Roma get go-ahead to build new 52,500 football Colosseum
December 7 – Serie A side AS Roma have been given the go-ahead to build their own stadium after an on-off project planning process that has taken five years to complete.
Finance
Mbappé beats Dele Alli to top transfer value spot. Six players at English clubs make top 10
December 6 – French prodigy Kylian Mbappé tops the ranking by transfer value of U21 players in the big-5 European leagues. The PSG striker takes over the lead spot from Spurs’ Dele Alli.
Italy’s Frosinone launch bond via Tifosy offering 8% return
December 5 – Italian Serie B club Frosinone has launched a mini-bond to raise €1 million to invest in stadium upgrades that will in turn drive commercial revenue for the club. It is the first fund-raising of its kind in Italian club football.
Clubs to get $8.5k per player per day from 2018 World Cup
By David Owen
December 5 – Clubs which supply squad members for next year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia can look forward to massively increased payments of around $8,530 per player per day, in recognition of their “contribution to the successful staging” of the tournament.
Spurs new stadium costs forecast to come in between £750-800m
December 5 – Tottenham Hotspur have said that the construction costs for the club’s new stadium on the site of the old White Hart Lane ground are still forecast come in between £750 million and £800 million, and not hit the £1 billion cost reported.
Spurs new stadium costs to top £1bn, the most expensive ever in UK
December 4 – The cost of Tottenham Hotspur’s new North London stadium has ballooned to more that £1 billion, making it the most expensive football construction project in the UK, costing even more than West Ham’s Olympic Stadium, built for the 2012 Olympics and remodelled into the London Stadium for the Hammers.
Has bubble burst over West Ham’s London Stadium deal of the century?
December 4 – West Ham’s tenancy at the London Stadium has been controversial from the start. Accusations that the stadium was a government giveaway to the Premier League club seem to have now been backed up London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s announcement that he is stepping in to take over the running of the stadium that is costing the taxpayer £20 million a year.
Tebas keeps focus on PSG’s ‘financial doping’ warning if UEFA don’t act EU will
November 30 – Outspoken La Liga president Javier Tebas has hardened his resolve to take Paris St Germain to the European Union over alleged financial fair play breaches unless UEFA acts first.
Celtic look Down Under for expansion opportunity with Central Coast Mariners
November 29 – Celtic, unbeaten for 65 games in the Scottish Premier League, have reportedly turned their expansion attentions to Australia and have made an approach to buy an ownership stake in Australian side Central Coast Mariners who play in Australia’s A-League. They have also been linked with A-League champions Brisbane Roar.
Messi is staying at Barca. €700m says so
November 29 – After months of speculation, Lionel Messi has signed a new contract keeping him at Barcelona until 1920-21, saying he had moved closer to his “dream” of finishing his career at his boyhood club.
Premier League clubs on course to set new profitability records
By David Owen
November 24 – Only five clubs have so far reported, 25% of the total, but already it looks like Premier League participants are on course for record aggregate profits in the 2016-17 financial year.
Former Anzhi owner Kerimov questioned in France for tax evasion
November 23 – The former owner of Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala has reportedly been questioned for two days in France following his arrest on suspicion of tax evasion.
Stoke potter along nicely with doubling of profit to £4.9m
By David Owen
November 23 – Stoke City, the Midlands club enjoying a 10th consecutive season in the Premier League, have revealed an uptick in profits, as a jump in turnover attributable to the league’s latest TV deal was not passed on in higher wage costs.
Hull’s Tigers cash in on brief Premier League cameo with £35m profit
By David Owen
November 23 – Hull City have posted a bumper pre-tax profit of £35.7 million for the year to end-June 2017 – a period coinciding with the club’s brief return to the Premier League.
German bank raising €200m fund to invest in football businesses
November 22 – Private German bank Donner & Reuschel is launching a football and entertainment fund that will focus invest on media rights, private equity and real estate.