Why Squad Cost Ratio rules can’t afford to ruin joy of Premier League Sport Business Trevor Watkins, global head of sport at Pinsent Masons and Former director and chairman of AFC Bournemouth, discusses why changes in Premier League football’s financing rules cannot afford to ruin the sport With the Christmas period behind us, the traditional festive season of football fixtures – once a full list on Boxing Day but now [...]
Sheffield Wednesday: Chansiri gets three-year ban as tuna tycoon canned Sport Business Sheffield Wednesday’s former owner Dejphon Chansiri has been banned from football for three years for his role in the club’s ongoing financial crisis. Wednesday, one of England’s most historic clubs, are in administration and look destined for relegation to the third tier after a further six-point deduction today left them 23 points adrift at the [...]
Budget crackdown on football image rights ‘incredible’, say tax experts Sport Business Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been accused of disproportionately targeting football for tax rises after the Budget laid out plans for a raid on image rights earnings. Top footballers benefit from setting up image rights companies which are taxed at a lower rate than their salaries, but the government says it will legislate “to ensure that [...]
Mercury13: Mata-backed women’s football group lines up Spanish club November 26, 2025 Juan Mata-backed investment group Mercury13 is in advanced negotiations about buying a stake in Spanish top-flight women’s club Levante Badalona. Mercury13, which bought FC Como Women in 2024 before investing in WSL2 club Bristol earlier this year, has pledged $100m to build a global portfolio of clubs, with Badalona earmarked to be its next investment. [...]
Premier League clubs to pay levy on overspend after approving new rules November 21, 2025 Big-spending Premier League clubs will pay a levy on any overspend as part of new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) financial rules voted in for next season. At a shareholders meeting today in London, a vote to introduce SCR in place of the controversial Profitability and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) achieved the required majority. They rejected proposals [...]
Most valuable teenage footballers ranking shows Chelsea approach is paying off November 6, 2025 Chelsea’s investment in young talent is bearing fruit, with the club now boasting three of the 11 most valuable teenage footballers in the world, according to a new academic study. Barcelona and Spain superstar Lamine Yamal, 18, is streets ahead at the top of the list compiled by the CIES Football Observatory, with a valuation [...]
Real Madrid to turn Santiago Bernabeu stadium into money-spinning Winter Wonderland October 31, 2025 Real Madrid have hit on a novel way to maintain their status as the world’s richest football club: turning their Santiago Bernabeu stadium into a festive theme park over Christmas. From 24-31 December, during a two-week break in LaLiga’s schedule, the Spanish giants will transform the 84,000-seater arena into “a family-friendly experience filled with dazzling [...]
Football M&A shake-up as investors swap mega-deals for lower league takeovers October 30, 2025 Football’s M&A market has seen a drop in mega-deals as investors have turned their attention to lower leagues, expanding multi-club networks and strategic minority acquisitions. A new report by independent consultancy Football Benchmark said its analysis of the 76 deals to take place so far this year reflected “a maturing market”. While recent years have [...]
Chelsea sign sleeve sponsor deal with Vietnamese IT firm FPT October 22, 2025 Chelsea have announced Vietnamese IT company FPT Corporation as their new sleeve sponsor across their men’s, women’s and academy teams. The move sees FPT elevated to principal partner status at the Club World Cup winners, having begun their commercial relationship earlier this year. Chelsea are still in the market for a front-of-shirt sponsor, however, having [...]
Arsenal urged by fans to abandon Visit Rwanda renewal talks October 21, 2025 Arsenal have been urged by fans to reconsider their controversial partnership with Visit Rwanda after City AM revealed the two parties were in talks to extend the deal. Discussions over a renewal on terms that would represent an increase on the £10m a year that Visit Rwanda pays Arsenal are understood to be at an [...]