Chinese buyer interested in United stake

An unknown Chinese buyer has expressed an interest in buying out some of Manchester United’s shareholders.  Negotiators claiming to act for a billionaire investor have contacted some of United’s independent shareholders in recent weeks over a possible deal to buy a stake in the club.

Football has become more superstar-centric

Commenting on the Neymar transfer, soccer economics guru Stefan Szymanski has said that it shows how a team sport has moved towards a superstar-centric model.

He told the Financial Times, ‘If you think how football was 30 years ago, the overwhelming majority of a team’s money came from the local fan base.   The difference today is the global reach of teams, through all forms of media, so that the revenue generating potential comes from global celebrities like Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo.’

Neymar and financial fair play

Sports lawyer Daniel Geey discusses how the signing of Neymar by Paris Saint-Germain relates to financial fair play (FFP) rules.

The FFP rules were revised in 2015, so clubs must show that they do not have losses of more than €30m over a three year period, although spending on stadiums and youth development are exempted.  Javier Tebas, La Liga president, believes the Neymar deal would breach FFP.

The story behind the Neymar transfer

It is very unusual for a football transfer story to make the front page of the Financial Times, but that applies to Neymar’s transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain at a total cost of £415m. It is more than twice the sum Manchester United paid for Paul Pogba last summer and two and a half times that paid to United by Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo

Arsenal fan Jeremy Corbyn slams owner

Jeremy Corbyn told the owner of Arsenal to ‘stick to football’ yesterday after it was revealed that the American billionaire Stan Kroenke had launched an online hunting channel that shows lions and elephants being killed for sport.   My Outdoor TV has been described as the Netflix of the hunting, shooting and fishing world.

Big variations in Premier League wages

There is considerable variation in Premier League wages with an almost four to one ratio between the club with the highest average wages in 2015-16 and the club with the lowest.  Data from thepriceofffootball shows that five clubs had average wages of over £100,000 a week, led by Manchester United on £119,088, followed by Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal.

There was a big gap between Arsenal on £100,198 and Tottenham Hotspur on £51,304.  Bournemouth was the most parsimonious club on £30,542.

Worcester City to appeal stadium decision

Worcester City are set to appeal against a second refusal of planning permission for their proposed 4,000 capacity stadium at Perdiswell Park.   The club has been without a home since selling St. George’s Lane in 2013,

The club has dropped down three tiers in the non-league pyramid into the Midland League Premier Division because they could not afford to play at a higher level while ground sharing at Bromsgrove Sporting 16 miles away from the cathedral city.

Neymar on par with Messi in salary stakes

Paris Saint-Germain are expected to formalise their bid to sign Neymar in a deal worth more than £500m this week.   It would place him on a par with Lionel Messi as the best paid footballer on an annual salary of £55m.   Neymar’s father should be able to take eight figure commissions on the transaction.

Koreans interested in Woking

Chankoo Sim, leader of Sportzen, a Seoul-based marketing firm, is one of a number of potential bidders interested in Woking.   The company were the first Koreans to invest in a European football club after acquiring Belgian second division side AFC Tubize in 2014.

Illegal streamers blocked

Football fans will find it more difficult to stream matches illegally after a High Court blocking order hailed as a major victory by the Premier League.

The Premiership has obtained an injunction requiring internet service providers to promptly block access to servers that are illegally showing its games this season.   Once notified by the Premier League, the ISPs must act while the match is being played.   Some ISPs will be especially willing to cooperate as they are the victims of piracy themselves.