Ronaldo at $136m is highest earning athlete in world sport, followed by Messi and Mbappe
May 4 – Three footballers top a ranking of the top 10 highest paid athletes in world sport compiled by Forbes magazine.
Finance
US sports stars JJ and Kealia Watt take minority stake in Burnley
May 3 – Burnley, who have bounced back to the Premier League after a season in the Championship, have received new minority investment from the US from retired NFL star JJ Watt and his wife and NWSL player Kealia Watt.
UEFA tackles financial sustainability issues with new Working Group and an end-June timeline
May 2 – UEFA have taken a step further in their proposed rethink of their financial sustainability rules with the creation of a Working Group that will look at ‘squad cost control’ (essentially the issue of wage caps) as well as how transfer fees are accounted for by clubs.
Will Sir Jim’s higher valuation beat Sheikh Jassim’s £5bn in cash for control of Man Utd?
May 2 – The race to buy Manchester United has taken another twist with British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group reportedly having valued the club higher than Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim.
Man Utd sale reportedly entering final phase with Sir Jim reported at £4bn and Sheikh Jassim at £4.5bn
April 28 – The Manchester United ownership saga is expected to take a significant step forward later today in what is expected to be the third and final bid deadline.
Barca agree new €1.45bn financing deal to renovate Camp Nou Stadium
April 25 – Spanish giants FC Barcelona have completed a €1.45 billion financing deal that will allow the club to renovate their Camp Nou Stadium.
European Leagues calls on UEFA for a 10% share of its €4.8bn revenue
April 24 – The umbrella body that represents Europe’s domestic leagues has urged UEFA to substantially increase the amount of money it gives clubs that do not qualify for its three club competitions.
Juve 15-point penalty suspended as case to be returned to court
April 21 – Juventus’ 15-point penalty for alleged false accounting in transfer dealings was revoked on Thursday but the spectre of sanction did not disappear after Italy’s highest sporting court ruled that the case should be re-examined and the long bans meted out to former chairman Andrea Agnelli, ex-CEO Maurizio Arrivabene and sporting directors Federico Cherubini and Fabio Paratici were upheld.
FIGC completes investigation into Juve ‘hidden payments’ investigation
April 13 – The Italian FA (FIGC) has completed its investigation into Juventus over alleged hidden payments to players, according to the club.
Ownership change brings £50m cash windfall for Abramovich era Chelsea directors
By David Owen
April 10 – Chelsea’s new US owners made payments totalling nearly £50 million to former directors of the West London club for services relating to the protracted £4.25 billion sale that last year brought down the curtain on the trophy-studded but controversial Roman Abramovich era.
Bundesliga clubs report €4.48bn revenue as pandemic effects recede
April 9 – The DFL is reporting an increase in the total revenue of German professional football to €4.48 billion in the 2021-22 season, the first increase since the pandemic.
European clubs lead global ranking of most valuable U-23 players outside Big 5 Euro leagues
April 6 – Benfica centre-forward Gonçalo Ramos (€70 million) and centre back António Silva (€66 million) top a ranking of the highest value players under the age of 23 and playing for clubs outside the Big 5 European leagues.
Belgian tax collectors chase non-profit Genk for €39m
April 5 – Belgian tax authorities are chasing €39 million from league leaders Racing Genk, arguing that the club’s legal status as a non-profit does not exempt it from paying corporation tax.
Levski Sofia fans donate to help with €5.5m tax bill, as club launches share offer
April 5 – Supporters of Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia have raised over BGN 243,000 (€121,000) to help the club in pay off its debts to the National Revenue Agency (NRA).
Reading plunged into relegation battle after points deducted for breach of EFL’s financial rules
April 5 – EFL Championship side Reading have been handed an immediate six-point deduction for breaking agreed budget restrictions after a previous breach of the EFL’s profitability and sustainability rules.