including a player, after former Danish international Thomas Kahlenberg was diagnosed with the virus.
In other developments, Ajax assistant manager Christian Poulsen and two other coaches were told to stay at home due to concerns over infection. The European Tour golf event scheduled to start in Nairobi next Thursday was postponed.
In the UK, Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, has signalled mass gatherings could be cancelled as the virus spreads. The major sporting events covered in the UK are underwritten by Lloyd’s of London or the broader London commercial insurance market. A Government source said ministers were alert to a potential lack of insurance cover in football. “It isn’t lost on us in terms of the societal and economic factors that are in play,” he added.
The Premier League, meanwhile, played down suggestions that England’s top tier was considering the possibility of temporarily banning over 70s from grounds. Such a dramatic measure would have complicated implications for Crystal Palace as manager Roy Hodgson is 72
Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Does "mass gatherings" include large workplaces, transit systems especially the Tube, and supermarkets? Because if not, I doubt there is much point banning sports crowds.
As for banning over 70's - I suppose it makes sense if you believe (as the Premier League perhaps do) that 70 year olds are all half-wits and can't be trusted to take their own precautions. But if you believe that 70 year olds are people just like the rest of us, then let them make their own decision.
As for banning over 70's - I suppose it makes sense if you believe (as the Premier League perhaps do) that 70 year olds are all half-wits and can't be trusted to take their own precautions. But if you believe that 70 year olds are people just like the rest of us, then let them make their own decision.
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Oldham release a statement about yesterday's hearing and the move to buy the North Stand to bring back the club's ownership of the whole ground (which can only be a good thing) - also state that there is no ownership change (but does not say that they won't sell)
https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/2 ... statement/
https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/2 ... statement/
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
This Monday sees the 1st trial resulting from a 5 year Swiss Investigation into FIFA corruption - this trial is focussed on the 2006 World cup bid process and organisation. I posted reports of the investigation previously on this thread
https://apnews.com/c37ab5b8a1d8161b39a2134a397e9958
https://apnews.com/c37ab5b8a1d8161b39a2134a397e9958
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Chester Perry
- Posts: 20143
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Touched on Monday's meeting with the Premier League Domestic rights owner last night - if this report in the Times is true it will open a can of worms as to who bears the cost
Free football on TV if crowds are banned
Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports Reporter | Matt Lawton, Chief Sports Correspondent
Saturday March 07 2020, 12.00pm, The Times
Subscription TV channels could be asked to broadcast matches without charge if the coronavirus outbreak results in a ban on large gatherings to prevent the spread of disease.
Football, tennis, cricket and rugby officials will attend a meeting with broadcasters on Monday to discuss contingency plans for Wimbledon and England Test matches in the summer.
Last night the Premier League was considering contingency plans to stop the spread of the virus, including banning over-seventies — the demographic considered to be most at risk — from stadiums, according to Sky News.
At present the government’s official advice that there is no need to limit mass gatherings remains unchanged as drastic “population-distancing strategies” are too disruptive to be worthwhile.
However, as Britain moves from the “contain” stage of isolating local cases to a delay strategy of slowing any spread, difficult decisions will have to be made about disruption to daily life. Sports bodies have been warned that significant restrictions on attendance or a total ban on large gatherings may become necessary.
The meeting on Monday will be hosted by the government at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and will consider options if matches or events have to be called off or played behind closed doors.
In the shorter term there is a risk that international, Premier League and EFL football matches, international rugby union and club games, and rugby league club matches could be affected.
The Premier League has already drawn up plans to deal with the crisis. It is understood that broadcasters will be urged to ensure that they press ahead with screening the events even if they are being played in empty venues so that fans who had intended to go in person will still be able to watch. However, broadcasters who will be attending the meeting believe that there could be a request to make matches free-to-air.
If a ban on large gatherings is implemented it could have the opposite effect to that intended, as sports fans will still watch games in close proximity in venues such as pubs. Taking drastic action too early could also risk making people fed up with onerous restrictions by the time they become absolutely necessary.
English football authorities have already banned pre-match handshakes. Steve Bruce, the Newcastle United manager, said: “It’s starting to look inevitable” that games will be played behind closed doors, as has happened in Italy. The England v Italy football friendly on March 27 also looks under threat.
In Denmark, Copenhagen said that all their games this month would be played without fans. Organisers of the French Open tennis tournament said that they were “studying scenarios” but were not considering a postponement of the tournament, which is scheduled to start on May 24.
French authorities have cancelled events in confined spaces involving more than 5,000 people, but the tournament is not affected by that decision.
Elsewhere, today’s women’s Six Nations match between Scotland and France in Glasgow was postponed last night after a player from the home team tested positive for coronavirus. A Scottish Rugby statement said that seven members of management and players were self-isolating on medical advice. The player had been admitted to a healthcare facility but was otherwise well. The men’s match between the two nations at Murrayfield tomorrow was not affected. Dr James Robson, Scottish Rugby’s chief medical officer said: “We are pleased that our player is doing well and that all the correct medical procedures have been followed and continue to be followed.”
Free football on TV if crowds are banned
Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports Reporter | Matt Lawton, Chief Sports Correspondent
Saturday March 07 2020, 12.00pm, The Times
Subscription TV channels could be asked to broadcast matches without charge if the coronavirus outbreak results in a ban on large gatherings to prevent the spread of disease.
Football, tennis, cricket and rugby officials will attend a meeting with broadcasters on Monday to discuss contingency plans for Wimbledon and England Test matches in the summer.
Last night the Premier League was considering contingency plans to stop the spread of the virus, including banning over-seventies — the demographic considered to be most at risk — from stadiums, according to Sky News.
At present the government’s official advice that there is no need to limit mass gatherings remains unchanged as drastic “population-distancing strategies” are too disruptive to be worthwhile.
However, as Britain moves from the “contain” stage of isolating local cases to a delay strategy of slowing any spread, difficult decisions will have to be made about disruption to daily life. Sports bodies have been warned that significant restrictions on attendance or a total ban on large gatherings may become necessary.
The meeting on Monday will be hosted by the government at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and will consider options if matches or events have to be called off or played behind closed doors.
In the shorter term there is a risk that international, Premier League and EFL football matches, international rugby union and club games, and rugby league club matches could be affected.
The Premier League has already drawn up plans to deal with the crisis. It is understood that broadcasters will be urged to ensure that they press ahead with screening the events even if they are being played in empty venues so that fans who had intended to go in person will still be able to watch. However, broadcasters who will be attending the meeting believe that there could be a request to make matches free-to-air.
If a ban on large gatherings is implemented it could have the opposite effect to that intended, as sports fans will still watch games in close proximity in venues such as pubs. Taking drastic action too early could also risk making people fed up with onerous restrictions by the time they become absolutely necessary.
English football authorities have already banned pre-match handshakes. Steve Bruce, the Newcastle United manager, said: “It’s starting to look inevitable” that games will be played behind closed doors, as has happened in Italy. The England v Italy football friendly on March 27 also looks under threat.
In Denmark, Copenhagen said that all their games this month would be played without fans. Organisers of the French Open tennis tournament said that they were “studying scenarios” but were not considering a postponement of the tournament, which is scheduled to start on May 24.
French authorities have cancelled events in confined spaces involving more than 5,000 people, but the tournament is not affected by that decision.
Elsewhere, today’s women’s Six Nations match between Scotland and France in Glasgow was postponed last night after a player from the home team tested positive for coronavirus. A Scottish Rugby statement said that seven members of management and players were self-isolating on medical advice. The player had been admitted to a healthcare facility but was otherwise well. The men’s match between the two nations at Murrayfield tomorrow was not affected. Dr James Robson, Scottish Rugby’s chief medical officer said: “We are pleased that our player is doing well and that all the correct medical procedures have been followed and continue to be followed.”
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
This is both surprising and not so at the same time - reports that Southampton are up for sale
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... stake.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... stake.html
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Chester Perry
- Posts: 20143
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
@SwissRamble has a look at Leicester City's 2018/19 financial results - a season they lost their owner in tragic circumstances, finished 9th, sacked another manager and poached one from Celtic
https://twitter.com/SwissRamble/status/ ... 3034323968
https://twitter.com/SwissRamble/status/ ... 3034323968
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Chester Perry
- Posts: 20143
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
It is Monday, that means the Price of Football Podcast listener questions - Referees pay, impact of a Premier League wage cap, fan raised finance, can transfer fees be measured in terms of value
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t ... 1482886394
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t ... 1482886394
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Chester Perry
- Posts: 20143
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Wigan Athletic continue to lose money - 2018/19 financial results announced
https://wiganathletic.com/news/2020/mar ... June-2019/
no filing at Companies house yet
https://wiganathletic.com/news/2020/mar ... June-2019/
no filing at Companies house yet
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Chester Perry
- Posts: 20143
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
The Guardian reports on todays meeting between the government and sports authorities, and focuses on the fear of EFL clubs going to the wall if they are forced to play games behind closed doors
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... oors-games
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... oors-games
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
I missed this over the weekend - seems that the EFL officially breached the Saturday 3pm blackout on purpose by opening ifollow to domestic audiences for all 71 Football League clubs, all without having a vote from it's members
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... -3pm-games
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... -3pm-games
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
Southend and Macclesfield are charged by EFL for failing to pay their players
https://www.efl.com/news/2020/march/sou ... le-player/
https://www.efl.com/news/2020/march/mac ... f-players/
https://www.efl.com/news/2020/march/sou ... le-player/
https://www.efl.com/news/2020/march/mac ... f-players/
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
As predicted - it is coming, good luck shutting the door on this one - the FA is believe likely to allow the breaking of Saturday 3pm blackout for behind closed door games - from the Times
FA likely to allow screening of 3pm kick-offs if Covid-19 forces games behind closed doors
Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports Reporter | Matt Lawton, Chief Sport Correspondent | Rebecca Clancy - Monday March 09 2020, 12.00pm, The Times
The FA is likely to waive the Saturday 3pm blackout to allow matches kicking off at that time to be screened or streamed live if coronavirus forces sporting events to be played behind closed doors.
The plan has already been discussed at by the football authorities but it is likely that steps will be taken to prevent those matches being shown in pubs.
A source involved in the talks told The Times: “It makes sense to remove the blackout but what we don’t want to do is create a new problem by just moving those crowds from the stadiums to the pubs.”
All matches involving the EFL clubs could be made available via the League’s iFollow service, which is usually blocked on Saturdays. Sky and BT could be asked to show all Premier League matches for free but to block their signal into pubs.
At a meeting between senior sports administrators and government officials last week Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer, expressed concern that the inevitable consequence of closing sports events to spectators would force fans into pubs.
“He said there was probably more risk of the virus spreading in packed pubs than in open air stadia,” said one official who was at the meeting.
Meanwhile authorities in Germany have confirmed that fans will be allowed into the RB Leipzig v Tottenham Hotspur Champions League match tomorrow. However, the Paris Saint-Germain v Borussia Dortmund game on Wednesday is set to be played behind closed doors, though there has yet to be official confirmation.
A number of countries have already banned fans from sporting events. Formula One’s Bahrain Grand Prix on March 22 will take place behind closed doors, while Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Europa League tie away to Olympiacos in Athens on Thursday will also be in an empty stadium.
The department for digital, culture, media and sport hosted a meeting this morning with major sports broadcasters and officials from football, tennis, cricket and rugby, as well as events such as the London Marathon, to discuss options should the Covid-19 crisis escalate.
The meeting considered all events that could be affected by the virus, including Wimbledon in June, England’s Test cricket and one-day matches and The Hundred, the new tournament which is due to start in July.
“It will be an open conversation about what we can all do to help, should it become necessary,” one senior sports administrator told The Times. “If you look at things logically, I can see broadcasters being asked to make events free-to-air and block signals into pubs.”
In the shorter term, there is a risk that international football, Premier League and Football League matches, international rugby union and club games, and rugby league club matches could be affected — not to mention the London Marathon on Sunday April 26.
The first F1 race of 2020 will be held this weekend in Australia, without any restrictions on spectators, with more than 300,000 expected to attend over the course of the weekend.
Ferrari have confirmed that they will travel to Australia, despite the lockdown in northern Italy which includes their base in Modena.
While many of the team’s personnel had flown on Friday and Saturday, restrictions put in place on Saturday night meant there was concern that those who had not yet flown would not be able to attend the race. However, Ferrari confirmed yesterday that their travel plans were going ahead.
Bahrain’s decision to have a televised-only event will put pressure on the other race organisers to assess whether they should be taking similar action.
It is understood that on Wednesday Chase Carey, the F1 chairman and chief executive, is meeting with the organisers of the Vietnam Grand Prix, the third race on the calendar due to be held on April 3-5, to discuss what measures can be put in place to ensure the health and safety of all involved.
It is understood that all parties are eager for the inaugural race in Hanoi to go ahead, and there is no suggestion yet that it will be held behind closed doors. However, further action could be taken given its porous border with China, the centre of the epidemic.
The Chinese Grand Prix, the fourth race which had been scheduled for April 17-19, has already been postponed due to the virus.
FA likely to allow screening of 3pm kick-offs if Covid-19 forces games behind closed doors
Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports Reporter | Matt Lawton, Chief Sport Correspondent | Rebecca Clancy - Monday March 09 2020, 12.00pm, The Times
The FA is likely to waive the Saturday 3pm blackout to allow matches kicking off at that time to be screened or streamed live if coronavirus forces sporting events to be played behind closed doors.
The plan has already been discussed at by the football authorities but it is likely that steps will be taken to prevent those matches being shown in pubs.
A source involved in the talks told The Times: “It makes sense to remove the blackout but what we don’t want to do is create a new problem by just moving those crowds from the stadiums to the pubs.”
All matches involving the EFL clubs could be made available via the League’s iFollow service, which is usually blocked on Saturdays. Sky and BT could be asked to show all Premier League matches for free but to block their signal into pubs.
At a meeting between senior sports administrators and government officials last week Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer, expressed concern that the inevitable consequence of closing sports events to spectators would force fans into pubs.
“He said there was probably more risk of the virus spreading in packed pubs than in open air stadia,” said one official who was at the meeting.
Meanwhile authorities in Germany have confirmed that fans will be allowed into the RB Leipzig v Tottenham Hotspur Champions League match tomorrow. However, the Paris Saint-Germain v Borussia Dortmund game on Wednesday is set to be played behind closed doors, though there has yet to be official confirmation.
A number of countries have already banned fans from sporting events. Formula One’s Bahrain Grand Prix on March 22 will take place behind closed doors, while Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Europa League tie away to Olympiacos in Athens on Thursday will also be in an empty stadium.
The department for digital, culture, media and sport hosted a meeting this morning with major sports broadcasters and officials from football, tennis, cricket and rugby, as well as events such as the London Marathon, to discuss options should the Covid-19 crisis escalate.
The meeting considered all events that could be affected by the virus, including Wimbledon in June, England’s Test cricket and one-day matches and The Hundred, the new tournament which is due to start in July.
“It will be an open conversation about what we can all do to help, should it become necessary,” one senior sports administrator told The Times. “If you look at things logically, I can see broadcasters being asked to make events free-to-air and block signals into pubs.”
In the shorter term, there is a risk that international football, Premier League and Football League matches, international rugby union and club games, and rugby league club matches could be affected — not to mention the London Marathon on Sunday April 26.
The first F1 race of 2020 will be held this weekend in Australia, without any restrictions on spectators, with more than 300,000 expected to attend over the course of the weekend.
Ferrari have confirmed that they will travel to Australia, despite the lockdown in northern Italy which includes their base in Modena.
While many of the team’s personnel had flown on Friday and Saturday, restrictions put in place on Saturday night meant there was concern that those who had not yet flown would not be able to attend the race. However, Ferrari confirmed yesterday that their travel plans were going ahead.
Bahrain’s decision to have a televised-only event will put pressure on the other race organisers to assess whether they should be taking similar action.
It is understood that on Wednesday Chase Carey, the F1 chairman and chief executive, is meeting with the organisers of the Vietnam Grand Prix, the third race on the calendar due to be held on April 3-5, to discuss what measures can be put in place to ensure the health and safety of all involved.
It is understood that all parties are eager for the inaugural race in Hanoi to go ahead, and there is no suggestion yet that it will be held behind closed doors. However, further action could be taken given its porous border with China, the centre of the epidemic.
The Chinese Grand Prix, the fourth race which had been scheduled for April 17-19, has already been postponed due to the virus.
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Chester Perry
- Posts: 20143
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
No surprise at the top of the Premier League Social Media table but Brighton at the bottom is a shocker for me at least - we are in the final relegation place but given general media perspective on us and size of town - we are not doing to badly
https://twitter.com/Lu_Class_/status/12 ... 82/photo/1
https://twitter.com/Lu_Class_/status/12 ... 82/photo/1
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Chester Perry
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Re: Football's Magic Money Tree
An Interesting article based on a Tony Pulis radio interview where he talks about the importance of recruitment, the lasting impact of a poor/bad transfer window and asks why Technical/Sporting Directors get so many chances when managers don't
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/f ... n=sharebar
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/f ... n=sharebar