Off The Pitch’s Post

⚽️ Morning Snapshot 🤝 Sevilla FC have signed a regional partnership agreement with the Turkish betting and casino brand BETNANO. 🤝 FIFA have entered into a partnership with the Japanese multinational entertainment company and video game developer Konami Digital Entertainment. #Partnership #Broadcasting #SportsBusiness #Commercial #Sponsorship #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #People #Data #Tech #Intelligence #Investment

⚽️ Morning Snapshot 👔 TSG Hoffenheim Fußball-Spielbetriebs GmbH have appointed Andreas Schicker as their new managing director of sport. 👔 Club Brugge chairman Bart Verhaeghe has been elected as a director of the European Club Association (ECA). He will represent 'subdivision 2', which includes countries ranked between seventh and fifteenth in the UEFA rankings. 🤝 LALIGA have secured a three-year sponsorship agreement with Riyadh Season | موسم الرياض. 🤝 Tottenham Hotspur Football Club have partnered with Salesforce, naming them their new official CRM partner. 🤝 Como 1907 have entered into a new partnership with Kitman Labs. 🤝 UD Almería and DAZN have signed a sponsorship agreement, making the streaming platform a sponsor of both the men's and women's teams for the current season. #Partnership #Broadcasting #SportsBusiness #Commercial #Sponsorship #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #People #Data #Tech #Intelligence #Investment

Manchester City Football Club's legal battle with The Premier League over Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules has made waves in the football world. With both sides claiming partial victories, this case could have significant implications not just for City, but for financial regulations across the Premier League. What did City aim to achieve, what did the independent panel decide, and how might this ruling impact the broader landscape of English football? 1. What was Manchester City's challenge in this case? City challenged the Premier League's APT rules, which regulate financial transactions between clubs and entities linked to their ownership. They argued that the rules were anti-competitive and unfairly restricted their sponsorship deals, many of which involve companies connected to their Abu Dhabi ownership. City sought to weaken these regulations, which they believed hindered their financial freedom. 2. What was the outcome of the arbitration panel’s ruling? The panel delivered a mixed verdict. City scored two key victories: shareholder loans will now be subject to the same scrutiny as sponsorship deals, and the Premier League's handling of certain fair market value (FMV) assessments was found to be procedurally flawed. However, the broader framework of APT rules was upheld, reinforcing the Premier League’s regulatory authority. 3. How could this ruling affect other Premier League clubs? The inclusion of shareholder loans under APT scrutiny could impact clubs like Arsenal F.C, Everton Football Club, and Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, who have benefited from interest-free loans from their owners. These clubs may now face more regulatory hurdles, requiring them to align their financial practices with market standards and potentially limiting their financial flexibility. Read the explainer 👇 https://lnkd.in/d9yyJ3PD #SportsBusiness #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #Forecast #Data #Tech #Intelligence

⚽️ Morning Snapshot 👔 Paris Saint-Germain have appointed Victoriano MELERO as their chief executive officer. 👔 Brøndby IF have confirmed that Carsten Vagn Raae Jensen is stepping down as football director by mutual agreement. Vice-chairman Scott McLachlan will temporarily assume the role. 💰 Fortuna Düsseldorf have ended the 2023/24 financial year with a profit of €568,000 and a positive EBIT of €1.2 million. 🤝 Atalanta B.C. and INTRED S.p.A. have announced the renewal of their partnership, with the brand becoming the club's official sponsor. 🤝 Hull City have confirmed EC Surfacing Ltd as a silver partner for the 2024/25 season. #Partnership #Broadcasting #SportsBusiness #Commercial #Sponsorship #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #People #Data #Tech #Intelligence #Investment

In an interview with Off The Pitch, The European Club Association (ECA) CEO Charlie Marshall called for clubs to be formally recognized as stakeholders within FIFA. As the ECA gathers in Athens for its General Assembly, Marshall argues that clubs deserve a direct role in FIFA’s decision-making, especially on issues that significantly impact their operations. In addition to this, the assembly will address crucial topics like solidarity payments for non-participating clubs and preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup, signaling major shifts in football governance. 1. Why is formal representation for clubs in FIFA so crucial now? Clubs play a central role in the football ecosystem, yet they’ve historically been excluded from formal decision-making processes. Recent court rulings, like the Diarra case, have underscored the need for clubs to have a say in rules that directly affect their operations and financial stability. 2.  What are the key legal shifts impacting FIFA and clubs? The Diarra case, where FIFA’s transfer rules were found to breach EU law, is the latest in a series of rulings. These decisions challenge FIFA's control over international competitions and regulations governing agents, prompting calls for clubs to have more influence in shaping these rules. 3.  What updates are expected at the ECA General Assembly? The assembly will address increased solidarity payments, transparency in fund distribution, and preparations for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. Additionally, the ECA’s growing membership will be a focus, with efforts to make the association more inclusive and representative of all clubs, regardless of their size or participation in top competitions. Read the interview 👇 https://lnkd.in/dxXNbY22 #SportsBusiness #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #Forecast #Data #Tech #Intelligence

⚽️ Morning Snapshot 👔 Michael Zorc, the former Borussia Dortmund player and sporting director, will join the club’s supervisory board following the general meeting on 25 November. 👔 Claire Cronin, Chelsea Football Club’s chief marketing officer, has left the club after 15 month in the role. 👔 Roger Thornton has been appointed to Newcastle United Football Club’s board of directors. 🤝 Real Madrid C.F. have signed a three-year deal with Porcelanosa, establishing the brand as an official partner of the club. 🤝 Athletic Club have reached an agreement with the Entrecanales Domecq e Hijos wine group, naming Glorioso the official wine of the club for the next two seasons. 🤝 UD Las Palmas SAD have extended their sponsorship deal with CaixaBank, securing the bank as their official sponsor and financial partner until 2027. #Partnership #Broadcasting #SportsBusiness #Commercial #Sponsorship #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #People #Data #Tech #Intelligence #Investment

⚽️ Morning Snapshot 👔 José María Cruz, who has been serving as Sevilla FC's general manager, will leave the club this week. He held the position in two separate periods, with the most recent spanning the last 10 years. 💰 C.A. Osasuna concluded the 2023/24 season with a profit of €2.8 million. 💰 Brøndby IF reported a loss of €14.01 million for the financial period from 1 January 2023 to 30 June 2024. 💰 The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) achieved a record turnover of £44.3 million. 🤝 Atelier Munro, based in Amsterdam, will become AFC Ajax's Official Formal Wear Supplier from next season, with the partnership running until at least 2027. 🤝 FC Internazionale Milano have entered into a two-year partnership with TIM, naming the company as their official telecommunications partner and official partner of Inter Women. 🤝 Real Zaragoza have extended their partnership with adidas, which will remain the club's technical sponsor until 2028. #Partnership #Broadcasting #SportsBusiness #Commercial #Sponsorship #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #People #Data #Tech #Intelligence #Investment

RB Leipzig's journey from the fifth tier of German football to becoming a UEFA Champions League regular is nothing short of remarkable. Backed by Red Bull, the club have built a reputation for strategic planning and talent development. While some view Leipzig’s ascent as a modern success story, others criticize its corporate backing and perceived commercialization of the sport. Johann Plenge, RB Leipzig’s Managing Director, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the club’s journey. #SportsBusiness #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #People #Data #Intelligence #Investment #Newsletter

⚽️ Morning Snapshot 👔 Silke Sinning has been elected as the new president of Hessischer Fussball-Verband e.V. (HFV) at the association's general meeting in Germany. 🤝 Manchester City Football Club have unveiled a new partnership with the Spain-based sports venue advertising company, STAIRMEDIA Global. 🤝 Club Deportivo Leganés have introduced Lowi as their new official telecommunications partner. #Partnership #Broadcasting #SportsBusiness #Commercial #Sponsorship #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #People #Data #Tech #Intelligence #Investment

FC32, a new MCO group, is aiming to make its mark on football with a fresh, player-centric approach. By focusing on the development of individual football players rather than clubs, FC32 aims to build a football ecosystem that prioritizes long-term growth. In an interview with Off The Pitch, co-founder Federico Mari shares insights into FC32's vision and strategy. 1. What sets FC32 apart from other multi-club ownership groups? FC32 focuses on players as the key assets in football, rather than prioritizing the clubs themselves. By providing personalized development plans and leveraging a centralized scouting and data analytics system, FC32 aims to maximize player potential and long-term growth, differentiating itself from the traditional MCO model. 2. How does FC32 plan to achieve sustainable growth through its acquisitions? FC32 targets lower-league, promotion-ready clubs like SKN St. Pölten and Cobh Ramblers FC, focusing on developing players while enhancing club infrastructure. The goal is to maximize player value through tailored training and career planning. 3. How does FC32 maintain club identity while centralizing operations? FC32 emphasizes the importance of preserving local club identity. While it centralizes scouting and player development to create operational efficiencies, it ensures each club retains its unique cultural and community ties, aligning both sporting and business strategies without compromising on the essence of the club. Read the interview 👇 https://lnkd.in/dcsFD69p #SportsBusiness #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #Forecast #Data #Tech #Intelligence