The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is facing accusations of not fully consulting its member associations regarding the decision to change the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to a quadrennial format from 2028, The Guardian has reported.

Last month, CAF president Patrice Motsepe revealed plans to change the format of the tournament, which had operated on a biennial basis since 1968.

However, ‘several presidents’ of African football federations have told the UK publication that they had not been made aware of this decision prior to its announcement.

This comes amid claims that the move breached CAF’s statutes, which state that major changes to competition formats must be approved in a general assembly, and need to be ratified by the 54 member associations. These accusations have been denied by the CAF, who told The Guardian that the switch to a quadrennial format was approved unanimously.

Around one month prior to the announcement, the move was reportedly discussed in a meeting attended by some CAF executive committee members, with a full executive committee meeting featuring 23 federations being held in Morocco on the day before it was confirmed.

Decision would “never have passed”

An unnamed federation president told The Guardian: “The decision was already made.

“They said it would be discussed in Morocco, but in the end there was no discussion. If there had been a general assembly and all the presidents were allowed to vote, it would never have passed.”

 

Lazio sporting director to “file a complaint” with FIGC over Taylor transfer

Lazio sporting director Angelo Fabiani has declared that he will report “very strange facts” to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Italy’s Prosecutor’s office regarding transfer talks to sign Kenneth Taylor from Ajax.

Fabiani hit out at intermediaries and transfer agents during a press conference, in which the Serie A club unveiled the signing of the Dutch midfielder alongside Serbian striker Petar Ratkov.

“I will file a complaint with [the public prosecutor’s office] and the FIGC for strange events in Taylor's negotiations,” said Fabiani.

He added: “Something very serious happened with him. It's time to put an end to this; a lot of people are getting involved. I cannot be blackmailed.”

Previous remarks on agents’ “unacceptable” demands

This marks the latest occasion on which the 64-year-old has publicly criticised football agents.

In 2024, Fabiani declared that: “It's unacceptable that agents demand millions in commissions and a percentage of the player's wages.”

 

Fiorentina mourns the passing of owner Rocco Commisso

Fiorentina owner and president Rocco Commisso has passed away at the age of 76, the Italian club have announced.

The Italian-American businessman, who was the CEO of Mediacom, acquired the Serie A side in 2019, in a takeover reportedly worth between $150 million and $200 million.

Control of Fiorentina will now be entrusted to the Commisso family, with his wife Catherine set to assume control, according to Italian media. Meanwhile, day-to-day running of the club will be overseen by general manager Alessandro Ferrari.

Club reflects on “moment of great sadness”

In a statement, Fiorentina said: “With great pain and sadness, the Commisso family, together with his wife Catherine, children Giuseppe and Marisa, and sisters Italia and Raffaelina, announce the passing of President Rocco B. Commisso.

“A heartfelt thought in this moment of great sadness goes to everyone at Fiorentina - staff, players, and employees - to all those who knew Rocco, to the entire Viola community, and above all to all the boys and girls who will continue to carry the Viola colours and the memory of our Rocco throughout Italy and the world.”

INEOS owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reduced the asking price for French club OGC Nice, Bloomberg has reported.

The British billionaire, who completed a full takeover of Nice in 2019 for a reported €100 million, decided to put the club up for sale last year.

Ratcliffe had been seeking more than €200 million for the Ligue 1 side. However the club have failed to progress in talks to secure a new buyer, having only held initial talks with prospective owners thus far.

Uncertainty in French football

Ratcliffe, who also holds a 27.7 per cent stake in Manchester United, appointed Lizard Inc in order to help facilitate a takeover of Nice.

Nice’s struggle to find a new buyer is in part due to the financial uncertainty within French football. This follows the termination of Ligue 1’s domestic broadcast rights partnership with DAZN last year, which was reportedly worth €400 million annually.

UEFA makes loss of €46 million for 2024/25

UEFA has made a financial loss of €46 million for the year ended 30th June 2025. This marks a significant drop compared to UEFA’s €208 million profit for the 2023/24 season.

Overall, European football’s governing body saw its revenue decrease from €6.7 billion to €5 billion over the last year.

Broadcast rights accounted for 81 per cent of UEFA’s overall income, delivering €4 billion for 2024/25. Meanwhile, the organisation’s commercial rights revenue fell from €1.2 billion last season to €786.9 million.

Champions League sees revenue increase

The decline in revenue was expected, due to the absence of a men’s UEFA national competition over the past year.

As for the domestic game, the revamped Champions League’s revenue rose from €2.7 billion to €3.1 billion, while the Europa League and Conference League brought in revenue of €542.5 million.

Spurs hire Carlos Raphael Moersen as director of football operations

Tottenham Hotspur have appointed City Football Group’s (CFG) Carlos Raphael Moersen as the Premier League club’s director of football operations.

In the newly created role, Moersen will aim to “build a modern high-performance football structure to drive long-term success,” according to a club statement.

Moersen has spent more than a decade at CFG, most recently serving as the organisation’s director of football transitions for the last two years. As reported by The Athletic, he is not considered as a replacement for sporting director Fabio Paratici, whose departure to Fiorentina was confirmed earlier this week.

An “important step”

Johan Lange, sporting director at Tottenham Hotspur, said: “Moersen was the outstanding candidate from a highly competitive process and brings a wealth of experience in this critical area of our football operation.

“His appointment is an important step as we continue to strengthen our football structure and support long-term success.”

Hoffenheim launch investigation after data protection breach

Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim have launched a “comprehensive investigation,” following a data protection breach.

In a statement, Hoffenheim said that the incident concerned the club’s list of members, which was “unlawfully circulated”.

According to the German outfit, there is as-of-yet no indication that the data has been misused, with the club implementing further measures to prevent potential misuse of the data.

Hoffenheim have also initiated an internal investigation, as well as reporting the incident to Germany’s State Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information Baden-Württemberg.

Club’s board responds

“The protection of our members' personal data is our highest priority,” Hoffenheim’s board said in the statement.

“We expressly regret this incident and take our responsibility very seriously. Transparency towards our members and a comprehensive investigation are a matter of course for us.”
 

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

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

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

CVC could sell minority stake in GSG

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

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

Benfica in talks over financing Estadio da Luz renovation

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

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

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

JPMorgan’s involvement in Portuguese football

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

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

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

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

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

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

LFP’s response

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Missing out on European football

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

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

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

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

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

Populous set to lead development

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Move to Olympic Stadium

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Call for resignation of president

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paratici’s next chapter

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

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

Rangers name Jim Gillespie as new CEO

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

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

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

An “honour” to join Rangers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Denied to comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Controversy over potential host

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

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

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

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

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

Revenue plateaus since last year

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Alliance represents “trust, foresight, and shared values”

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Serie A ‘loses €300 million annually’

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

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

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

 

Crystal Palace reveal plans to redevelop Selhurst Park

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

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

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

A stadium “south London can be proud of”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reducing waiting list for season tickets

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

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

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

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

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

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

Youth drives top valuations

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

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

Three members of Sheffield Wednesday's preferred bidder revealed

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

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

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

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

The race to take over Sheffield Wednesday

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

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

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

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

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

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

Council of State’s latest ruling

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

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

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

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

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

Could rise to $1.5 billion

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

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

RFEF considers alternative host for 2027 Supercopa de Espana

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

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

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

Another Middle Eastern country

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

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

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

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

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

£78 million on manager sackings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Decline in TV revenue

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

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

Erik Ten Hag joins FC Twente as technical director

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

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

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

Leicester in talks with Southampton executive

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

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

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

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

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

Sevilla’s financial struggles

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Saudi teams to follow suit

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edu facing mounting pressure

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

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

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