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☆ Debt is poor fix for Italian soccer’s malaise
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Pamela Barbaglia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Top soccer league Serie A needs cash to revamp its ailing media rights business. The division, which counts Lautaro Martínez and Paulo Dybala among its few world-class champions, made revenue of 2.5 billion euros in the 2020-2021 football season, nearly half the star-studded Premier League’s 5.5 billion euros, Deloitte data shows. Its broadcasting revenue has dropped more than 20% to about 1.1 billion euros since 2018, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters Breakingviews. Club owners would be better off entrusting independent executives to look after media rights. The Deutsche Fussball Liga, which runs Germany’s football league, is due to discuss the media rights sale at a meeting on Feb. 9.

☆ Man City charged by Premier League over alleged financial rule breaches
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

City were acquired by their Abu Dhabi-based owners, City Football Group, in 2008. If the charges are proved City, could face a range of sanctions, including a points deduction or expulsion from the Premier League. City are also alleged to have failed to cooperate with and assist the Premier League in its investigations from December 2018 to date. "The members of the Commission will be appointed by the independent Chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel," the Premier League said in a statement. "The Premier League will be making no further comment in respect of this matter until further notice."

☆ Chelsea smash British transfer record to sign Benfica's Fernandez
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Chelsea announced the signing of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica on Wednesday after days of complex negotiations between the clubs to secure the Argentina midfielder for a British transfer record 106.8 million pounds ($131.46 million). Premier League club Chelsea announced the signing on Wednesday 1000 GMT via a video on Twitter, which showed a clip of a clock ticking down, making a reference to race against time to sign the World Cup winner. It takes Chelsea's transfer spending in January alone to close to 300 million pounds and to more than 500 million pounds since last May's takeover by an investment group led by American Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. His fee eclipses the 100 million pounds Manchester City paid Aston Villa for England midfielder Jack Grealish in 2021. On Tuesday, Chelsea sold experienced midfielder Jorginho to Premier League leaders Arsenal for 12 million pounds.

☆ Ronaldo's Saudi switch another symbol of Chinese decline
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Michael Church | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Portuguese striker's Saudi Arabia switch following the cancellation of his Manchester United contract has highlighted a shift within Asian football that started before the COVID-19 pandemic and which continues to have a significant impact. With money pouring into clubs often owned by debt-fuelled property developers, the Chinese Super League (CSL) had been enticing an increasing number of leading players and coaches to the country since early last decade. The downturn in Chinese football has spared few. Two-time Asian champions Guangzhou FC, once Chinese football's dominant force, went into decline after their owners, developers China Evergrande, were forced to limit funding after the government restricted borrowing. With attention now squarely focused on the oil-funded riches on offer in a newly assertive Saudi Arabia, Chinese football's lustre has all but disappeared.

☆ NWSL Set to Expand With Record-Setting $50 Million Franchise Fees
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Jessica Toonkel | Rachel Bachman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Portland Thorns FC pose with the trophy after winning the NWSL Championship in 2022. The National Women’s Soccer League is in advanced discussions to expand by three teams, according to people familiar with the situation, with two of those teams set to pay around $50 million each in franchise fees that dwarf previous payments required to enter the league. The new teams are set to launch in the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston and Utah. The Bay Area and Boston groups each have agreed to pay about $50 million for a team. Owners in Utah will pay between $2 million and $5 million, an arrangement agreed to a few years ago.

☆ Exclusive: JPMorgan looking to finance Italy's Serie A for up to 1 bln euros - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Elvira Pollina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The sources said the 20 clubs which comprise Serie A were informed of the interest by the U.S. bank at a closed-door meeting of their top executives on Thursday. Serie A has been looking at options to extract more money from its media rights, which account for roughly half the revenues of its clubs. Like other European soccer leagues, Serie A lags behind England's Premier League in terms of income and is looking at ways to revive its global appeal. Back in 2021 JPMorgan had offered to support soccer clubs looking to launch a breakaway European Super League, a plan which collapsed due to a storm of protest from fans and politicians. The sources said the Serie A clubs will assess in the coming weeks how to proceed in relation to the interest expressed by both the funds and JPMorgan.

☆ Gerard Piqué goes Instagram official with Clara Chia Marti after Shakira split
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Mara Leighton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gerard Piqué went Instagram-official with 23-year-old Clara Chia Marti after his split with Shakira. The pop star released a diss track seemingly aimed at Piqué in January, which broke a YouTube record. In August, photos published by the Daily Mail of Piqué and Clara Chia Marti seemed to confirm the couple's romance about three months after his split from 45-year-old Shakira. On January 15, a video appearing to show Piqué driving a Twingo to a press conference was posted to Twitter. In November, the former couple reached a custody agreement in which their two children would move to Miami with Shakira.

☆ Meet Thom Browne, the stripe-obsessed designer who took on Adidas and won
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Danni Santana | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Thom Browne defeated Adidas in court this month over its right to use its four stripe design. Adidas sought roughly $7.8 million in damages — equivalent to the amount Adidas believed it would have earned through a licensing agreement with Thom Browne and profits Thom Browne made off the parallel stripe designs. Fashion Designer Thom Browne arrives at Manhattan Federal Court on January 03, 2023. Thom Browne made $285 million in 2021 revenue compared to $23 billion for Adidas, according to the New York Times report. By then, Thom Browne was dressing sports teams like the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and European soccer club FC Barcelona for pregame appearances.

☆ Exclusive: JPMorgan looking to finance Italy's Serie A for up to 1 bln euros -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Elvira Pollina | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The sources said the 20 clubs that comprise Serie A were informed of the interest by the U.S. bank at a closed-door meeting of their top executives on Thursday. Serie A has been looking at options to extract more money from its media rights, which account for roughly half the revenues of its clubs. Like other European soccer leagues, Serie A lags England's Premier League in terms of income and is looking at ways to revive its global appeal. The sources said Serie A clubs learnt on Thursday that Apollo Global Management (APO.N) had also come forward, without providing further details. Prior to that meeting, clubs are due to discuss in mid-February the sale process of the media rights, which is expected to start later this year.

☆ Former Tottenham defender Walkes dies aged 25
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Jul 9, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte FC defender Anton Walkes (5) with the ball in the first half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY SportsJan 19 (Reuters) - English defender and Charlotte FC player Anton Walkes has died at the age of 25, the Major League Soccer club said on Thursday. Walkes died after being in a boating accident on waters in Miami on Wednesday as the club had arrived in Florida to begin a training camp for the pre-season, according to local media. Walkes later had successful spells at Portsmouth and Atlanta United before moving to Charlotte in 2022. "He will be greatly missed by many, and our thoughts and prayers are with Anton's family during this heartbreaking time."

☆ Messi headlines shortlist for FIFA Best Men's Player award
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Messi, along with his Paris St Germain team mate Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City's Erling Haaland, were among the 14 players shortlisted for The Best FIFA Men's Player award, the world governing body said on Thursday. Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, who won the 2022 Ballon d'Or award, is also in the shortlist. Sarina Wiegman, who led England to last year's European Championship title, is joined on The Best FIFA Women's Coach shortlist by Chelsea's Emma Hayes and Germany manager Martina Voss-Tecklenburg. Liverpool's Alisson Becker, Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois and Aston Villa's Martinez are among the nominees for The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper award. FIFA also announced an 11-player shortlist for this year's Puskas Award for the "most beautiful" goal of the year, with Mbappe's spectacular volley against Argentina in the World Cup final among the nominees.

☆ Morning Bid: Paging Mr. Powell
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Asian stocks edged lower on Tuesday after recent gains even as Asian tourism-focused businesses geared up for a return of Chinese tourists after the country's borders reopened on Monday. Later on Tuesday, Fed boss Powell is set to make a speech that could give further clarity on the pace of rate hikes while U.S. inflation data out on Thursday will further cement expectations. In Japan, consumer inflation exceeded the central bank's 2% target for a seventh straight month in a sign of broadening inflationary pressure. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsMeanwhile, the French need to prepare to work longer than they do now. Reporting by Anshuman Daga; Editing by Sam HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Man United, Tottenham, Liverpool takeover targets for Qatar fund - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] General view of the United Trinity statue outside Old Trafford REUTERS/Phil NobleJan 9 (Reuters) - English Premier League clubs Manchester United Plc (MANU.N), Tottenham Hotspur, or Liverpool FC are being targeted by Qatar Sports Investments over a potential acquisition, Bloomberg News reported on Monday. Qatar Sports Investments is considering either a total takeover or a stake in Manchester United or Liverpool, according to the report. Liverpool Chairman Tom Werner also said in November that the Premier League side's owner, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), was exploring a sale of the club. Qatar Sports Investments is currently the owner of French soccer club Paris St Germain, and has a stake in Portuguese soccer club SC Braga. Manchester United and Qatar Sports Investments did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment, while Liverpool could not be immediately reached for comment.

☆ Wales captain Bale announces end of playing career
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Bale played a Wales record of 111 games for his country and was a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid. "After careful and thoughtful consideration, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football," Bale said on Twitter. Bale made 12 appearances and scored six goals in the triumphant campaign, including in the 4-1 final win over Atletico Madrid. loading"The fortune of being Welsh and being selected to play for and captain Wales, has given me something incomparable to anything else I've experienced. "I don't think it will be the last time you see him in a Wales jersey," Wales coach Rob Page said after their elimination.

☆ Roman Abramovich transferred superyachts and private jets worth $4 billion to his children just before the Ukraine invasion, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Roman Abramovich transferred assets to his children before the Ukraine invasion, per The Guardian. Assets worth more than $4 billion were transferred to his seven children only three weeks before the start of the war, the report said. His children's beneficial interest in the trust's assets – including the Eclipse superyacht worth $700 million and shares in Russian companies – rose from 51% to 100%, per the report. Companies controlled by Abramovich's trusts had assets worth $2.5 billion at the end of 2021, per the reports. Abramovich seemingly reorganized other assets just weeks before the invasion of Ukraine.

"And I think when you ask around the world now about our team, the world sees us in a complete different light. Gio Reyna, 20, later confirmed in an Instagram post that Berhalter was talking about him. read moreGio is the son of Claudio Reyna, who played alongside Berhalter for the U.S. team at the 2002 World Cup and is now sporting director for MLS side Austin FC. "And it's a loving relationship, a devoted relationship and we have four amazing kids to show for it." Berhalter led the squad to the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar where they were knocked out by the Netherlands.

☆ Danielle Reyna told U.S. Soccer about Berhalter domestic violence incident - reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Rory Carroll | Thomson Reuters | Los Angeles-Based Sports Reporter Who Interviews The Most Impactful Athletes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 4 (Reuters) - Danielle Reyna, the mother of U.S. men's national team midfielder Gio Reyna, notified U.S. Soccer last month about a 1991 incident where head coach Gregg Berhalter kicked his wife, ESPN and other outlets reported on Wednesday. Gio Reyna, 20, later confirmed in an Instagram post that Berhalter was talking about him. Danielle is the wife of former national team captain Claudio, who is the sporting director for Austin FC. Danielle, Claudio and Gio Reyna did not respond to requests for comment. But the federation on Wednesday announced that current assistant coach Anthony Hudson would lead the team during its January camp while a "technical review" of the men's national team program was conducted.

☆ Brazil prepares to bury Pelé in the city he made a soccer mecca
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Forty-five years after Pelé played his last game, it’s hard to imagine modern soccer, or Brazil, without him. Pelé will be buried Tuesday in the city where he grew up, became famous, and helped make into a global capital of soccer. The coffin of Brazilian soccer great Pelé is carried Monday to the Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos, Brazil. He made soccer important for Brazil and he made Brazil important for the world,” he said. Pelé led Brazil to World Cup titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970 and remains one of the team’s all-time leading scorers with 77 goals.

☆ Markets close out the year down, following light week of trading
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Markets closed out the week — and the year — in the red, as the so-called Santa Claus rally failed to materialize. Under the hood, financials closed out the week in the green followed by energy, while materials led to the downside followed by consumer staples and utilities. On Thursday, initial jobless claims for the week ending Dec. 24 came in at 225,000, the U.S. Labor Department said. ET: ISM manufacturing PMI 10:00 a.m. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ Soccer giants’ new owners may get tiny returns
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Streisand Neto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Financial Times reported that PSG’s Qatari owners wanted to offload 15% of the French champions. Recent deals valued the National Football League’s Denver Broncos and basketball’s Utah Jazz at over 9 times revenue, according to Forbes. Possible Man United, Liverpool and PSG owners might hope that the teams will eventually reach such valuation heights. Fenway Sports Group would consider new shareholders for Liverpool, having frequently received expressions of interest from third parties, the English Premier League club’s owners said on Nov. 7. The Financial Times reported on Nov. 28 that Paris Saint-Germain’s Qatari owners were considering selling 15% of the club.

☆ Cristiano Ronaldo signs with Saudi Arabian soccer club Al Nassr for reported record-breaking salary
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is joining Saudi Arabian club team Al Nassr in a deal that will see him play until June 2025. "History in the making," Al Nassr FC wrote in a Twitter post on its official English-language account. The Saudi club quoted Ronaldo as saying he is "eager to experience a new football league in a different country." The Al Nassr contract will reportedly see Ronaldo taking home more than $1 million per week. Al Nassr, founded in Riyadh in 1955, is one Saudi Arabia's oldest soccer clubs and has won nine Saudi Premier League titles.

☆ How Gerry Cardinale became the go-to dealmaker for the likes of the Yankees, AC Milan, and Ben Affleck
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | Dakin Campbell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

He bought the soccer club AC Milan in August, earning the attention of the Italian press. This past spring, AC Milan won its first national title in 11 years. Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images Show less Cardinale at a training session for AC Milan. For instance, the teams sell each other's merchandise in their stadiums, and the YES Network airs AC Milan games. "Now we have a new phase of expansion and internationalization of AC Milan with Gerry."

☆ Brazilian soccer legend Pelé, winner of 3 World Cups, dead at 82
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Scott Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Showing a natural skill for the sport, Pelé eventually joined a youth team coached by the former Brazilian national team player Waldemar de Brito. Keystone/Hulton Archive/GettyBy 16, Pelé made the Brazilian national team and was playing in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. In the 1966 World Cup, Pelé played in only two of three games, scoring one goal, as Brazil was eliminated in the first round. In 1970, Pelé got World Cup redemption, going into Mexico with a Brazilian squad some considered the best team ever. He took part in World Cup draws, inaugurations and ceremonies and was involved in various Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.

☆ How Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich fell from grace after Putin's invasion of Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A few days after the start of the war, Abramovich said he was selling Chelsea FC, ending 19 years of ownership. Roman Abramovich celebrates Chelsea FC winning the Premier League in London, England, on May 21, 2017. Catherine Ivill/AMA/Getty ImagesAbramovich announced he was selling the Premier League soccer team on March 2. "Moreover, I have instructed my team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated. The foundation will be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine," he added.

☆ Brentford's Toney charged with 30 more alleged betting breaches
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been charged with 30 more alleged breaches of betting rules, England's Football Association (FA) said on Tuesday. The 26-year-old Toney was in November charged with misconduct, breaching the rules 232 times between 2017 and 2021. A report in the Daily Mail newspaper in November said Toney had been under investigation for around seven months in relation to the alleged betting activity before he played for Brentford. After the newspaper report, Toney said he was assisting the FA with its enquiries. Brentford said in a statement that private discussions with Toney and his legal representatives would continue but made no further comment.

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