Jason Stephens’ Post

#Multiclub #ownership should be banned. Period. When groups own clubs on different continents, they can engage in transfers that allow them to play around rules and that gives them an unfair advantage over other clubs m. When groups own clubs that compete in the same competition like in European #competitions, the conflict of interests is worse even with a 30% or a 10% stake and even with a trust. In the case of #Girona, there is common ownership, #Manchestercity 's manager Pep #Guardiola's brother is Girona's chairman, and several players were moved from City to Girona and played an important role in Girona's great performance this year. What would happen if Girona were to face City in next year's Champions League? #governance #sport #business #uefa #football #competition #fairness #competitionpolicy https://lnkd.in/eUY_H5dE

MCO: Premier League Teams & their links to Portuguese Clubs / Football Organisations. * Arctos Partners (7/12/23) purchased a 12.5% Stake in QSI (PSG owners) who also have a 29% stake in Braga. Arctos partners have a 5% stake in FSG owners of Liverpool and provided the funding for Josh Harris 18% stake in Crystal Palace. * Nottingham Forrest owner Evangelos Marinakis purchased an 80% stake in Rio Ave F.C for £20.5m (November 2023). * Aston Villa parent company V-Sports purchased a 48% stake in SC Vitoria (Feb 23); V-Sports had to reduced their ownership to 29% due to UEFA regulations preventing teams under the same ownership / influence entering their European competitions (Aug 23). * Crystal Palace Minority stake owner David Blitzer (18%) though MSP Sports Capital funded the purchase of Estoril 2019. * Guo Guangchang Founder of FOSUN & Chairman of Wolves acquired a 20% stake in Portuguese Super Agent 'Jorge Mendes' group Gestifute, Wolves have signed 20 Portuguese players from Gestifute since 2017. Jorge Mendes played a leading role in Evangelos Marinakis purchase of Rio Ave. #Footballbusiness

How to Beat UEFA Ownership Rules - Use the same people and form a new company. * AC Milan and Toulouse owners RedBird are close to finalising (90% complete) the sale of RedBird 85% stake in French club Toulouse to another American investment firm, OTRO Capital. * OTRO Capital which specialises in sports and media, was founded 2023 by three RedBird Capital executives (Alec Scheiner, Niraj Shah & Isaac Halyard) whom all resigned from the RedBird board (aug 2023) to form OTRO Capital so that they can navigate UEFA’s rules over multi-club ownership and European competition. * OTRO three co founding partners have been instrumental for RedBird since 2016 in securing deals in AC Milan, Fenway Sports Group & Toulouse FC. * Alec Scheiner will continue to serve on the Board of Directors of FSG (Owners of Liverpool FC) * All three have gained extensive experience in major sporting organisations across the globe including Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, IPL Team Rajasthan Royals and LeBron James SpringHill Company. * In 2023, OTRO partners invested €200M into F1 team Alpine F1 for 24% stake. Otro Partners includes sports stars Trent Alexander-Arnold (TAA), Juan Mata, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Rory McIlroy and Anthony Joshua, Three Questions  ?: Does OTRO investment in Toulouse FC include a silent partner TAA (Liverpool player). ?: By using the same people and forming a new company, will this change the level of influence between AC Milan & Toulouse FC. ?: As Alec Scheiner continues to sit on the board of FSG could this be considered a conflict of interest. #footballbusiness #footballfinance #Multiclubownership

Following a hard-fought 2:0 win over Tottenham on Tuesday, #ManchesterCity are just one home win against #WestHam away from winning a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title. No club in the English top flight has ever won four championships in a row before and the fact that it would be City's sixth title in seven years speaks volumes of the club's recent dominance. Ahead of Tuesday's clash with #Tottenham, City manager #PepGuardiola raised some eyebrows when he denied suggestions that City's success was boring or just about the money. "It's not boring," he said, "it's difficult. Before, it was the money. For that reason, #ManchesterUnited should have won all the titles, #Chelsea - all the titles, #Arsenal - all the titles." And while he was right in his claim that these clubs spent as much money in the last five years as City - in fact, all three clubs significantly outspent City in terms of net #transferspending since the 2019/20 season - he conveniently ignored the fact that the foundation of City's latest success was laid before that. Players like #KevinDeBruyne, #KyleWalker, #JohnStones, #BernardoSilva or #Ederson - all integral parts of City's squad - all joined the club more than five years ago. Just looking at the past five years is arbitrary at best and intentionally misleading at worst, when in fact no other club has spent more money to assemble its squad than City has since changing ownership in 2008. Since the #AbuDhabiUnitedInvestmentGroup acquired Manchester City in 2008, the club’s new leadership under chairman #KhaldoonAlMubarak has transformed the club from mid-table mediocracy to a global #footballing powerhouse, winning seven #PremierLeague titles since their maiden win in 2011/12. City’s success has always been eyed with suspicion though, as it wouldn’t have been possible without the financial muscle of its #Emirati owners. According to Transfermarkt. com, a German website specializing on #football #transfers, Manchester City’s net transfer spending (transfer spending minus transfer proceeds) since 2008 amounts to roughly €1.59 billion ($1.73 billion), outspending local rival Manchester United by almost €200 million and formerly Russian- and now American-owned Chelsea by more than €250 million. City also faces more than 100 Premier League charges for allegedly breaching financial regulations, further clouding its latest triumphs. That is not to belittle the club's accomplishments on the pitch. After all, "money doesn't score goals" as German coaching legend #OttoRehagel famously said in 1995. Looking across town at the other Manchester club is enough to illustrate that money alone doesn't guarantee success. Ever since #SirAlexFerguson retired in 2013, Manchester United has struggled to live up to its name, despite spending nearly as much as its local rival.

The spectre of multi club ownership in Rugby has been looming for a while, following in the footsteps of football in which Todd Boehly, Red Bull, the City Group etc have become household names. However the well reported difficulties encountered in the attempted takeovers of Gloucester and Saracens may also afflict this purported deal. World Rugby and the RFU both impose regulatory requirements for their consent to be given before such a deal would be possible, whilst also maintaining regulations which appear to preclude the possibility of it at all. World Rugby Regulation 14.5 for example holds that: “Regulation 14 shall be interpreted broadly to give effect to the underlying intention that no Entity or group of Entities, acting alone or in concert, shall control, or be in a position to control, either directly or indirectly, more than one Club.” There are some further regulatory tensions between World Rugby and the RFU: for example the definition of ownership is different, World Rugby contends for 50% whilst the RFU contends for 25%. Regulatory tensions aside, given the financial difficulties many Rugby Union clubs have faced post Covid foreign investment into a group of clubs may create a more certain financial landscape in the Gallagher English Premiership. #sportslaw https://lnkd.in/esX7HutY.

🔵 City Football Group (CFG) who owns multiple clubs, including Girona FC and Manchester City FC, will need to reduce its stake in one of the two clubs if they want both to participate in the Champions League next season. 🤝 UEFA has presented the investment group with 2 options that would enable both sides to participate in next season’s UCL: 🔹 CFG can either transfer all shares in either Man City or Girona to an independent trust managed by a panel appointed by UEFA. 🔹 CFG can also sell shares to a separate third party that reduces one ownership stake to below 30%. The investment group currently owns 100% of Man City and 47% of Girona. ⏳ CFG must comply by June 3 to avoid possible penalties, which include one club being put into the Europa League. #mancity #girona #cityfootballgroup #football #uefa

It's extremely complex to observe and analyse the number of connections between investment groups and the multiple clubs they own, or that they have a considerable stake on. But even more complicated than that, is to understand the different strategies that are being used in order to "beat" the UEFA Ownership rules, and, in consequence, achieve an even greater influence in the targeted football clubs - as it's showcased in this example. These type of strategies should be accounted by UEFA and its regulations. Otherwise, the integrity of the sport is taking a big, big risk.

The proposed American investment in Springbok rugby by Ackerley Sports Group (ASG) is mired in controversy and uncertainty… While SA Rugby touts the deal as a strategic partnership to enhance the commercial value of South African rugby, concerns loom over ASG's ability to fund the investment, as they are reportedly still seeking financial partners. Local franchises have expressed apprehension, fearing the impact on the sport's integrity and the management of commercial rights The deal, which is not yet finalized, hinges on approval from SARU's member unions. Some argue that the integrity of the sport could be compromised, echoing broader concerns about private equity's role in sports. Others however, see it as a necessary step for financial sustainability and global competitiveness. The outcome will be a litmus test for balancing commercial interests with the sport's traditional values…

⚽️ Morning Snapshot 👔 Jorge de la Vega, commercial and marketing director, has been named by LALIGA as the deputy to the General Executive Directorate. 👔 Frank Arnesen will join the PSV Supervisory Board on October 30. The 67-year-old Dane replaces Hans van Breukelen, marking his second term in the board. 🎰 The Swedish Professional Football Leagues, in collaboration with mainsponsor Unibet and Spelfriheten , have visited two-thirds of Allsvenskan and Superettan clubs. The objective was to educate players and managers on gambling risks, seeking help, and identifying gambling problem signs. 💰 C.A. Osasuna reported a €5.1 million post-tax loss for the 2022/23 season. 🤝 Sport Lisboa e Benfica have entered their first partnership in India with I-League club Sreenidi Deccan Football Club. The Portuguese club will embed coaches in Sreenidi Deccan's program to oversee player development. #Partnership #Broadcasting #SportsBusiness #Commercial #Sponsorship #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #People #Data #Tech #Intelligence #Investment

ICYMI: David Davutovic on Preston Lions’ rich history and ambitions for the future: At the recent Preston in Business event, media personality David Davutovic spoke about Preston Lions' storied history, it's incredible impact on football in Australia and the Club's future as one of the eight foundation clubs in the emerging National Second Tier (NST). The Lions are well known for their incredible fanbase, garnered over 77 years of history and have significantly broadened this over many years. This transition means that for the first time since 1993, Preston will be competing on the national stage of Australian football. Davutovic, a special keynote guest, reflected on the Lions’ foundation and their growth to being one of the most popular NPL-based teams. "The club has played a huge role in Australian football. The club had 30 pretty successful years prior to the NSL and there is a truly rich history at the club," said Davutovic, Managing Director of Bruce Media. “The club has been in the top division, in the NSL for 13 years and before that from 1947 onwards there have been some great players come through and represent the country." he said at the event. "More recently, Sasa Ognenovski came through in the post NSL era and was a product of this club. He was voted the best Asian player in 2010 and won an Asian Champions League over in South Korea then went on to play for the Socceroos. "There's no doubt this club is right up there in its contribution to Australian football, and we are all very excited to see what the future holds." The NST has been an attractive idea for many years but with very little action from Football Australia, it never really came to light until recently. Preston Lions were one of the biggest drivers and immediately put their hand up to become one of the foundation clubs. The club's strong performance in critical revenue streams like sponsorship, gameday ticketing and membership have helped the club get into a position to take on this financial hurdle with an opportunity to dream of achieving the impossible. "It's really exciting for the sport and it’s interesting as to how it's all come about,” Davutovic said. “It's a bit like the A-League expansion project of five or six years ago. It happened somewhat organically because there was this groundswell of support, and Preston as a club have (arguably) played the biggest role in kickstarting this momentum that triggered the second division. "When it kicks off next year it's going to be huge. Preston had the courage to step forward and immediately say yes and obviously it's a massive financial commitment for the club but they said 'we're doing it' and credit to the club for that. "The current situation is eight clubs in the second division but my understanding is that they are looking at an expansion to 10 or 12 teams, maybe more from Victoria and they can really grow… #Football #Soccer #FootballNews