What impact will ECJ ‘Bosman Mark II’ Diarra ruling have on private equity? October 14, 2024 The so-called “Bosman Mark II” Diarra ECJ ruling will have an impact on football but fortune will favour the flexible when it comes to private equity. Described by many as “Bosman Mark II,” the recent European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling in the Lassana Diarra case has captured the attention of the European footballing community, [...]
Mercury/13 co-chief: We could partner WSL club within two years October 14, 2024 Mercury/13 co-chief Mario Malavé discusses the women’s football portfolio, where global growth is and which clubs the organisation will buy next. Mercury 13 was a privately funded programme that aimed to ready women for space flight. It was a revolutionary mission in 1960 that, nine years before Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, put [...]
How Manchester City made shareholder loans the Premier League’s new battleground October 11, 2024 Amid the claims and counter-claims that spewed forth after Manchester City’s legal challenge to the Premier League’s associated party transaction rules, one fact was undeniable: shareholder loans have now joined APT, PSR and FFP in the lexicon of football fans. City’s lawyers argued that if their sponsorship deals with Abu Dhabi entities such as Etihad [...]
Has Fifa wildly overestimated the value of Club World Cup media rights? October 11, 2024 Was Fifa too hasty in rejecting Apple’s reported $1bn (£760m) offer for media rights to next summer’s inaugural beefed-up Club World Cup? That is a question football’s governing body may have to ask itself as time ticks down towards the new 32-team tournament in the US next summer. With only eight months to go until [...]
Cheque mates: Harry Kane and Magnus Carlsen top up stakes in football brand October 10, 2024 England captain Harry Kane and chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen have taken part in a $100m funding round for the company behind the football-themed entertainment and dining venue Toca Social. The move will help Toca Football launch further sites in London, where it already has a venue at the O2, as well as Paris, Mexico and [...]
IMG partners with British Cycling Events in new deal October 10, 2024 British Cycling Events and IMG have announced a six-year partnership aimed at supporting the growth of the organisation’s portfolio. The firm, a subsidiary of British Cycling, was set up to deliver various two-wheeled events across Great Britain. The partnership, the organisation states, will aid events such as the Tour of Britain be elevated. IMG have [...]
Arsenal are overachieving in the Premier League, but do fans appreciate it? October 10, 2024 In a parallel universe, Arsenal have already beaten Manchester City to the title. Forget Pep and Mikel’s inflamed war of words in this season’s scrap for the Premier League trophy; the Gunners have bagged the prize for outperforming their playing budget. Football, though, must ultimately be about fans’ dreams, not investors’ and bank managers’ bottom [...]
Two IPL team owners battle to buy Manchester Originals in Hundred sale October 9, 2024 The interest is a significant boost for England cricket chiefs’ much-maligned sales process.
Sports teams can make better use of Apprenticeship Levy, ex-Quins CEO says October 9, 2024 A former Premiership Rugby chief executive has called on the government to cut red tape and back sports clubs to use the existing Apprenticeship Levy to fuel upskilling opportunities for athletes and local communities. David Ellis, who served as CEO of Harlequins for eight years until 2019, insists the compulsory tax could be better used [...]
Manchester City say Premier League rule is now void. Lawyers disagree October 8, 2024 Lawyers have shot down claims by Manchester City that the Premier League’s associated party transaction (APT) rules should be considered “void” following the club’s partially successful legal challenge. In a letter to the other 19 top-flight clubs, Manchester City general counsel Simon Cliff said APT rules – designed to prevent clubs benefiting from artificially inflated [...]