Exclusive: FIFA gives itself permission to invest in equities
By David Owen
March 20 – FIFA has given itself permission to invest in equities as part of its asset management operations.
Finance
South America’s Conmebol reports record revenue of $227 million
March 15 – The South American Football Confederation Conmebol has reported a record revenue of $227 million for 2018 after an increase in sponsorship for the continent’s flagship club competition the Copa Libertadores, but overall the organisation’s net profit fell.
Van Dijk marches Saints to £33m profit in spite of disappointing season
By David Owen
March 14 – The sale of star defender Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool looks to have been the main factor keeping Southampton in the black in the year to end-June 2018, after a season in which the south coast club, which has supplied so many influential players to the Merseysiders in recent times, only narrowly escaped relegation.
Barca creep closer to €100m digital sports tech investment fund
March 12 – FC Barcelona are still exploring the launch of their own sports technology investment fund with the aim of raising €100 million to develop digital product that would give them a leadership position in domestic and European football.
Man City back under UEFA investigation as FFP accusations pile up
March 8 – Following claim after claim of financial wrongdoing by Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City based on information provided by the Football Leaks whistleblowing website, UEFA has finally decided to take action and have opened an investigation into alleged financial fair play violations.
Everton turns to China as it pursues Moshiri’s Great Leap Forward
By David Owen
March 8 – Everton has turned to China as it seeks to push on with the Farhad Moshiri revolution and mount a sustained challenge to the Premier League’s Big Six, including local rivals Liverpool.
£26m turnover vs £89m expenses: Wolves’ worrying formula for Premier League promotion
By David Owen
March 7 – Wolverhampton Wanderers, the famous old Midlands club, now Chinese owned, which is enjoying a successful return to the English top flight, ran up an eye-watering £55 million loss in its promotion season.
FIFA revenue at $6.4bn for 4-year cycle, reserves up to $2.7bn, says leaked report
March 7 – FIFA ended its last four-year cycle with revenue of $6.4 billion. The world governing body has leaked details of its finances to selected media that reportedly show cash reserves having now been boosted to $2.74 billion after concerns that reserves were dwindling.
Profits at Leicester’s Foxes slump by more than £90m
By David Owen
March 7 – Leicester City’s financial fairy tale came to an abrupt end in the year to end-May 2018 after their on-pitch exploits of recent seasons. Bereft of European football, the Foxes, as was foreseeable, suffered a severe reverse in both turnover and profitability, while managing to remain narrowly in the black at the pre-tax level.
India’s high flying Mumbai City FC favourites for CFG’s next ownership takeover
March 7 – Premier League Manchester City’s owners City Football Group could invest in Indian Super League franchise Mumbai City FC. The English giants have long been linked to Indian and adding a local club to their ever-growing portfolio.
CFG’s Soriano targets India for next club acquisition
March 5 – India is the latest untapped footballing country targeted by the owners of Manchester City to expand their international portfolio.
Show me the money. Ashley takes Newcastle United sale board down until someone can
March 5 – Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley (pictured) has reportedly taken the club off the market following the failure of potential buyers to meet his terms.
Man City battle new wave of FFP allegations over owner-inflated sponsorship deals
March 4 – Manchester City are under the spotlight off the field once again amid fresh allegations suggesting they bent the rules over Financial Fair Play following a new wave of leaked emails reported by German publication Der Spiegel.
The ‘spectacular’ correlation of money and performance in European football
February 22 – The first round of Champions League knock-out fixtures once again re- inforced the dominance of Europe’s Big 5 leagues with 14 out of the 16 teams qualified coming from those leagues.
Man City owners CFG complete Chinese club buy alongside CSC and UBTECH
By Paul Nicholson
February 20 – City Football Group (CFG) has confirmed the seventh edition to its stable of football clubs with a position in the ownership group of Sichuan Jiuniu FC in China.