PitchSideMonitor

PitchSideMonitor

6/10/2025, 11:46:26 PM

https://www.thetimes.com/article/7e752adb-e38a-4d3f-90a4-9964866f6103?shareToken=dbce9fae04124deb8dd03ec9411bc1fd 🔍 Sky Sports’ Premier League viewership dropped by 10% last season compared to the record-breaking 2023-24 season, attributed to a lack of a close title race and an early settled relegation battle, particularly with Liverpool winning comfortably. 🔍 Next season will see Sky Sports air at least 215 live matches, up from 128, while Amazon Prime will not broadcast any Premier League games, leaving just Sky and TNT Sports as the main providers — potentially simplifying viewing and reducing pirate streaming. 🔍 Broadcasters continue to tackle illegal streaming, with Sky urging Amazon to implement stricter controls on its fire sticks, as an estimated half of illegal streaming in the UK comes from this source, while Amazon claims it remains vigilant in fighting piracy.

PitchSideMonitor

6/8/2025, 10:10:14 AM

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/crystal-palace-uefa-europa-league-steve-parish-john-textor-lyon-b2765356.html 🔍 Europa League Qualification at Risk Due to Multi-Club Ownership Rules Crystal Palace's participation in the upcoming UEFA Europa League is under threat because of UEFA's regulations on multi-club ownership. John Textor, who owns a significant stake in Crystal Palace, also owns Olympique Lyonnais, another club that has qualified for the same competition. UEFA rules prevent individuals from having control over multiple clubs in the same tournament to maintain competition integrity. 🔍 Missed Deadline for Ownership Restructuring Complicates Matters UEFA had set a deadline of March 1 for any ownership changes to be in effect for the upcoming season. Crystal Palace's unexpected qualification for the Europa League came after this date, leaving no time to adjust ownership structures to comply with UEFA's rules. Attempts to place conflicting stakes into blind trusts were rejected by UEFA, further complicating the situation. 🔍 Potential Consequences Include Disqualification and Reallocation of Spots If UEFA determines that Crystal Palace's ownership situation violates its regulations, the club could be disqualified from the Europa League. In such a case, their spot might be allocated to another Premier League team, such as Nottingham Forest, with subsequent adjustments to other European competition placements. 🔍 Ongoing Negotiations and Uncertain Outcomes John Textor is reportedly seeking to sell his stake in Crystal Palace to resolve the conflict, but negotiations are complex and time-sensitive. With the Europa League draw approaching, the club's future in European competition remains uncertain, pending UEFA's final decision.

PitchSideMonitor

6/19/2025, 7:48:05 AM

https://spobis.com/article/europas-top-5-ligen-erzielen-erstmals-ueber-20-milliarden-euro-umsatz 🔍 Record Revenue Across Europe: European football generated a record €38 billion in 2023/24 (up 8% from €35.3 billion). This includes all top-5 and other leagues, driven by commercial revenue and stadium upgrades. 🔍 Top-5 Leagues Break €20 Billion Barrier: For the first time ever, the combined revenue of the Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 exceeded €20.4 billion. Deloitte forecasts €21+ billion for 2024/25 due to expanded UEFA competitions. 🔍 Premier League Dominance: England's Premier League hit €7.4 billion in revenue, with strong commercial growth (+10%), remaining the largest single league by far. All income streams rose. 🔍 Bundesliga Revenue Dip: Germany's Bundesliga saw a 1% drop to just under €3.8 billion, mainly due to relegations (Schalke 04, Hertha BSC) and a drop in matchday revenues. It still ranks second in revenue per club. 🔍 Mixed Profitability and Cost Control: All Top-5 leagues except Ligue 1 recorded operating profits. Bundesliga had the lowest wage-to-revenue ratio (58%) and a €170M operating profit. LaLiga posted its first profit in four years; Ligue 1 remains loss-making. 🔍 Broadcast Revenue Slows, Ticket Income Rises: TV revenues stagnated at €9.4 billion (+1%). In contrast, matchday income rose to €3 billion, aided by stadium renovations (e.g., Real Madrid, Liverpool) and higher ticket prices.

PitchSideMonitor

6/11/2025, 3:15:53 PM

Will FIFA's $1 Billion Club World Cup experiment reshape global football forever? https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fifas-1-billion-club-world-cup-experiment-reshape-global-football-rwv3c?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&utm_campaign=share_via 🔎 Financial game-changer: Massive prize pool boosts club incomes, sometimes exceeding continental championship earnings. 🔎 Digital revolution: DAZN’s streaming deal redefines fan experience, prioritising digital over stadium attendance. 🔎 Competitive disruption: Smaller clubs gain windfalls, but European giants could still dominate through bigger payouts. 🔎 Double-edged sword: The tournament could help underdogs build infrastructure or widen the gap if it’s not managed well.

PitchSideMonitor

5/28/2025, 2:44:51 PM

🔎 UEFA’s new comp format is shaking things up: 🔎 More underdog clubs thriving (#bottom49) 🔎 Modest 10% prize rise, but not game-changing 🔎 Attendance dips to 60.2% avg. 🔎 Wrocław hosts historic final Is this the dawn of a new era in European football? https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lttsports_bottom49-activity-7333454533018177536-OrRv

PitchSideMonitor

6/17/2025, 1:49:21 PM

https://www.marca.com/futbol/primera-division/2025/06/17/tebas-estaria-comodo-abrazando-florentino-invitacion-me-llega.html 🔍 End of the Club World Cup as a Goal Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, stated that his goal is to eliminate the Club World Cup entirely. He emphasized there are no available dates in the calendar and no additional economic margin to support a competition that shifts money toward elite clubs and undermines the balance of the football ecosystem. 🔍 Clash with Florentino Pérez over Industry Models Tebas criticized Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez and his Super League plans, calling them "poorly thought out" and harmful to national leagues. He stressed that his disagreement is not personal but rooted in fundamentally different views on the football industry model. 🔍 Dependency on TV Rights and Growth Challenges He highlighted that many LaLiga clubs, especially smaller ones, rely heavily (up to 95%) on audiovisual rights for income. Tebas noted that there's a need to grow commercial revenues, as broadcasting income is reaching its limit due to increased piracy and competing tournaments. 🔍 Club Calendars and LaLiga Scheduling Pressure Regarding the upcoming Club World Cup, Tebas confirmed that if Spanish teams like Real Madrid and Atlético go far in the tournament, it could delay the LaLiga start. Still, he insisted that LaLiga won't compromise the mandated three-week vacation and emphasized the importance of sticking to domestic scheduling priorities.

PitchSideMonitor

5/30/2025, 2:59:46 PM

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3n7dx2174o 🔍 Industrial-Scale Piracy of Premium Sports Content A recent report by Enders Analysis highlights a significant surge in the illegal streaming of premium sports content, particularly live football matches. This piracy is facilitated by devices like Amazon Fire Sticks and is exacerbated by inadequate action from major tech companies. 🔍 Amazon Fire Stick Identified as a Key Piracy Enabler The Amazon Fire Stick, while offering access to legitimate streaming services, is also being used to stream pirated content. In the UK, 59% of individuals who admitted to watching pirated material via a physical device reported using an Amazon Fire product. 🔍 Outdated DRM Systems Compromise Content Security Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems from Google and Microsoft, namely Widevine and PlayReady, are criticized for their outdated architecture. The lack of updates and maintenance has led to vulnerabilities, making it easier for pirates to access and distribute high-quality content illegally. 🔍 Piracy Poses Cybersecurity Risks to Consumers Consumers accessing illegal streams are at risk of cyber threats, including malware and phishing attacks. The report warns that users often provide personal information, such as credit card details, making them susceptible to cybercrime.

PitchSideMonitor

5/22/2025, 4:10:45 PM

https://www.elconfidencial.com/deportes/futbol/liga/2025-05-14/javier-tebas-laliga-florentino-perez-superliga-congreso-psoe-pp-sumar-vox_4128145/ 🔍 Tebas Criticises Super League and Florentino Pérez's Role Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, addressed the Spanish Congress, expressing concerns about the proposed European Super League. He described it as an "elitist and oligarchic" initiative, asserting that Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid, is the primary force behind it. Tebas warned that the Super League could jeopardise national competitions and lead to significant financial losses for Spanish clubs. 🔍 Political Parties Respond to Tebas's Testimony During the session, political parties had varied reactions. Sumar and Vox supported Tebas's stance against the Super League. In contrast, the People's Party (PP) and Junts appeared unprepared, not directly addressing the issue. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) took a cautious approach, emphasizing the need for prudence and dialogue concerning new football proposals. 🔍 Spain's Unique Position in the EU Regarding the Super League Tebas highlighted that Spain was the only EU member state that did not sign a resolution supporting the traditional European sports model, which emphasizes merit-based qualification. He suggested that this abstention might be influenced by the government's close ties to Real Madrid's leadership. 🔍 Potential Financial Impact on Spanish Football According to a study commissioned by LaLiga, the introduction of the Super League could result in a 32% decrease in television revenue for Spanish clubs, amounting to approximately €1.16 billion. This figure could rise to a 47% loss if Super League matches are scheduled on weekends, directly competing with domestic league fixtures.

PitchSideMonitor

2/25/2025, 1:06:06 PM

https://www.delo.si/english/exclusive-interview-aleksander-ceferin-uefa-president-freedom-of-speech-politics 🔍 Champions League Reform Success: Čeferin claims that 99% of fans now support the new Champions League format, which has made the competition more unpredictable and exciting for both clubs and sponsors. 🔍 US Market Expansion: UEFA is negotiating future TV rights with the agency Relevent but has not discussed moving the Champions League final to the United States, contrary to media rumors. 🔍 Player Fatigue Debate: Čeferin acknowledges that players are overworked but points out that clubs need more matches to sustain high salaries. He finds it ironic that the best-paid players complain the most. 🔍 European Decline: Čeferin criticizes Europe's strict regulations, lack of unity, and economic competitiveness, arguing that the EU is losing global influence while China and the US advance. 🔍 Freedom of Speech Erosion: He expresses concern about increasing political correctness in Western societies, stating that people can no longer freely express opinions without backlash. 🔍 Geopolitical Concerns: Čeferin warns that the world is in its most dangerous state since WWII, with aggressive leaders, indecisive politicians, and Europe sidelined in global decision-making. 🔍 Sport as a Unifier: He highlights UEFA's efforts to bridge political divides, like Serbia and Albania co-hosting the Euro U-21, while criticizing politics for preventing Russian U-17 participation.

PitchSideMonitor

2/12/2025, 9:18:10 AM

https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/20250211/1002405548/tebas-contundente-esto-solo-servira-jugadores-cinco-ferraris-paguen.html 🔍 Gap between big and small clubs: Javier Tebas warns about a growing inequality in football due to the Champions League format and competitions like the Club World Cup, which concentrate revenue among a few big teams. 🔍 Revenue concentration: Teams like Liverpool earn up to €99 million in the Champions League, while smaller clubs like Young Boys barely receive €29 million, worsening the disparity. 🔍 Impact on national leagues: Tebas highlights that this inequality threatens the competitiveness of national leagues, fueling projects like the Super League and harming teams like Osasuna, which also contribute to the qualification process. 🔍 Proposal for redistribution: As a solution, Tebas suggests redistributing income from European competitions, emphasizing that national leagues are essential and should receive fairer compensation.