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The annual report of football finance by Deloitte Sports Business shows that the total market for the 'big five' European leagues grew to €13.6 billion in 2006/7, a €1 billion increase on the previous year. Revenue for the leagues exceeded €7 billion for the first time in 2006/7, up €402m (6 per cent) to €7.1 billion. The increase in revenue was achieved despite a €236m reduction in Italian Serie A revenues in 2006/7, which was primarily due to the relegation of Juventus into Serie B. Total revenue for the other four top leagues increased by €638m (12 per cent) in 2006/7. The English Premier League clubs' revenue totalled €2.3 billion in 2006/7, up 11 per cent. Premiership total revenue was €0.9 billion (65 per cent) higher than that reported by its nearest challenger, the German Bundesliga (€1.4 billion). Germany's Bundesliga and Spain's La Liga achieved the highest percentage increases in revenue - both up 15 per cent - which helped these two leagues overtake Italy's Serie A in 2007/8. The return of Juventus to Serie A in 2007/8 should lead to a close race for second place next year.
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