Magic circle: UEFA pulls out the €775m HatTrick rabbit
July 2 – UEFA has kicked off the fifth cycle of its HatTrick programme with a commitment to invest €775.5 million in the development of the game over the next four years.
Finance
Covid collapse: Wigan left needing life support after new Hong Kong owners bug out
By Andrew Warshaw
July 2 – In a move that has shocked neutral fans across the country, Wigan Athletic of the second-tier Championship have become the first professional English club to fall into administration as a result of Covid-19.
Sané deal will boost City’s bottom-line, but may signal depressed summer market
By David Owen
July 1 – One of the more salient details of Leroy Sané’s big money move to Bayern Munich may turn out to be the date on which news of the deal broke: June 30 – the last day of selling club Manchester City’s financial year.
Coronavirus exacts heavy toll as FIFA projects 2020 revenues down by almost 50%
By David Owen
June 30 – FIFA is now budgeting for this year’s revenues to come in at little more than half of its original projections, as a consequence of coronavirus.
The FA cuts jobs as losses hit £300m, Wembley events cancelled and sponsors rebated
June 30 – Staff at the English FA have been left shocked by the announcement of more than 100 job losses due to the “significant impact” of coronavirus.
New Liverpool kit brand Nike posts $790m loss for three months to end-May
By David Owen
June 30 – Sports footwear and apparel giant Nike swung heavily into loss in its March-to-May 2020 quarter, reflecting the impact of Covid-19.
FIFA flags $280m loss for 2019 and will raid reserves to fund $1.5bn Covid relief plan
By David Owen
June 26 – FIFA will raid its well-stocked reserves to finance a COVID-19 relief plan that will make up to $1.5 billion available to the wider “football community”.
FIFA release $1.5 million from reserves for Covid-19 relief fund
June 26 – FIFA is to release $1.5 billion from its reserves for its Covid-19 relief plan via a number of grants and interest-free loans to national federations who are facing loss of income as a result of the pandemic.
Report finds club squad values plummeting with PSG, OL and Ajax hardest hit
June 25 – The financial effect of the coronavirus pandemic on football has hit revenues and values, not least in the player transfer market, with the overall market value being predicted to drop 20-25%.
Agents cash in on Premier League with £263m in commissions, Liverpool paid £30m
June 25 – The English FA have released data on player agent commissions showing that in the period 1 February 2019 to 31 January 2020, agents earned a combined £263 million.
Serie A gets third VC hunting $bn stake as overseas broadcast deal comes under threat
June 24 – A third private equity firm has expressed an interest in bidding for a stake in Serie A, ironically at a time when the league looks on the verge of losing its biggest international rights buyers.
UEFA give clubs an FFP break as cash crisis unbalances football’s finances
By Andrew Warshaw
June 18 – European clubs mired in financial difficulty caused by the Covid-19 lockdown have been given a temporary reprieve by UEFA from its financial fair play regulations.
Raab steps into Saudi row over Newcastle takeover, US investor says he has cash to step in
By Paul Nicholson
June 18 – The takeover of Newcastle United by a consortium led by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) looks in doubt after a senior government minister cast doubt on the legality of the takeover following the WTO ruling that the Saudi’s broke international copyright with their support of the beoutQ pirate broadcaster.
FIFA’s $16m wages fund receives 441 player applications for help
June 16 – A total of 441 applications have been made to FIFA by players for financial aid through a $16 million scheme allowing them to claim wages unpaid by their clubs.
Debt fears and cash crunch force FC Kaiserslautern to file for bankruptcy
June 16 – Fabled German club FC Kaiserslautern has filed for bankruptcy after a mounting debt and cash-flow crisis. The club have been crowned German champions four times.