Greek businessman Evangelos Marinakis has withdrawn his control over Nottingham Forest, as part of a move to comply with UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.

Although Marinakis will remain as Forest’s owner, he will no longer oversee day-to-day operations at the club, which are currently placed sixth in the Premier League, and are seeking qualification for next year’s Champions League.

The 57-year-old, who is also the majority owner of Greek club Olympiakos, has placed his shares in Forest into a blind trust - this could be a temporary measure in order to avoid a potential conflict of interest.

UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules

As per UEFA’s regulations, individuals are prohibited from controlling two separate teams that are competing within the same competition, which would come to fruition if both Forest and Olympiakos feature in the 2025/26 Champions League campaign.

After Arsenal reached the semi-finals of this year’s Champions League, the Premier League secured an extra spot in next year’s edition of the elite European club competition, meaning the top five placed teams will each qualify.

Aston Villa executive Chris Heck to leave the club at the end of the season

Aston Villa’s president of business operations Chris Heck will leave his role at the end of the 2024/25 season, the club have announced.

The American, who initially took up his position at Villa Park in May 2023, is set to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf according to multiple reports from UK and US media. Prior to his arrival in Aston Villa, he previously held executive positions at the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, and at MLS club New York Red Bulls.

During Heck’s tenure, Villa generated a club-record revenue of £275.7 million for the 2023/24 season, during which the Premier League team qualified for the 2024/25 Champions League, returning to European football's elite club competition for the first time since 1983.

Villa have already opened their search for Heck’s replacement, and expect the appointment to be finalised ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Heck reflects on “unrivalled progress” on and off the pitch

“Aston Villa is one of the best clubs in the world, and I am grateful to have had an opportunity to contribute to their success over the past two years,” Heck said.

”From the beginning, we laid out a clear strategic road map, and I am so happy with the unrivalled progress we have made on that plan. In doing so, we have built a world-class team off the pitch to match the one that Unai Emery has built on it. I am an Aston Villa fan for life and look forward to seeing the club continue to make history.”

Burnley reveal £24.9 million loss for 2023/24 season

Burnley FC have reported a loss of £24.9 million for the year ended 31st July 2024.

This marks a slight improvement on the club’s loss of £27 million for the 2022/23 season, after their promotion from the Championship to the Premier League.

According to the club, which have just recently secured promotion back to the top tier of English football, this year’s loss was mainly due to an increase in player amortisation, which rose from £20.5 million to £42.6 million.

The financial impact of Premier League promotion

Following Burnley’s promotion to the Premier League for the 2023/24 season, the club’s total revenue more than doubled from £64.9 million to £133.6 million.

The uptick in revenue was largely driven by an increase in broadcast revenue, which surged from £47.8 million to £110.6 million. Meanwhile, Burnley’s commercial revenue more than tripled, rising from £3.2 million to £10.7 million.

Luton Town tap Limak to build new stadium, with work set to begin this summer

Luton Town have appointed Turkish construction company Limak to build the English club’s new 25,000-seat stadium at Power Court, the club have announced.

Work on the new venue will get underway this summer, and is expected to be completed ahead of the 2028/29 season. Ankara-based Limak has also worked on the development of the Spotify Camp Nou, the home of Barcelona.

In December, Luton were given the green light to build a new stadium, after receiving planning approval from the Luton Borough Council.

New stadium presents “transformative opportunity” for Luton

The Championship club’s new stadium project will aim to catalyse a broader regeneration of central Luton, and is expected to provide more than 1,000 permanent jobs.

Gary Sweet, CEO at Luton Town, said: “This is a transformative opportunity for the Club, helping us realise our ambitions to be a Premier League club again one day.

“Importantly, this new stadium project roots us in our community, bringing jobs and investment as part of the wider regeneration of the area.”

Chelsea reveal DAMAC as main shirt sponsor for remainder of 2024/25 season

Chelsea have signed a new partnership that designates Dubai-based company DAMAC Properties as the club’s front of shirt sponsor for the remainder of the 2024/25 season, the club have announced.

The deal will not include this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, with the club still looking to secure a long-term shirt sponsor.

Chelsea have been without a main shirt sponsor since the beginning of the current campaign, after the expiry of the club’ previous deal with Infinite Athlete.

DAMAC to develop Chelsea-branded residences in ‘£1 billion’ project

The agreement will additionally see the real estate developer oversee the development of Chelsea Residences by DAMAC, a new project that will include Chelsea-branded residence in Dubai.

This project will comprise more than 1,400 residential units, and will cost more than £1 billion, according to The Athletic.

Spanish club CF Intercity receive €40 million investment for new stadium project

Spanish third tier side CF Intercity have received a €40 million investment from Dubai-based fund Alpha Blue Ocean.

€33 million of the new funding will go towards the construction of the club’s new stadium, Alicante Park.

According to the club’s estimations, the new stadium project could generate more than €100 million per year to the local region.

Intercity’s new stadium plans

In January, Intercity announced the acquisition of a 100,000-square-meter site, where the club intends to build a 20,000-seat stadium as part of a sports and entertainment complex.

The Alicante-based club have also recently appointed Nakamoto Partners to help secure further investors for the new venue, with the club expecting receive additional offers ‘in the coming weeks’.

Manchester City are demanding that Premier League clubs reveal more details regarding shareholder loans from their owners, as reported by The Times.

The club are currently embroiled in a legal battle with the Premier League over the English top flight’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules. In City’s latest challenge against the Premier League, the club are arguing that rival clubs including Arsenal, Brighton, and Everton have an unfair advantage due to loans from their respective ownership groups.

Arsenal received around £259 million in shareholder loans during the 2022/23 season, while Everton benefited from £450 million. In the previous campaign, Brighton received approximately £406.5 million.

City’s latest legal battle with the Premier League

The English champions recently won a previous case against the league, after an arbitration tribunal deemed its APT regulation to be ‘void and unenforceable’.

City and the Premier League are set for their next legal trial in October, as reported by Sky Sports earlier this month.
 

Premier League opposed Reading takeover by Dai Yongge

The Premier League did not approve Reading’s takeover by Chinese businessman Dai Yongge in 2017, according to The Times.

Yongge completed a £24.5 million takeover of the club in 2017, when the team were competing in the Championship. However, the Premier League advised the EFL against the club’s sale at the time and is said to have made it clear that Yongge would have to sell his stake in Reading, should the club return to the top flight.

The Premier League previously prevented a Yongge-led consortium from buying Hull City, after deeming that the investor had not ‘shown good faith’ in his application to purchase the club. However, EFL's legal advice decided against disqualifying him due to it's rules at the time.

Reading handed until May to find new buyer

In February, the 57-year-old was disqualified as an owner by the English Football League (EFL), with the League One club initially handed a 4th April deadline to find a new buyer. Although this has since been extended until 5th May, the club could face a suspension from the EFL if they fail to secure a new owner in time.

According to a recent report from The Guardian, Reading are currently in ‘advanced talks’ over a takeover by US businessmen Rob Couhig.
 

DAZN and LFP close in on early termination deal

The French Professional Football League (LFP) and DAZN are close to agreeing to an early termination of their Ligue 1 broadcast rights partnership at the end of the 2024/25 season, according to L’Équipe.

DAZN is said to be ready to pay a €100 million cancellation fee, in order to exit the contract at the end of the current campaign. The broadcaster initially signed a five-year agreement last year, which included domestic rights to eight Ligue 1 fixtures per week until 2029, and is reportedly worth €400 million annually.

Earlier this month, LFP’s board of directors agreed to cancel the current deal, however DAZN rejected the proposal, as the company was unwilling to pay a termination fee that was reported to be worth between €110 million and €125 million.

LFP could create in-house Ligue 1 channel

LFP could look to launch its own channel to broadcast matches from next season. In order to facilitate this, Qatari network BeIN Sports would need to end its current media rights deal, which includes rights to one match each week.

LFP’s potential new channel could be produced and distributed by DAZN, unless the governing body decides to seek a different broadcaster.
 

Leeds United announce leadership changes following Premier League promotion

Leeds United have promoted chief strategy officer Robbie Evans to the role of managing director, as part of a series of changes to the club’s leadership team.

The Yorkshire club, which recently secured promotion back to the Premier League for the 2025/26 season, have also appointed chief operating officer Morrie Eisenberg as their new chief business officer, while finance director Fay Greer has been promoted to chief financial officer.

Leeds have additionally named Adam Underwood as their new sporting director. The new hires come after the departure of CEO Angus Kinnear, who recently joined Premier League club Everton.

New appointments to help “drive the club forward”

Paraag Marathe, chairman at Leeds United, said: “I am excited to welcome this group into their new roles as leaders of the club.

“These appointments are a recognition of the depth of our leadership team, our significant sporting and business achievements over the past two seasons, and our commitment to building a high-performing club led by individuals who represent Leeds United inside and out."
 

Mayor of London open to talks with Chelsea over new stadium plans

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has said he is open to discussions with Chelsea over the club’s stadium plans, during an interview with The Times.

The Premier League club are currently considering an expansion of their longtime home, Stamford Bridge, or alternatively the construction of a new stadium at Earl’s Court.

“My message to Chelsea is come and speak to us in relation to what you want to do,” Khan told The Times. “We’re really keen to make sure that Chelsea, as we are with all our clubs, continue to flourish and thrive, so we’re open to talking to Chelsea about what plans they have.

“At the moment they’ve not approached us. But we’re here.”

Twickenham could be temporary option if Chelsea opt for new stadium

The Times is also reporting that Twickenham, the home of England’s national rugby union teams that has a capacity of 82,000, could be a temporary option for Chelsea, if the club decides to build a new venue at the Stamford Bridge site.

English rugby union’s governing body, the RFU, is interested in accommodating the West London club for up to seven years until the new stadium is complete, however this could be prohibited by the Richmond upon Thames council.
 

AFC Bournemouth have reached an agreement to buy back their Vitality Stadium home, the Premier League club have announced.

Black Knight Stadium Limited, a new entity set up by the club’s owner Black Knight Football Club, will be the official owner of the venue. Black Knight FC, which is controlled by US businessman Bill Foley, completed a full takeover of Bournemouth in 2022.

Vitality Stadium has been Bournemouth’s home since 1910, however the club sold the venue for £3.5 million in 2005, when the team was then in League One and struggling with financial debts.

Stadium to expand to 20,000 capacity

“This acquisition is a strategic and logical step as we pursue AFC Bournemouth’s and Black Knight Football Club’s continued ambitions,” said Foley, in a club statement.

“We have acknowledged that accommodating more of our growing fanbase is integral to our goals for the club, and this move will allow us to pursue all options moving forward.”

Speaking at the opening of Bournemouth’s new £32 million training centre on 25th April, Foley revealed plans to expand the stadium’s capacity to 20,000 seats over the next two and a half years, adding that it could be further expanded to accommodate 23,000 fans.
 

Leyton Orient confirm takeover by US consortium

Leyton Orient’s takeover by a US consortium led by David Gandler is now complete, the English League One club have confirmed.

Under the agreement, Gandler has now become the majority shareholder of the East London club, after acquiring a 78.55 per cent stake.

Orient, who were previously owned by Eagle Investments 2017 Limited, are currently chasing promotion to the Championship.

Leyton Orient’s plans under new ownership

The club outlined a list of long-term objectives under the new ownership, which includes becoming a team that ‘can compete sustainably’ in the Championship, as well as building a new stadium in Waltham Forest, and enhancing their training facilities.

Nigel Travis, Chairman of Leyton Orient, said: “Our new investment will enable us to continue our on-pitch progression, whilst also pursuing other projects that will protect the long-term future of Leyton Orient, such as a new stadium and training facility.”
 

Borussia Mönchengladbach post €2.4 million loss for 2024

Borussia Mönchengladbach have reported a loss of €2.4 million for the financial year ended 31st December 2024, after generating a profit of €4.3 million the previous year.

Revenue dropped by €15 million, falling from €199.8 million to €184.5 million, which the German club attributes mainly to a decrease in revenue from player transfers, which was down from €38 million to €18.9 million.

Meanwhile, Mönchengladbach’s media rights revenue saw a slight decrease from €68.2 million to just under €65 million, after the club finished 14th in the Bundesliga, compared to their tenth-placed finish in 2022/23.

2024 figures a “respectable result”

Despite an equity drop of €2.5 million to €48.9 million, the club still has the second largest equity of any Bundesliga club without an investor or shareholder.

Dr. Stefan Stegemann, managing director at Borussia Mönchengladbach, called it "a thoroughly respectable result,” and stated that the club would have made an overall profit if the home fixture against Bayern Munich would have taken place at the end of 2024, as opposed to in January.
 

MediaPro retracts challenge over LaLiga’s new broadcast production deal

MediaPro has withdrawn its challenge against LaLiga's new broadcast production deal with HBS and TSA, which was announced earlier this month.

The new partnership will see the longstanding collaboration between MediaPro and Spain’s top flight conclude at the end of the 2024/25 season.

On 14th April, the company labelled the new agreement as ‘outrageous’, and criticised LaLiga’s production rights tender process as lacking transparency.

MediaPro’s U-turn on previous stance

MediaPro has now retracted its previous statement, which the company says was based on a ‘premature assessment of the tender process’, adding that it has ‘no grounds’ to challenge LaLiga’s decision.

‘We did not possess a factual basis to support these assertions and should therefore be disregarded,’ MediaPro said in its latest statement. ‘Likewise, MediaPro also wishes to retract any suggestion that the tender process lacked transparency or was marked by secrecy.'

English Football League (EFL) clubs have expressed concern over the appointment of David Kogan as the first chairman of English football’s new independent regulator, according to The Times.

Last Friday, the UK Government’s culture secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed the 67-year-old media rights executive as the preferred candidate for the position. However, clubs in the EFL, which governs the Championship, League One, and League Two, are reportedly concerned over Kogan, who previously served as a media rights advisor to the Premier League between 1998 and 2015, and who has worked “hand in glove” with former Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore.

The independent regulator, which will oversee the top five tiers of English men’s football, will aim to provide financial sustainability for clubs, as well as protecting their heritage, and allowing greater representation for fans.

In his new role, Kogan will be tasked with resolving a longstanding dispute between the Premier League and EFL regarding parachute payment made to relegated teams.

Clubs ‘surprised’ by Kogan’s appointment

As reported by The Times, some club executives were ‘surprised’ that Kogan was selected for the role.

In March, the UK Government had reportedly shortlisted three candidates for the position, which included former Aston Villa CEO Christian Purslow, and Sanjay Bhandari, the chairman of anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out.

AC Monza enter takeover talks with US fund

Serie A side AC Monza are in talks with a US fund over a majority stake acquisition, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

According to Italian media, negotiations regarding a potential investment would see the group initially acquire a 65 to 70 per cent stake in the club, prior to completing a full takeover.

Incumbent CEO Adriano Galliani would reportedly remain in his role, in the event of a change in ownership.

Monza’s ownership

Since October last year, when Monza’s ownership confirmed that they had held talks over the club’s sale, a number of potential bidders have been linked to Torino, including American financier Mario Gabelli.

The club has been under the ownership of the family of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi since 2018, through their holding company Fininvest.

Parma Calcio post loss of €63.4 million for 2024

Serie A club Parma Calcio have revealed a loss of €63.4 million for the financial year ended 31st December 2024.

That figure marks a €17 million improvement compared to the previous year’s financial statements, following the team’s promotion to the Italian men’s top flight at the end of the 2023/24 season.

The club spent first six months of the accounting period in Serie B, and six months in Serie A, after making their return to the elite division.
Over the last year, Parma’s overall revenue rose by 43 per cent from €28.9 million to €41.5 million. The uptick in media rights revenue to reach €16.6 million was the main driver of this increase. Meanwhile, the club generated €9.3 million in sponsorship and commercial revenue.

No financial debt

Despite the overall loss, the club currently has no financial debt, with a liquidity index of 1.2, which is above the Italian Football Federation’s (FIGC) threshold of 0.7.

In a statement, Parma said that the club ended the financial year with a positive net equity of €20.1 million, due to the equity amount at the beginning of the year and its conversion into capital of €63.7 million, which was carried out by the club’s owner, Krause Group, during 2024. This contribution subsequently offset the Serie A side’s overall loss for the period.

Torino return to profitability for the first time in seven years

Torino have reported a profit of €10.4 million for the financial year ended 31st December 2024.

This marks a return to profitability for the Serie A club for the first time since 2017. Last year, Torino made a loss of €9.6 million. Over the last year, the club’s revenue increased from €101.1 million to €134.5 million, primarily driven by profit on player sales.

Torino’s costs meanwhile rose from €109.4 million to €114.8 million.

Torino’s revenue increase

The club’s overall turnover for 2024 includes €59.3 million in revenue from transfers and other income, of which €58.4 million is from capital gains. This is more than double last year’s figure of €24.8 million, of which capital gains accounted for €23.2 million.

Media rights revenue saw a slight decrease from €52.4 million to €48.5 million, while the club's sponsorship, commercial, and royalties revenue reached €16.6 million, up from €15.7 million last year.

Ajax and CEO avoid sanctions after investigation into insider trading

AFC Ajax and their CEO Alex Kroes will avoid any sanctions, following an investigation by the Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM).

Last April, Ajax’s supervisory board suspended the 50-year-old over insider trading, alleging that he had purchased more than 17,000 shares in the Amsterdam-based club just one week before he was hired in August 2023.

Although the AFM revealed that it had ‘not established any violation’, the authority said it expects Ajax to ‘tighten its current and future practices’ in regards to the handling of insider information.

Club should have been ‘more diligent’

In a statement, Ajax said: ‘The AFM established that Kroes acted with insider information and issued a warning to him. The current director of football at Ajax, the AFM concluded, should have been more diligent in the summer of 2023 in complying with the laws and regulations concerning insider information.

‘Ajax and Kroes attach great importance to the fact that both investigations have been concluded and consider both matters settled following the discussions with the AFM.’

Aston Villa plan to increase Villa Park’s capacity to 50,000 as part of a renovation of their home stadium, the club have announced in a statement.

Through the redevelopment project, the Premier League club will expand the venue’s North Stand from around 5,000 seats to a capacity of more than 12,000.

The renovation is set to be completed in 2027, ahead of the men’s UEFA Euro 2028 championship the following year, with Villa Park set to serve as a host venue during the tournament. Villa say that the stadium’s capacity will not be compromised at any point during the redevelopment process.

Upgraded Villa Park to generate £120 million per year for local economy

According to the club’s projections, the revamped North Stand will help increase Villa’s impact on the local economy to £120 million annually, with the expanded Villa Park set to attract more than 1.1 million visitors each year, and helping provide more than 1,700 jobs.

Plans to expand Villa Park’s capacity from 42,918 come at a time of significant success for the Birmingham club, who are aiming to qualify for the Champions League for a second successive year, and recently reported record revenue of £276 million for 2023/24.
 

Rangers confirm ‘productive conversations’ over 49ers Enterprises-backed takeover

Rangers have confirmed takeover talks with US investors over a potential takeover, in a statement shared with UK media.

The 55-time Scottish champions said that they have held ‘productive conversations’ with a US consortium, which includes US healthcare tycoon Andrew Cavenagh, and 49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.

Last month, Rangers reportedly agreed to a deal in principle that would see the 49ers Enterprises-led group acquire a 51 per cent controlling stake in the club.

Takeover expected to be finalised this summer

The Glasgow club have been engaged in talks with prospective investors since October, with the takeover set to be completed before the 2025/26 season.

49ers Enterprises also owns Leeds United, following a full £170 million takeover completed in 2023.
 

NBA coach Jason Kidd joins Everton’s ownership group

Jason Kidd, the head coach of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, has joined Roundhouse Capital Holdings, the ownership group of Premier League club Everton.

The 52-year-old becomes the second US investor to join the group this week, following US businessman Christopher Sarofim.

Roundhouse sits within The Friedkin Group (TFG), which completed a takeover of the Merseyside club last year, acquiring the 94 per cent majority stake previously held by Farhad Moshiri in a deal reportedly worth more than £400 million.

Potential for collaboration between Everton and the Mavericks

As reported by The Athletic, Kidd’s arrival comes as part of a plan to expand Everton’s fanbase within the US and could also open up scope for potential content collaborations between the English club and NBA franchise.

In November, English media reported that Jason Kidd was involved with a US consortium bidding for Eagle Football Holdings’ 45 per cent stake in Crystal Palace. However, the offer did not meet Eagle’s valuation.

Media rights executive David Kogan set to become first chair of English football’s independent regulator

UK media executive David Kogan is set to be named as the first chair of English football’s new independent regulator, according to The Athletic.

The 67-year-old has been identified as the leading candidate for the position, mainly due to support from UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer. Throughout his career, Kogan has worked with a number of sports organisations, including the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL).

Plans for an independent regulator, which will oversee the top five tiers of English men’s football, are currently passing through parliament under the Football Governance Bill.

Next steps

The announcement of Kogan’s appointment could come from the UK Government’s Department of Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) already today or Monday.

Following approval, he is then set to face a number of UK members of parliament (MPs) in a confirmation hearing in May.
 

Crypto firm Tether increases investment in Juventus

Cryptocurrency firm Tether has increased its investment in Juventus to more than ten per cent.

Tether initially invested in the Serie A club in February, acquiring a 8.2 per cent stake in the 36-time Italian champions.

Further details of the company’s latest investment in Juventus were not revealed, however the firm expressed interest in future equity funding of the club, and said it is exploring the prospect of an ‘integrated and unified board of directors’.

Investment represents “long-term collaboration”

Paulo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, said: “This investment is not just financial - it’s a commitment to innovation and long-term collaboration."

As a result of increasing their stake to ten per cent, Tether now holds 6.2 per cent of the voting rights.
 

US investor Christopher Sarofim has joined Everton’s ownership group, Roundhouse Capital, the Premier League club have announced.

The 62-year-old will serve as a Board Observer at the Merseyside club, which was acquired by the Friedkin Group (TFG) last December in a takeover deal that was reportedly worth more than £400 million.

Sarofim, who has more than 40 years of experience in investment and fund management, is also a minority shareholder in NFL franchise the Houston Texans. According to the Guardian, Everton’s new owners are looking to bring in additional investors who will bring specific skillsets and contacts.

New investor to bring “experience, sound judgement, and wisdom”

Friedkin Group chairman and CEO, Dan Friedkin, said: “Christopher Sarofim is someone I have known and respected for many years. He brings experience, sound judgment and wisdom that will be valuable as we continue to drive the Club forward in all areas.”

Sarofim added: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to join the ownership group of Everton - an historic sporting institution with a very exciting future."
 

LaLiga clubs break record and exceed €5 billion in revenue

LaLiga has reported ​total normalised revenue of €5.05 billion for the 42 clubs in Spain’s top competitions for the year ended 30th June 2024.

This marks a 3.2 per cent increase over the last year, but at the same time the clubs posted a net loss of €241.9 million compared to a profit of €244.2 million in 2022/23.

Throughout the 2023/24 season, LaLiga recorded its highest ever total attendance of 16 million spectators, with an average occupation rate of 75.4 per cent.

LaLiga clubs’ combined debt rises

Despite LaLiga’s growth in normalised revenue for the 2023/24 season, the combined debt of the 20 clubs in the first tier of the organisation increased to €6.43 billion.

This marks the league’s highest consolidated gross financial debt in six years, and is almost double the €3.4 billion figure posted for the 2019/20 season.
 

Spezia Calcio sold by FC32 two months after takeover

Italian club Spezia Calcio have revealed US businessman Thomas Roberts as their new owner, after acquiring the club through RAM Spezia Holdings LP.

This marks the second change in ownership for the Serie B club this year, following a takeover by FC32 in February. Spezia had previously been owned by US businessman Robert Platek since 2021.

FC32, a multi-club ownership group led by Australian Paul Francis, recently withdrew its financial commitment from Austrian side SKN St. Pölten and Irish club Cobh Ramblers. With the sale of Spezia, FC32 no longer holds ownership of any clubs, bringing their multi-club venture to an end just 11 months after acquiring SKN St. Pölten.

New ownership announces revamped board of directors

Following Spezia’s latest takeover, board member Charlie Stillitano is set to become the new president of the club’s board of directors. The American previously worked as general manager of MLS’ New York/New Jersey MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls).

Andrea Corradino will serve as Spezia’s new vice president, with Andrew Gazzoli confirmed as the club’s new CEO.
 

Leeds United’s stadium development plans approved by city council

Two key recommendations of Leeds United’s plans to expand the club’s Elland Road home have received unanimous approval from Leeds City Council’s executive board, with the club aiming to increase the stadium’s capacity from 37,890 to 56,000.

The Yorkshire club, saw the recommendations given the green light by the council on Wednesday, as reported by The Athletic, only days after securing promotion to the Premier League. The first recommendation involves the club purchasing the land behind the venue’s Don Revie and John Charles stands to expand the stadium, where Leeds have played since the club’s inception in 1919.

The second includes an agreement to enter a memorandum of understanding (MoU), between the council and Leeds’ development partner, Lowy Family Group (LFG).

Stadium expansion part of a “brighter future”

James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “The regeneration of the Elland Road area represents one of the city’s most exciting development opportunities for a generation, which would revitalise a huge area of Leeds and potentially bring hundreds of millions of pounds into our local economy.

“Leeds United are a Premier League side in a Premier League city and today is a key moment in moving towards a better, brighter future for the club, the fans and sport in Leeds.”
 

Manchester City’s second challenge against the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules will result in a legal trial in October, according to Sky Sports.

In February, City won their initial legal case against the English top flight over its APT regulations, which were declared ‘void and unenforceable’ by an arbitration tribunal.

In City’s latest case against the Premier League, the current champions are now claiming that other teams have an unfair competitive advantage due to shareholder loans from their owners. The hearing in October will likely last around two weeks.

City’s ongoing dispute over APT rules

First introduced in 2021 following the Saudi-backed takeover of Newcastle United, the APT regulations were brought in in order to ensure that commercial partnerships between clubs and companies linked to their owners were of fair market value.

In 2023, the Premier League blocked City from signing new agreements with Etihad Airways and First Abu Dhabi Bank - which both have ties to the club’s ownership - deeming that the deals were not of fair market value, thus breaching the APT rules.

UEFA distributes record €233 million to clubs for releasing players for national team competitions

UEFA has allocated a record figure of €233 million to clubs for releasing players for European national team competitions between 2020 and 2024.

Through the UEFA 2024 Club Benefit Programme, 901 teams from 55 national associations were allocated funds for releasing players to compete in the Nations League, European championship qualifiers, and last year’s men’s UEFA Euro 2024 championship.

Manchester City received €5.2 million from the UEFA, the most of any club, followed by Real Madrid and Inter Milan, who received €4.8 million and €4.7 million respectively.

“When football thrives, everyone benefits,” says UEFA president

“It is fantastic to see clubs of all sizes and levels, across the entire football pyramid, receiving financial rewards for their vital role in developing players who contribute to the success of our national team competitions - including the highly successful UEFA Euro 2024 final tournament,” said UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin.

“Every success of our competitions is a shared one, and this benefits programme is another testament to that principle, recognising the dedication of those who work tirelessly to make European football the greatest sport in the world. When football thrives, everyone benefits.”

Italian Government set to approve new Sports Decree to unlock up to €5 billion for stadiums

The Italian Government is set to approve a new Sports Decree, which will open up between €4.5 billion and €5 billion for football stadium developments, as reported by II Sole 24 Ore.

The new decree, which is backed by Italy’s Minister of Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, is intended to accelerate the construction and renovation processes for venues that have been delayed.

This comes ahead of the men’s UEFA Euro 2032 championships, which will be held in Italy and Turkey.

In total, the stadium development projects will cost between €7 billion and €10 billion, according to the Italian Government’ projections. This includes plans for the new San Siro, the proposed new home of AC Milan and Inter Milan, which is expected to cost up to €1.5 billion.

“Time is of the essence,” says Italy’s sports minister

“This is to respond to a need that is that of 2032, which is brought forward to 2026 for the definition of the five Italian stadiums,” Abodi said.

“UEFA has set a deadline of April-May 2027 for the construction to be underway, under the threat of withdrawal of the allocation. Therefore, time is of the essence.”

Schalke 04 faces potential points deduction due to financial struggles

Schalke 04 are facing the possibility of a points deduction if it fails to improve its negative equity by five percent within this calendar year.

The club announced on its website that they have received their license for the 2025/26 season of the 2. Bundesliga as expected. However, there is a stipulation that requires an improvement in their financial situation to avoid a penalty in the 2026-27 season.

The club acknowledges that meeting the five percent equity improvement target will continue to be a significant challenge in the future.

"Major challenge"

Christina Rühl-Hamers, a member of the club's board, commented on the situation, stating.

"In the calendar year 2024, we managed to meet the equity rule, even though it was a great achievement for Schalke 04. Improving equity by five percent will continue to be a major challenge for us in the future."

Currently, Schalke 04 is positioned at 13th place in Germany's second-tier league. The club's financial health and performance on the pitch remain critical areas of focus as they work to meet regulatory requirements and maintain their competitive status in the league.

The Miller family and Miller Sports + Entertainment (MSE) have acquired a controlling stake in RSL Holdings, the owner of MLS club Real Salt Lake (RSL) and NWSL team, the Utah Royals.

The deal is worth $600 million according to The Athletic, and also includes America First Field and Zions Bank Stadium, the respective home stadiums of the MLS and NWSL franchises, as well as the Zions Bank training facility.

In 2022, RSL were subject to a reported $400 million takeover led by David Blitzer, the US businessman who is an investor in Crystal Palace, FC Augburg and other European football clubs.

The Miller family have a longstanding connection with the US state of Utah, having previously owned the Utah Jazz for 35 years, until selling the franchise in 2020 for $1.6 billion.

RSL and Utah Royals “in great hands"

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the Miller family into the Club,” Blitzer said. “Our sports teams are best when we have a strong, local partner, and Miller Sports + Entertainment will truly enable Real Salt Lake Holdings to accomplish our visionary goals.”

MLS commissioner, Don Garber, added: “The future of Real Salt Lake is in great hands with the Miller organization and David Blitzer. “Together, this group is perfectly positioned to strengthen the club and grow soccer in Utah and the region.”

English clubs warned over rising security costs amid new UK Government legislation

English football clubs have been warned against security firms looking to exploit new legislation, which is intended to safeguard venues from potential terrorist attacks, according to Mail Online.

Martyn’s Law, which is named after Martyn Hett, a victim of the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, will take effect within the UK over the next two years, and will mandate that public venues with a capacity of 800 or more implement more thorough security measures.

As revealed by Mail Online, the English Football League (EFL), which governs the Championship, League One, and League Two, has written to its member clubs to warn them about ‘committing to further expenditure’, amid rising security costs as a result of the new legislation.

Premier League and EFL to collaborate

Over the next two years, the Premier League and EFL will reportedly both work with clubs to ensure that they are compliant with the new regulations.

The UK Government’s Home Office will publish statutory guidance in order to help clubs understand how they can comply with the new legislation.

FIFA ‘yet to secure’ tax exemption for teams participating in Club World Cup

FIFA and US authorities have yet to finalise a tax exemption for the 32 teams participating in this year’s Club World Cup, according to The Guardian.

Clubs taking part in the tournament, which will be held in the US between 14th June and 13th July, could reportedly receive tax bills worth ‘tens of millions of dollars, if FIFA is unable to secure these agreements before it kicks off.

FIFA also has to circumvent he challenge of different tax rate across US states. Paris Saint-Germain could reportedly be one of the clubs most heavily impacted by this, with the Ligue 1 champions set to play two of their three group stage fixtures in Los Angeles. By contrast, Florida, where matches will be staged in Miami and Orlando, has no state income taxes.

FIFA’s $1 billion prize purse

As announced by FIFA last month, this year’s Club World Cup will include a record prize fund of $1 billion. Meanwhile, each of the 11 host cities will receive a $1 million legacy payment from football’s global governing body.

The winner of this year’s competition will earn up to $125 million, with FIFA tageting $250 million in solidarity payments to club football globally.

Premier League clubs charging up to £1,800 for mascot experiences

Premier League clubs are charging parents up to £1,800 plus VAT for their children to be mascots at matches, as reported by The Telegraph.

The UK newspaper lists a number of clubs that are reportedly charging fees for the mascot experience, including Nottingham Forest, whose packages are priced at between £1,200 and £1,800, as well as Brighton, Ipswich Town, and West Ham United.

The Telegraph says that the cost of mascot packages has risen by 157 per cent since 2020, however some clubs such as Aston Villa have abandoned fees, with West Ham United lowering their costs since then.

Forest and Brighton defend mascot fees

Nottingham Forest and Brighton have both claimed that for each game, numerous mascot places are provided for free, through community initiatives.

Forest said in a statement: "On a match-day, Nottingham Forest invite a minimum of two match mascots, with one of these being a participant invited from our Community Trust programmes and offered free of charge, and the other as part of a hospitality package which we can't put a price on as it is sold as a wider package."

The Premier League has confirmed a change to its Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), after losing its legal battle to Leicester City.

Last September, Leicester won an appeal against the league, after initially being charged for breaches of the English top flight’s PSR regulations. Leicester made collective losses of £215.3 million between 2020 and 2023, which is more than double the PSR limit of £105 million over a three-year period.

However the club were able to avoid any sanctions from the Premier League, after an independent commission deemed that the league’s PSR were not applicable, as Leicester had been relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2022/23 season.

The Premier League’s updated rules

As per the Premier League’s handbook for 2024/25, which was published on 11th April, the division will now retain the right to sanction clubs that have been relegated.

In the latest rules, clubs are prohibited from losing more than £35 million annually in the top flight, or £13 million for every year in the English Football League (EFL) competitions, which include the Championship, League One and League Two.

The latest regulations additionally state that the league’s board can also impose sanctions from the EFL on teams that have been promoted to the Premier League.
 

Takeover of Vitesse Arnhem ‘under pressure’

The takeover of Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem is now ‘under pressure’, according to regional publication de Gelderlander.

In January, Vitesse announced that five foreign investors had taken over the club, replacing their previous owner, US investment firm the Common Group.

However, the five new shareholders, whose identities have not yet been revealed by the club, have not provided necessary information for the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) licensing committee.

The five investors and Vitesse have reached a 'dead end', due to their repeated attempts to circumvent the KNVB's licensing committee. The new owners are reportedly trying to bypass the KNVB's approval process by acquiring minority shares, with each one worth less than 25 per cent, in order to exploit a loophole.

Vitesse’s struggles continue

After recently receiving a three-point penalty, Vitesse are reportedly facing further sanctions, and could even potentially have their professional license revoked.

Last season, the club were handed an 18-point deduction, the highest in the history of Dutch football, for multiple breaches of the KNVB’s licensing regulations, and were subsequently relegated from the Eredivisie to the Eerste Divisie second tier division.

In November, Vitesse received a further 21-point sanction from the KNVB's licensing committee, marking their third point deduction penalty.
 

A-League Men to introduce $3 million salary cap from 2026/27

Australia’s A-League Men is set set to impose a new hard salary cap of $3 million from the 2026/27 season, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has announced in a statement.

The move comes as part of a strategy to bolster financial sustainability within Australian football’s top flight.

The A-League Men, which currently has a soft cap of $2.55 million, will include a ‘hard cap trial’ of $3.5 million next season. Clubs that breach the hard cap during the 2026/27 campaign will face financial and sporting sanctions.

New structure to support “competitive balance”

Reflecting on the latest reforms within Australian football, the APL’s executive chair Stephen Conroy said: “We are doubling down on strategies that are already working; investing in our product and highlighting our fantastic homegrown talent.

“The implementation of these reforms over the coming years is designed to ensure a competitive balance and to build long term foundations for growth that helps unlock the full revenue potential of each club.”
 

FIFA president Infantino confirms plans for LAFC vs Club América playoff

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed plans for a playoff fixture between LAFC and Club América, in order to qualify for this year’s Club World Cup.

In March, Mexican team Club Leon were ejected from the tournament, after breaching FIFA’s multi-club ownership regulations, as Leon share the same owner, Grupo Pachuca, as CF Pachuca, who also qualified for the competition.

Earlier this month, Club Leon launched an appeal against FIFA’s decision, which was filed with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Infantino’s comments

“In a couple of weeks we will have the final and definitive decision, we will respect any decision,” Infantino told reporters earlier this week, on Club Leon’s ongoing appeal.

“What we are looking at is that, if CAS confirms the decision of the Appeals Committee, FIFA's intention is to play a match, a playoff, between the team that lost the final of the CONCACAF Champions League, LAFC, and the next team in the ranking, which is América.”

DAZN has rejected the French Professional Football League's (LFP) proposal to terminate its Ligue 1 domestic broadcast rights partnership at the end of the 2024/25 season.

During a meeting held by LFP on 15th April, Ligue 1’s board of directors agreed to end the contract at the end of the current campaign.

As reported by RMC Sport, the proposal included a termination fee of between €110 million and €125 million, which would be paid to the LFP.

UK-headquartered DAZN initially signed a five-year agreement worth a reported €400 million annually to become the exclusive domestic broadcaster for Ligue 1 matches until 2029.

DAZN’s ongoing dispute with the LFP

In February, DAZN withheld half of its monthly payment to LFP, and also initiated legal action, seeking €573 million in compensation pertaining to alleged ‘contract breaches’ and 'market dishonesty’.

Although DAZN would later agree to pay the outstanding fee and dropped its legal case, the Paris Commercial Court would later appoint a mediator to help resolve the ongoing dispute.

After DAZN rejected the proposed termination fee LFP Media put out a short statement noting the failure of the mediation stating that 'The contract binding the parties remains in force and LFP MEDIA expects its partner to fully fulfill all of its obligations'.

The next payment by DAZN is due 30th April.
 

Brentford's owner acquires Spanish club Mérida AD

Best Intentions Analytics (BIA), the holding company that now owns Premier League club Brentford, has confirmed a full takeover of third tier Spanish side Asociación Deportiva Mérida.

Under the agreement, BIA will acquire 100 per cent of the Mérida AD’s shares, replacing Mark Heffernan, who had been the club’ majority owner since 2021.

Matthew Benham has been Brentford’s controlling shareholder since 2012, but with the recent acquisition of Mérida, Best Intentions Analytics is now listed as the majority owner of the club. Benham is identified as the person with significant control (PSC) of BIA.

Benham’s ownership

During his tenure, the 56-year-old has presided over a period of success for the club, which have risen from League One to the Premier League. Benham’s investment also helped fund Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, which has been home to the team since 2020.

The deal to buy Mérida AD marks Benham’s latest ownership venture, after the entrepreneur previously served as the majority owner of Danish club FC Midtjylland from 2014 to 2023.
 

Premier League clubs spent more than £400 million on agent fees in 2024/25

Premier League clubs have spent a combined £409.1 million on agent fees during the 2024/25 season, the English Football Association (FA) has revealed.

For a second successive year, Chelsea spent the most of any Premier League team on agent fees, accounting for £60.4 million. Manchester City and Manchester United finished second and third on the list for the second year running, spending £51.1 million and £33 million respectively.

Championship clubs spent a combined £63.2 million on agent fees, compared to League One’s expenditure of £7.6 million, League Two’s total of £2.7 million, and the National League’s figure of £953,000.

Chelsea also lead WSL in agent costs

In the women’s game, Chelsea spent £623,000 on agents over the last year, which was the most of any WSL club. That figure is worth almost triple the amount of second-placed Arsenal, who spent £223,000 by comparison.

Overall, WSL clubs spent a combined £2.2 million on agent fees, which is almost a ten-fold increase on the Women’s Championship’s total spending of £286,000.
 

MediaPro challenges LaLiga’s new production deal with HBS and TSA

Spanish production company Mediapro is challenging LaLiga’s new broadcast production rights partnership with HBS and TSA.

Earlier this week, Spain’s top flight revealed the new five-year agreement, which will see the two companies replace MediaPro from the start of the 2025/26 season.

This will end MediaPro’s longstanding collaboration with the Spanish top-flight, which spans more than 20 years.

MediaPro’s response

In a statement on 14th April, MediaPro blasted LaLiga’s ‘outrageous’ new partnership with HBS, highlighting the Swiss company’s lack of a ‘technical facility’ within Spain.

MediaPro also criticised LaLiga’s production rights tender process, which it described as ‘characterised by secrecy and a lack of transparency’, and said the company will ‘consider any possible challenge to the decision’.

Ex-Manchester United football director John Murtough joins Atalanta

Atalanta have hired former Manchester United football director John Murtough as the Serie A club’s director of global development, the Italian club have confirmed.

The 54-year-old will start his role with immediate effect, reporting to Atalanta’s sporting director Tony D’Amico.

The Bergamo-based club say the Englishman’s appointment will help strengthen an area that aims to further develop its international vision.

Manchester United tenure

Murtough spent more than 10 years in Manchester between 2013 and 2024, becoming United’s first ever football director in 2021. He left the club in the spring last year shortly after Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment in the club had been completed.

Previously, he also worked at the Premier League, Everton, Fulham and Coventry City.