Manchester City have escalated their battle with the Premier League after launching a legal challenge against its Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules for the second time in 13 months.

As reported by The Times, City’s lawyers have informed the Premier League they are seeking another arbitration hearing concerning the rules. It is understood City’s key issue is focused on the treatment of shareholder loans.

Last October, an independent arbitration tribunal concluded that some of the rules were unlawful and City warned that further legal action would follow if the Premier League “rushed” to introduce amendments before the panel had deliberated on its findings.

In a letter to clubs on Thursday afternoon, the Premier League chief executive, Richard Masters, revealed the latest development.

“The Premier League remains strongly of the view that the amendments passed in November were lawful and the APT rules comply with all competition law requirements. We consider that the new arbitration must be resolved as soon as possible and, to that end, have agreed that the same tribunal should be appointed to hear the new case. The parties are currently corresponding in relation to further directions.

“The APT rules remain in full force and effect and clubs remain required to comply with all aspects of the system.”

Fair market valuation checks

The arbitration tribunal findings should become known later this month but City have acted now in requesting a new arbitration. In their new case the club cite the fact that the original tribunal took issue with shareholder loans not being subject to the same fair market valuation checks as sponsorship deals.

Under the amended rules the existing shareholder loans have been set aside, meaning they will still not be subject to the scrutiny that could lead to retrospective fees running into many millions. This, City argue, provides clubs which have benefited from such loans with an unfair advantage.

FIFA report: New January transfer window record as spending reaches $2.35 billion

A record $2.35 billion was spent globally on international transfer deals in the January transfer window, with the spending fuelled largely by English and Saudi Arabian clubs, according to data from FIFA’s latest International Transfer Snapshot.

English clubs collectively spent the most, shelling out $621.6 million on transfer fees and recouping just $186 million from player sales to clubs in other countries.

The next biggest deficit was Saudi Arabia, where clubs spent more than $160 million above what they earned. The spending of $202 million was mostly led by Al Nassr, Al Hilal and other clubs owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Ten transfers of €30 million-plus

German clubs spent $295.7 million, mostly offset by earning $226.2 million in transfer sales. French clubs took in the highest total of transfer fees, $371 million, and spent $209.7 million.

In January 2024, only one transfer was reportedly valued at more than €30 million ($31 million). There were 10 such transfer fees agreed last month, including four to Manchester City, and topped by Colombia forward Jhon Durán’s $80 million move from Aston Villa to Al Nassr.

Premier League to consider cutting winter transfer window to two weeks

Premier League clubs are considering reducing the winter transfer window to two weeks and closing the summer transfer window before the beginning of the season, according to a report from The Daily Telegraph.

The proposal to shorten the summer window from its current length has been raised in talks between clubs since the end of the most recent window, which ran from 1st January to 3rd February. The aim is that it minimises disruption to managers and their squads once the games begin.

The summer window ended before the start of the season in 2018 and 2019, but this was abandoned because other leagues in Europe kept their window open until the end of August. Since then Saudi Arabia’s Pro League has become a major influence in the market and it is likely to be open for the full scope of the window – as laid out by FIFA.

Meeting of sporting directors

The debate over the timing of transfer windows happened at a meeting of sporting directors of the 20 Premier League clubs last Thursday and came ahead of a Premier League shareholders’ meeting this week.

The club owners and CEOs will decide whether the proposal has any chance of going to a vote. The chief argument concerns the integrity of the game and how the movement of players during the season might affect that.

Spezia Calcio takeover by FC32 multi-club group complete

The sale of Spezia Calcio by the Platek family to the multi-club ownership group FC32 has been completed following the agreement struck between the two parties at the end of January.

FC32, which is led by US investor Paul Francis, had signed a binding agreement for the purchase of 100 per cent of the Platek’s shares. As reported by Italian media, with the takeover now officially complete, the club, who are third in Serie B, have appointed a new board of directors.

Andrea Corradino is the new president, with Francis vice president and Andrea Gazzoli CEO. Also on the new board are the experienced football executive Charlie Stillitano, who is the executive chairman of the US-based sports media company and events promoter Relevent Sports, and football finance specialist Federico Mari.

Platform for footballers

FC32 is a collective of over 80 investors, including former athletes and industry professionals from across the world. With backing from three other American investors alongside Francis and a European fund, its primary goal is to provide a platform where footballers can be involved in the ownership and management of clubs.

The group has already acquired Austrian side St. Polten and Irish club Cobh Ramblers and were previously involved in negotiations to buy Australian team Newcastle Jets.

US businessman Glenn Straub interested in AC Ajaccio takeover

American investor Glenn Straub is interested in a possible takeover of the troubled Ligue 2 club AC Ajaccio, French media have reported.

According to his adviser Jose Lambiet, Straub arrived in Ajaccio ahead of the weekend for talks with the club's directors about its financial position and was planning to attend its home match against En Avant Guingamp on Saturday.

The Corsican club, who are currently 14th in the French second-tier, were provisionally relegated to the Championnat National by French football’s financial watchdog the DNCG in December.

Debts of €8 million

Ajaccio are now reported to be for sale for just €1, although the club’s adviser, Jordan Mathias of CMM Partners, has said he will take offers from buyers who are also able to take on the debt of the club, which totals around €8 million.

Straub, who is based in Palm Beach, Florida and is linked to the company that runs the Miss America beauty pageant which in November filed for bankruptcy, was recently in discussions over possibly buying the Belgian Pro League club Standard de Liege.

The English Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has threatened the Premier League with legal action if it tries to introduce a hard salary cap next season under new financial rules.

As reported by The Athletic, the players’ union has made its threat in a letter sent to the league and its 20 clubs amid concerns the Premier League is going to vote on the proposals at its shareholders’ meeting next week.

The Premier League is keen to bring in a cost-control measure known as ‘anchoring’, which would set a hard cap on how much any team can spend on its squad, with the cap being a multiple of the central payment the league makes to the team that finishes 20th in the table.

Hard limit

The PFA is strongly opposed to anchoring as it would clearly apply a hard limit on how much clubs can spend on wages, regardless of their own ability to meet the costs.

The union also claims the Premier League has not properly explained why it wants to bring in anchoring or given sufficient details on how it will work. The league, however, has strongly rejected this.

A Premier League spokesperson said: “We have complied with PFNCC requirements and the PFA has had multiple opportunities since March 2024 to provide feedback on the rules and the principles that underpin them.”
 

Borussia Dortmund dismiss technical director Sven Mislintat

Borussia Dortmund have announced the departure of technical director Sven Mislintat with immediate effect after 10 months in the role.

The decision comes two weeks after the Bundesliga club parted ways with head coach Nuri Sahin following a run of just one win in nine matches, with Dortmund subsequently appointing Niko Kovac as manager.

Mislintat’s dismissal continues a period of complication behind the scenes at Dortmund, with long-time CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke due to leave the club later this year.

Sebastian Kehl contract extended

Dortmund announced last month that sporting director Sebastian Kehl had extended his contract until 2027 following uncertainty surrounding his future.

Kehl had been a candidate for the newly-created managing director of sport role which was ultimately inherited by Lars Ricken in May. The Athletic has previously reported that Mislintat and Kehl have had a strained relationship.
 

Chelsea fans accuse Todd Boehly of “breach of trust” over ticket resale site

Chelsea fans have accused Todd Boehly of a “breach of trust” over his ownership of a ticketing platform found to be re-selling Premier League match tickets for thousands of pounds.

As reported by The Times, the Chelsea co-owner is a director and investor of Vivid Seats, an American website which allows users based outside of the UK to buy and sell tickets to concerts and sporting events, often at inflated prices.

Vivid Seats is listed by the Premier League as an “unauthorised ticket website”, with the league urging fans to “exercise extreme caution” when dealing with the site. It is a criminal offence for an unauthorised person in the UK to sell a ticket for a designated football match.

Supporters’ concerns

Boehly’s position raises the possibility that he is essentially profiting from a practice that his own club have denounced, and in a statement the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust called on Boehly to address supporters’ concerns.

“Vivid Seats currently lists hundreds of Chelsea FC General Admission tickets at significantly inflated prices,” a spokesman said. “As these tickets are not sold by the Chelsea FC website, they are considered by the club to be ‘illegal sales’.”

In a statement, Vivid Seats said: “Our policy restricts the sale of EPL [English Premier League] tickets from UK sellers. We can confirm that we do not have any UK sellers listing EPL inventory on our marketplace.” It added that “only the seller sets and receives the base ticket price.”
 

Manchester City’s Premier League charges ‘discussed by UK and UAE officials’

The 115 Premier League charges facing Manchester City have been discussed between UK and UAE officials amid concerns over the case’s potential impact on relations between the two countries, according to a report from Bloomberg.

Sources familiar with the matter told the newswire that the UAE has brought up the case and the possible wider impact in talks with the British government.

The UK is trying to repair recently strained relations with the UAE, and doesn’t want to get involved in the highly emotive subject of the charges against City, who have denied any wrongdoing. The club’s owner is Sheikh Mansour, the UAE vice-president.

Detrimental impact

However, UK officials are said to be privately concerned that the Premier League's decision could have a detrimental impact on Abu Dhabi's broader investment in Britain.

A UK government spokesman said the UK and UAE have a deep and long-standing bilateral relationship and that deepening trade and cooperation on defence and security is a top priority.
 

RFEF president Rafael Louzan to remain in power after court clears him of fraud

Rafael Louzan, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president, can remain in the role until 2028 after being cleared of fraud in court.

As reported by Spanish media, Louzan's seven-year ban from holding public office was overturned by the country's Supreme Court yesterday.

A provincial court had ruled against Louzan back in 2022 for misconduct during his tenure as president of the Pontevedra Provincial Council. He appealed to the Supreme Court, which allowed him to run in the RFEF presidential election in December 2024.

Renovation of football pitch

According to the Supreme Court’s ruling, there was no corrupt practice when Louzan granted an €86,311 subsidy for the renovation of a football pitch in Moraña, Pontevedra.

If the charges were upheld, he would have been prohibited from exercising his role in charge of Spanish football.
 

UEFA considers scrapping extra time for Champions League knockout rounds

Discussions to scrap extra time from Champions League knockout rounds are reported to be gathering speed within UEFA in what would be a new step to reduce the number of minutes played by top clubs.

According to The Guardian, the topic of taking ties in UEFA’s club competitions straight to penalties is being given serious consideration, although a change midway through this TV rights cycle, which runs until the end of the 2026/27 season, is unlikely.

Extra time has long been a point of contention among European football’s stakeholders, with some players’ unions arguing strongly that its abolition would ease strains on a bulging calendar.

Fixture congestion

Cutting the additional 30 minutes from two-legged ties would go a small way towards alleviating the problems caused by late-season fixture congestion. It could also be popular among clubs that undergo the gruelling regimen of qualifying rounds in July and August.

Last season just three Champions League ties from the round of 16 onwards went into extra time, while none at all required an additional period in 2022/23. Four ties in the 2023/24 Europa League went the distance, down from six the season before.
 

Manchester United develop ‘Mission 21’ plan to become Premier League champions

Sir Dave Brailsford has unveiled a plan to staff at Manchester United called ‘Mission 21’, aimed at delivering a 21st English league title for the club, according to a report from The Times.

The former British Cycling chief is taking a more central role in performance at United alongside Jason Wilcox, the technical director, in the wake of Dan Ashworth’s departure as sporting director in December.

Brailsford is director of sport for INEOS, working across Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s sporting empire as a principal adviser in a relationship that dates back to the INEOS takeover of the all-conquering professional road cycling team in 2019.

Central figure in transformation

Manager Ruben Amorim remains very much in charge of first-team matters, but Brailsford is now a central figure in driving what United hope is a transformation of the performance culture after years of decline.

Brailsford has drafted the new blueprint for United’s future with the assistance of James Morton, a professor of exercise metabolism at Liverpool John Moores University and the head of nutrition and physical performance lead at Team Sky when they were dominating the Tour de France.

The Premier League’s chief football officer Tony Scholes has said that Chelsea and Manchester City will not be permitted to start the 2025/26 season later if they get to the final of the expanded Club World Cup.

Scholes said the league’s stance is simply down to the fact the “calendar is squeezed as much as it can be”, and attributed the issue to a problem “imposed upon us, particularly by FIFA”.

Progress through the competition could create complicated decisions around the contracted minimum break for players of three weeks. The Club World Cup is due to conclude on 13th July –33 days before the Premier League’s 16th August start, and potentially just 26 days before the Community Shield.

Semi-automated offside technology

Meanwhile, Scholes confirmed that the Premier League will press ahead with the implementation of semi-automated offside technology this season, and stressed “there is a conviction” its introduction “part way through the season will not raise any competition issues”.

Scholes also said the top-flight is planning to introduce in-stadium VAR announcements from next season in an attempt to provide greater understanding of key refereeing decisions. “Our intention is for the referee to announce VAR decisions in the middle of the pitch,” he said.
 

RFEF estimates €540 million will be invested to refurbish 11 stadiums for 2030 World Cup

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has estimated that around €540 million will be invested to renovate the 11 stadiums to be used in Spain for the 2030 World Cup, which will be hosted jointly with Portugal and Morocco.

María Tato, a member of the RFEF’s World Cup executive committee, said the funds will come from different organisations involved in the tournament. "Five years before the World Cup, we have 60 per cent of the stadiums offered at full use and with the capacity to host World Cup matches,” she said.

The 11 stadiums are in nine host cities: Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, Bilbao, San Sebastián, A Coruña, Las Palmas and Zaragoza. The venues were chosen based on technical, operational, financial and sustainability aspects.

Forty-five sub-venues

Tato, who was speaking at the first World Sports Congress, held at the National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC) in Barcelona, said 45 sub-venues have also been selected, which she said will require some investment to guarantee an optimal condition at the training grounds as well as ensuring the provision of facilities for the media and equipment.

"The World Cup is not only about stadiums,” she said. “It is about stadiums, base camps, training centres and lodgings.”
 

English National League clubs write to EFL requesting third promotion spot

All 72 clubs in the National League have formally asked the English Football League (EFL) to grant the fifth tier a third promotion place from the start of next season.

In a statement, the National League said the request is the first step in its ‘3UP’ campaign, a nationwide effort that will run until the summer, and follows an extraordinary general meeting of clubs last week from the National League and the sixth-tier National League North and National League South.

At present, only the National League champions are guaranteed promotion to EFL League Two, with the next six clubs entering a play-off for a second spot.

Wider financial reset

Three teams are promoted from the Championship and League One each season, with three teams coming down to replace them, while it is four-up/four-down between League Two and League One.

The EFL’s leadership has said it is open to the idea of extending three-up/three-down to the National League but wants to introduce it as part of the wider financial reset with the Premier League.
 

Watzke admits progress needed by Borussia Dortmund sporting management

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has admitted there is room for improvement in the club’s sporting management but called for patience amid a difficult season on the pitch, with the team currently in 11th place in the Bundesliga.

Speaking at the SPOBIS Conference in Hamburg, Watzke was asked about the cooperation between managing director of sport Lars Ricken, sporting director Sebastian Kehl and external consultant Matthias Sammer.

"It's all about the question do the three harmonise with each other? And that still needs to be optimised,” Watzke said, before pointing out that the trio have only been working together for half a year.

“Pronounced egos”

The long-time Dortmund CEO, who is to step down from his role later this year after handing over the sporting department to Ricken last summer, added that in football there are "always pronounced egos", and that people will try to “test [the sporting department’s] limits".

Watzke said Ricken's task now is to make sure "that everyone marches in the same direction and if you then have the feeling in the medium term that he doesn't, you have to change something in the concept. But that's no longer my issue."
 

Lotito targets completion of new Lazio stadium by 2029

Lazio president Claudio Lotito is aiming to accelerate the club’s plans for a new stadium and has targeted completion by 2029 so the venue can be considered for Euro 2032, which will be hosted jointly by Italy and Turkey.

The Serie A club are eager to have their own ground, rather than continue to share the Stadio Olimpico with arch-rivals AS Roma, and have identified the currently defunct Stadio Flaminio as the best option on the table.

As reported by Italian media, Lotito has now sent a letter to the mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri outlining the specific objectives of the stadium project, which is estimated by the club to cost €392.6 million plus VAT.

Preliminary phase

In the letter, Lotito writes: "Our hope is that the preliminary phase will be completed by the end of 2025, to access the final phase in the first part of 2026 and the start of work in the second part of 2026.

“This would allow us to conclude the work in the first half of 2029 … [and] … deliver an international stadium to the city for the 2032 European Football Championships".
 

NWSL must create $5 million fund for players after abuse scandal settlement

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) must create a $5 million fund to compensate players abused by coaches and team officials following a settlement between the league and three attorneys general.

The deal, which involves the AGs from Washington, Illinois and New York and the NWSL Players Association, was reached more than three years after allegations of harassment, emotional abuse and sexual misconduct led to investigations and prompted a series of changes by the league.

Numerous players who reported abuse are eligible for compensation, with any unclaimed money donated to the players’ association’s emergency and charitable fund. How the funds to players will be distributed was not immediately clear.

Vetting of coaches and officials

The agreement also requires the NWSL to “continue implementation of comprehensive reforms to improve player safety and well-being,” such as vetting of prospective coaches and team officials, multiple methods for players to report abuse, and the provision of counselling.

The league must also submit biannual reports to the attorneys general for the next three years, detailing the implementation of the settlement terms and reporting any complaints alleging misconduct. Failure to meet requirements laid out in the settlement would result in $2 million penalties.

The 2024/25 winter transfer window saw total spending across all leagues reach €2.3 billion, an increase from €1.7 billion in the 2023/24 winter window. This marks a significant rise in transfer activity compared to last year.

Premier League clubs were the biggest spenders, investing €500.55 million in new signings. This is a sharp increase from last season’s €134.10 million, when they ranked third in total spending.

Ligue 1, which led the 2023/24 winter window with €266.43 million, dropped to third place this season with €201.80 million spent.

Serie A surges, Bundesliga climbs, while LaLiga spending plummets

Outside of the Premier League and Ligue 1, Serie A ranked second this winter with €229.00 million in spending, increasing from last year’s €110.28 million. The Bundesliga ended this year as number five, with German clubs spending €169.85 million, from €105.85 million in 2023/24.

LaLiga clubs significantly reduced their investment in players, spending only €26.13 million compared to €86.25 million last year.

The Brazilian Serie A, which was among the top-spending leagues in both seasons, saw a decrease from €208.00 million last year to €174.53 million this winter.

Todd Boehly linked to controversial Premier League ticket resale platform

The Telegraph has uncovered that Todd Boehly, co-owner of Chelsea Football Club, is also a director and investor in Vivid Seats, a US-based website involved in the controversial resale of Premier League tickets.

According to the report, Vivid Seats allows foreign users to resell tickets at exorbitant prices, potentially reaching tens of thousands of pounds. The platform reportedly takes a 10 per cent commission and a service fee ranging from 20 to 40 per cent of the original ticket price.

This practice, which is illegal for fans based in Britain, has been denounced by Chelsea FC and other Premier League clubs. Chelsea has actively committed to combating ticket touting, both online and offline, as stated on their official website.

"unauthorised ticketing website"

Vivid Seats is listed as an "unauthorised ticketing website" by the Premier League, which warns fans against using such platforms due to risks including being denied entry or purchasing counterfeit tickets.

On Monday, tickets on the site for current leaders Liverpool’s final-day game against Crystal Palace were priced between £1,622 and £17,672.

Newcastle edges closer to £1.2bn, 70,000-seat stadium plan

Newcastle United's board is edging towards proposing the construction of a new £1.2 billion stadium next to their current St James’ Park home according to a report from The Telegraph.

The potential new stadium would have a capacity of just under 70,000, making it the second-largest club stadium in the Premier League after Old Trafford.

While the final decision rests with the majority stakeholder, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, there is increasing support for the new stadium plan over the alternative option of expanding St James’ Park.

Keeps city-center roots intact

The location shift would keep Newcastle in their city center location, with only a short walk from the current Gallowgate End. The design envisages a bowl-shaped stadium that would stand taller than St James’ Park.

It is anticipated that Newcastle could continue playing at St James’ Park during construction, although temporary relocation has not been ruled out. The club's role as a host city for the European Championship in 2028 adds another layer of complexity to the planning process.

U.S. Soccer and MLS triumph in antitrust lawsuit

In a legal victory for U.S. Soccer Federation and Major League Soccer (MLS), a federal jury in New York ruled on Monday that the U.S. Soccer Federation did not engage in antitrust violations in its dealings with the North American Soccer League (NASL).

The NASL, which was active from 2011 to 2017, had accused U.S. Soccer and MLS of conspiring to deny it recognition as a Division II league.

According to the report from Sportico, NASL can challenge the decision at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. However, the current ruling is an endorsement of U.S. Soccer's authority to enforce regulations within the soccer industry in the United States and Canada.

The trial saw testimonies from prominent figures such as Clark Hunt, CEO and co-owner of the Kansas City Chiefs and a founder of MLS, and Rocco Commisso, chairman and CEO of Mediacom and owner of the former NASL team New York Cosmos. The lawsuit also put more than $500 million in damages at stake.

U.S. Soccer and MLS welcome ruling

U.S. Soccer Federation expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating: "This decision validates U.S. Soccer’s commitment to fostering a broad and healthy ecosystem of professional soccer leagues across all divisions."

MLS also commented on the verdict, emphasising their dedication to growing soccer in North America and dismissing NASL's case as an attempt to shift blame for its own shortcomings.

Belgium's Pro League considers Champions League-style transformation

Belgium's top flight, Belgian Pro League, is on the brink of a significant transformation, with clubs set to vote by February 10 on a new competition format that could mirror the Champions League's Swiss model.

The league may see a radical shift in its structure starting next season. The current proposal suggests reducing the regular season from 30 to just 16 games, followed by an extensive play-off system to decide the league champion and European competition qualifiers.

This change comes after last season's adjustment from four to six teams in the playoff system.

Led by top clubs

The push for reform is led by some of Belgium's top clubs, including Club Brugge, who believe that fewer domestic matches could improve their performance in European competitions.

Additionally, a 10 per cent decrease in the value of the Jupiler League's domestic TV rights, recently acquired by DAZN in a five-year deal worth approximately £78 million, has prompted clubs to consider this significant overhaul.

Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, a Costa Rican football club, have escalated their dispute with FIFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), alleging that FIFA violated its own rules by allowing two Mexican clubs with the same ownership to participate in the upcoming Club World Cup.

The club's lawyers have filed an appeal against FIFA and the Mexican clubs, Club de Fútbol Pachuca and Club León, both owned by the Pachuca Group, according to The Times.

According to Alajuelense, this situation breaches FIFA's competition regulations, specifically article 10.1, which aims to protect the integrity of the competition by prohibiting clubs from holding shares in other participating clubs. Alajuelense believes they should be included in the tournament based on their continental ranking and are seeking a resolution that could potentially see one of the Mexican teams replaced by them.

Criticises FIFA’s inconsistencies in legal proceedings

FIFA acknowledged Alajuelense's initial complaint but indicated that it does not automatically make the club a party to any proceedings. Alajuelense have not received further communication from FIFA since their last correspondence on January 16.

The club's lawyers have pointed out inconsistencies in FIFA's handling of their case compared to previous legal matters, such as Chile's involvement in legal proceedings against Ecuador during World Cup qualifying over an ineligible player.

DR Congo urges Arsenal, Bayern & PSG to drop 'Visit Rwanda' sponsorship

The Democratic Republic of Congo's (DR Congo's ) Foreign Minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, has called on prominent football clubs Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain to terminate their sponsorship agreements with "Visit Rwanda" due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in her country.

According to a report from L'Équipe, Wagner wrote to the three clubs, challenging the morality of their sponsorship agreements and citing a United Nations report that suggests there are 4,000 Rwandan soldiers active in the DRC.

She highlighted the dire situation in the city of Goma, where thousands are trapped with limited access to food, water, and safety.

Clubs earn millions

Visit Rwanda began sponsoring Arsenal in 2018 in a deal worth over €12 million annually. Bayern Munich signed a five-year partnership for football development and tourism promotion with Rwanda in 2023, while PSG has been sponsored by Visit Rwanda since 2019.

PSG's deal is set to expire in 2025 and brings in approximately €15 million each year.

Ariel Investments launches fund for women’s sports, joins NWSL’s Denver expansion

Ariel Investments, a Chicago-based firm managing $13.8 billion in assets, is launching a new fund named Project Level, aimed at investing in women's sports, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The fund is set to make one of its initial investments in an expansion team for the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), located in Denver. Ariel Co-Chief Executive Officer, Mellody Hobson, announced this strategic move in a letter to clients, highlighting her role as an alternate governor of the team, with Rob Cohen, CEO of IMA Financial Group, serving as the controlling owner.

The NWSL confirmed the Denver team's introduction on Thursday, along with an agreement on a $110 million expansion fee for the ownership group.

Highlights rapid growth and potential in women's sports

According to Hobson, the market for women's sports has experienced significant growth, with global revenue increasing by 300 per cent over the past three years and projected to reach $1.28 billion by 2024. The U.S. has been a major contributor to this surge, generating more than half of the revenue.

Hobson's existing sports investments include stakes in the White Sox, Denver Broncos, and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). John Rogers, Ariel’s founder and co-CEO, also holds an interest in the WNBA's Sky.

Bournemouth are set to expand their influence through a multi-club ownership model orchestrated by American owner Bill Foley's investment group, Black Knight Football Club.

Foley is on the verge of acquiring Moreirense, a team in Portugal's top league, adding to a portfolio that includes French side Lorient, New Zealand's Auckland City FC, and a 25 per cent stake in Scotland's Hibernian.

According to an interview with the US-based Men in Blazers media network, Foley outlined his strategy to emulate Bournemouth's successful high-energy, high-pressing style across all clubs within his ownership. This approach has been effective under Bournemouth's Spanish head coach, Andoni Iraola.

"About to sign a deal"

Foley stated: "We are following through on the multi-club model that we talked about. We’re just about to sign a deal on a Portuguese team in their Premier League, and we have one other one that we’re fooling around with."

Foley believes that the acquisition of Moreirense will be particularly transformative, providing direct access to Brazilian talent. He affirmed: "I think our Portuguese club is going to be a game-changer for us because it gives us direct access to Brazil."

Tebas warns against A22’s ‘Unify League’

La Liga President Javier Tebas has issued a stark warning about the potential threat of A22's latest proposal for a European Super League, the so-called Unify League, as reported by The Guardian.

Despite the lack of evidence that A22 could initiate a significant breakaway from existing continental competitions, Tebas is concerned that misunderstanding could allow the "elitist" concept to gain momentum.

According to Tebas, A22's Unify League proposal, which includes four divisions and 96 clubs in its men's division without promotion or relegation, is not a serious project but rather an attempt to sow instability and uncertainty in European football. He urges leagues to actively address this issue and clarify that the project lacks seriousness to prevent clubs from being misled.

Tebas Links Pérez to A22 Plan

Tebas also reiterated his belief that Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez, a key architect of the original Super League plans in 2021, is behind A22's current plan. He argues that UEFA should demand clarification on A22's economic model and governance before considering any form of agreement.

UEFA, which has previously blocked super league proposals, had to modify its rules for authorizing new competitions following a European court of justice ruling in December 2022. A22 believes UEFA will be compelled to authorise their plan in principle.

According to reports from Italian Media, Spezia Calcio are on the brink of a ownership change, with the Platek family set to hand over the reins to the MCO group, FC32.

While there are no direct confirmations the Platek family had previously expressed their intention to conclude their involvement by February. Among the competing consortia, FC32 appears to have emerged victorious.

A binding agreement for the sale of 100 per cent of the Platek family's Westchester shares to the new ownership group has reportedly been signed. FC32 is led by Paul Francis, alongside three other American investors and a European fund.

Their third acquisition

FC32 is an investment platform focused on involving athletes in the ownership and management of football clubs. Their primary goal is to create a model where athletes are not just players but also investors and stakeholders in football.

They have already acquired Austrian club St Polten and Irish football club Cobh Ramblers and were previously involved in negotiations to buy Australian side Newcastle Jets. .

International player transfers reach record high in 2024, FIFA report reveals

International player transfers hit a historic high last year, with a record 78,742 moves across men’s and women’s professional and amateur football, According to FIFA's Global Transfer Report 2024.

The report details that while spending on transfer fees in 2024 decreased to $8.59 billion from the previous year's record of $9.66 billion, it was still over 15 per cent higher than the 2019 record of $7.33 billion.

The data reveals that nearly 40 per cent of all spending in men's professional football came from the top 2.5 per cent of transfers, each involving fees of at least $20 million.

England spend most, Brazil lead volume

English clubs led the way in spending ($1.88 billion on incoming transfers), as well as in receiving transfer fees ($1.34 billion for outgoing transfers).

Brazilian clubs topped the charts in terms of transfer volume, with 1,102 incoming and 1,113 outgoing transfers.

Spain to call RFEF elections if Louzán’s conviction stands

Spain's Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Pilar Alegría, has confirmed that new elections for the presidency of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), will be called if the Supreme Court ratifies the malfeasance conviction against current president Rafael Louzán.

Louzán, who was elected on December 16 for the 2024-2028 period, received 90 votes out of 138 assembly members, defeating Salvador Gomar, president of the Valencian Federation.

Louzán's position is under scrutiny due to an appeal to the Supreme Court concerning his involvement in a case of malfeasance in office during his time as president of the Provincial Council of Pontevedra. He was convicted for improperly granting a subsidy of nearly €87,000 for stadium renovations.

Will act according to the law

Minister Alegría stated in an interview that if Louzán's seven-year disqualification sentence is upheld on February 5, the government will act according to the Sports Law and call for new elections.

The RFEF assembly members did elect Louzán despite his 2022 sentence for disqualification from public office. The election took place after the Administrative Court of Sport annulled a previous electoral process scheduled for October 7.

Official: NWSL grants 16th franchise to Denver with record expansion fee

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has officially granted its 16th franchise to the city of Denver, Colorado. The franchise will be the first women's professional team in a major national league to be based in Denver.

According to NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman, Denver's vibrant sports culture and fan base made it an ideal choice for the league's expansion. Berman emphasized the commitment to excellence with plans for a purpose-built stadium and state-of-the-art training facilities for players and fans.

It was reported that Denver's ownership group paid a record $110 million expansion fee to join the NWSL. This fee is more than double what was paid by other recent expansion teams and is the highest ever in American women's sports history.

Outpaced Cleveland and Cincinnati

Denver's bid outpaced those from Cleveland and Cincinnati, with a diverse ownership group led by finance executive Rob Cohen. Cohen, who has previously attempted to bring a WNBA team to Denver, is joined by Project Level, Molly Coors, and others in this venture.

Cohen expressed excitement about bringing professional women's soccer to Colorado and emphasized the intention to build a club with integrity and excellence.

Reading FC owner claims Rob Couhig engaged in 'unlawful' actions

The legal dispute between Renhe Sports Management, owned by Reading FC's Dai Yongge, and Redwood Holdings, led by American Rob Couhig, has escalated with new details emerging in court documents.

The Reading Chronicle reports that after Couhig's initial claim against Yongge for over £12.3 million due to alleged breaches of exclusivity and lost potential earnings, Renhe has now filed a counterclaim.

According to the Defence and Counterclaim document, Yongge accuses Couhig and Redwood Holdings of 'unlawful' actions by not releasing security over Bearwood and shares of the club despite being paid back in full.

Renhe alleges coercion, disputes claims

Renhe alleges that Couhig was not acting honorably during negotiations and was seeking repeated price reductions, leading Yongge to lose faith in him for the future development of the club.

Renhe's representatives argue that the refusal to release security is being used coercively to pressure a sale to Couhig. They also deny producing an investment proposal document intended for circulation among potential purchasers, which Couhig claims was given to an unnamed broker.

Furthermore, Renhe disputes Redwood Holdings' claim of a '200 percent return on investment' as the basis for their loss of earnings claim. Renhe's counterclaim states that this refusal to release security is causing them loss, including the chance to sell the club to another buyer.

Despite a majority of Norwegian clubs and the collective fan organisation desiring to abolish Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), has decided to continue with the technology in Norwegian football.

The NFF held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the future of VAR in Norwegian football, where they announced their decision to retain the controversial technology. This stance goes against the wishes of most Norwegian clubs and the national fan organisation.

The decision follows a meeting last week by the Norwegian league association, where a majority of clubs voted in favor of a proposal to scrap VAR. The vote resulted in 19 clubs against continuing with VAR, while 13 clubs were in favor of keeping it.

Frustrated fans

The fan organisation Norsk Supporterallianse (NSA), expressed frustration over the NFF's announcement.

"NFF has made a mockery of the fans. They asked people to use the democratic method in their clubs. They did, and it ended with a large majority against VAR. Therefore, NFF must change course, and the clubs must get going," said NSA spokesperson Ole Kristian Sandvik.

The final decision on VAR's future in Norwegian football will be made at a larger meeting of the federation board in early March.

Court sides with LaLiga in 'El Clásico' trademark dispute

In a significant legal ruling, the Madrid Provincial Court has sided with LaLiga in its dispute with Real Madrid and FC Barcelona over the trademark for 'El Clásico'.

The court has denied the two football giants the right to register the trademark in Spain, citing "high similarity" in terms of denomination, phonetics, and concept with LaLiga's already established brand 'ELCLÁSICO', as reported by Spanish media 2Playbook.

This decision supports the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (Oepm), which had previously rejected the clubs' request to trademark 'El Clásico' in May 2023. The Oepm determined that there was a risk of confusion between the clubs' proposed trademark and that of LaLiga, leading to an overturning of the registration in all classes sought by Real Madrid and Barcelona.

An ongoing dispute

The battle over the brand has been ongoing for years, with both clubs attempting to block LaLiga's registrations. In 2022, they filed a trademark application featuring the term 'El Clásico' alongside their respective crests, aiming to distinguish their brand from LaLiga's, which focuses solely on the word.

However, LaLiga contested this move, claiming it is "the legitimate owner" of the trademark and had previously registered it in numerous countries. A Gfk study was presented to reinforce the association between the term commonly used for the match and the Spanish competition.

Vitesse Arnhem presents their new owners

Last Friday, Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem announced its takeover by five minority investors, appearing to take a major step towards securing its future.

In a statement on Wednesday, the club presented their new owners. Among the notable names is Dane Murphy, an American former professional player and current CEO of DMV Vista, one of the minority shareholders.
Murphy's career includes playing for teams like New York Cosmos and D.C. United, and executive roles at Barnsley FC and Nottingham Forest FC, where he saw the latter promoted to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.

By each investor holding less than 25 per cent of shares, Vitesse avoids the KNVB licensing committee's approval process. However, the comittee will still review whether the investors are independent and not proxies for Parry, with whom they have negotiated a deal regarding Vitesse's €17 million debt.

Different investors

Leon Mueller, another investor, is a former footballer turned Berlin entrepreneur who expanded his family's automotive business into one of Berlin's largest mobility providers. He also co-hosts a football podcast and maintains close ties to the sport.

The investment group also includes Flint Reilly, an American with a background in commercial sports and sponsorship who has worked with the NBA and Liverpool FC; Timo Braasch, a German entrepreneur involved in real estate and sports & entertainment; and Bryan Mornaghi, an Italian lawyer and investor experienced in complex legal matters and capital contracts within the Dutch offshore wind sector.

Eagle Football Group have announced that Lyon’s accounts for the year ending 30th June 2024 are now in the process of being certified by the club’s auditors in what appears to be an important step towards avoiding the provisional relegation imposed on the Ligue 1 team by the DNCG.

In November, prior to the DNCG’s decision, Lyon recorded a net loss of €25.7 million for 2023/24 and financial debt of €505.1 million as at 30th June 2024. Eagle stated at the time that Lyon’s “statutory auditors are considering issuing a qualified opinion with an inability to certify the Eagle Football Group's parent company and consolidated financial statements.”

However, in a fresh statement released on Monday evening, Eagle said an “amendment to the Universal Registration Document is currently being finalised”, and that the group’s “statutory auditors intend to issue an unqualified opinion and to certify” Lyon’s 2023/24 accounts.

Sale of Crystal Palace stake

Eagle said Lyon’s new financial statements for 2023/24 were approved by its board on Monday, based on assumptions including an injection of up to €40 million from the planned sale of Eagle’s stake in Crystal Palace and up to €100 million from its planned IPO on the New York Stock Exchange.

Last friday Eagle announced it had generated fresh funds of €83 million for Lyon over the past four months, including €21.3 million from Michelle Kang, the owner of Lyon women’s team OL Féminin, and €62.3 million from player sales in January.
 

Serie A president Ezio Simonelli hints at tax break to boost youth development

Ezio Simonelli, who was elected as the new Serie A president just over a month ago, has said his top priorities in the role include finding new ways to support clubs on youth development and the revamping or building of new stadia.

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Simonelli said he wants to help clubs boost their development of young talent by obtaining fresh incentives, potentially through measures such as a tax break.

“A tax exemption to incentivise work on young players would be a more than sensible measure, with the aim of rewarding clubs that focus on young players or in infrastructure for academies.”

“Bureaucratic difficulties”

On stadia developments, the Serie A chief said he wants to help clubs “overcome the bureaucratic difficulties”, adding: “It is clear that something is not working. I would like to be able to provide standard models to those who have to build a stadium, obviously with variations, and entrust the league with a single direction that would generate cost savings.”

Simonelli said a further key aim is to increase the value of the Italian top-flight’s broadcast rights. He also called for an end to the ban on Italian football clubs agreeing sponsorship deals with gambling firms, describing the regulation introduced in 2019 as “absurd and counterproductive”.
 

Bundesliga 2 share of media rights to remain at 20 per cent

The DFL has announced that the proportion of German football clubs’ broadcast rights income distributed to the 18 teams in Bundesliga 2 will remain the same for the next cycle at 20 per cent.

The rights for German football’s top two divisions for the period running from 2025/26 to 2028/29 were sold in December for just under €4.5 billion, equating to €1.1 billion per year, marking a 2 per cent increase in their value.

In a statement issued on Monday, the DFL said its executive committee had agreed on a distribution system according to its tried and tested principle in relation to TV money, with no major changes.

“Proven system”

The DFL statement read: “The new distribution key is based on key points of the proven system. As before, national and international media revenues will be distributed to the clubs according to a separate system."

“In terms of national media revenues, the four pillars of equal distribution, performance, interest and young talent, including their previous weighting, will remain.”
 

Manchester United stadium: Local authority backs ‘Wembley of the North’ plan

Manchester United’s plans for a new 100,000 capacity stadium have now received the backing of the local authority as well as the UK government, with officials describing the regeneration project as “transformational”.

It comes after chancellor Rachel Reeves offered her public support at the weekend, describing a state-of-the-art Old Trafford and the redevelopment of the surrounding area as “a shining example” of the government’s policy for promoting economic growth.

As reported by The Times, the executive at Trafford council has also given its unanimous support, with officials revealing plans to appoint a “top-class consultant team” to collaborate with United and the other relevant parties on the project.

“World-class setting”

At a meeting on Monday night, councillor Liz Patel, an executive member for economy and regeneration at Trafford council, said: “This is a hugely exciting project and working with our partners and private developers, we will be looking to create thousands of new homes, new neighbourhoods, and a world-class setting for the Manchester United stadium.”

United are expected to make a final decision at the end of the season over whether to build a new stadium or redevelop their existing Old Trafford home with an increased capacity to 87,000, but are now leaning very much towards a new build dubbed the ‘Wembley of the North’ which could cost over £2 billion.

Lyon owner John Textor’s Eagle Football Group has said it has generated fresh funds of €83 million for the Ligue 1 club over the past four months as it battles to secure its top-flight status following the provisional relegation imposed by the DNCG in November.

In a statement, Eagle Football said the additional finances were generated “during the 4th quarter of 2024 and January 2025.” The amount includes €21.3 million from the American businesswoman Michelle Kang, who acquired the Lyon women’s team OL Féminin last February.

The Lyon owners said that of Kang’s latest injection, €11 million is for an increase in her 52.9 per cent shareholding in OL Féminin and another €10.3 million in the form of additional investment in the project.

Player sales bring in €62.3 million

Eagle Football said it has also generated €62.3 million in player sales in the January transfer window from teams across its group. More than half the total has come from Brazilian right winger Luiz Henrique’s move from Botafogo to FC Zenit St Petersburg for €33 million.

Eagle said it has also made savings on player wages of €5 million following the transfer deals involving Lyon and other teams across its portfolio completed in January, as well as the termination of several player contracts and loan agreements.

Ex-Roma president James Pallotta faces prospect of trial over capital gains case

Former AS Roma president James Pallotta is facing the prospect of going on trial over the club’s use of capital gains from player transfers after the Italian Prosecutor's Office requested his indictment in relation to the case.

As reported by Italian media, the prosecutor Renata Cerasa has also asked to try five other former Roma executives: ex-CEOs Umberto Maria Gandini and Guido Fienga, former general manager and executive vice president Mauro Baldissoni, and two former accounting executives, Francesco Malknecht and Giorgio Francia.

The defendants are accused of false accounting and violation of the consolidated law on financial intermediation. According to investigators, evidence of those crimes were found in five player transfers.

The current ownership of Roma, represented by the Friedkin family, is not part of the investigation. Although investigated in a first phase, the prosecutor asked for the Friedkins to be dismissed.

Reopening of investigation

The latest developments have come after Italy’s financial police, the Guardia di Finanza, last year concluded its investigation into Roma’s financial statements from 2016 to 2021, following the reopening of the investigation into the use of capital gains in Italian football.

A number of transfer deals were examined over suspicions that exchanges were disguised as sales and of excessive devaluation of player fees. Among the deals under scrutiny was the swap of Luca Pellegrini and Leonardo Spinazzola between Roma and Juventus.

West Ham win £3.6 million legal battle with London Stadium landlords

West Ham United have won a court battle with their stadium owners over a £3.6 million payment they were obliged to make after the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky bought a 27 per cent stake in the club in November 2021.

As reported by The Times, The High Court ruled that an “expert determination” the club had to pay the money as part of their lease agreement with E20 Stadium contained two “manifest errors”.

The court ruling states it was an error for the expert to regard three share transactions and a share option by West Ham’s co-owners, David Sullivan and the late David Gold, as one single transaction.

Lease penalty clause

West Ham’s parent company, WH Holding (WHH), contested £3.6 million of the £6.5 million it paid to E20 in March 2023 under the stadium lease penalty clause.

The clause was included so that any increase in the value of the club as a result of their deal for the London Stadium should be reflected in a payment to the stadium’s owners.

E20 Stadium was set up by the publicly-owned London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) to manage the stadium. The £3.6 million will now be repaid to West Ham, unless E20/LLDC appeals.
 
 

Paris FC stadium move talks stall as Arnault family look to share rugby venue

French billionaire Bernard Arnault's family is struggling to secure a deal on a new stadium for Paris FC, with compensation and other costs proving a sticking point in discussions, according to a report from Reuters.

The Arnault family, which owns the luxury goods giant LVMH, completed its takeover of the Ligue 2 club alongside Red Bull in early December and have since been in talks with rugby team Stade Francais over sharing their Jean-Bouin stadium.

The aim is to replace Paris FC's current venue, a run-down athletics stadium, but there has been no headway in the discussions. It is understood the talks centre on compensation for replacing Jean-Bouin’s synthetic pitch, which will result in higher maintenance costs and some lost revenue for Stade Francais.

Ferracci confident of securing deal

Last week, in an interview with AFP, the Paris FC president Pierre Ferracci expressed his confidence over securing a deal with Stade Français to share their stadium from next season, and said he hopes to conclude an agreement “in February.”

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Ferracci told the Spanish international news agency EFE he expects the Arnault family to invest "several hundred million euros” in the coming years as they look to deliver on ambitious plans to rival Paris Saint-Germain.