September 11 – There has been a significant shift in the balance of power in Mexican club football with telecoms billionaire Carlos Slim announcing through his América Móvil that he is selling his 30% stakes first division clubs Pachuca and Club León.Slim only entered football in 2012, having previously steered clear of the club ownership field, leaving it primarily to the Azcarraga family and the Televisa broadcast network.
Slim’s club ownership move was anticipated as being a wider play to buy a position in the broadcast rights markets, especially to secure mobile rights in a rapidly market, pitching him head-to-head against Grupo Televisa and TV Azteca and their more traditional TV businesses.
Televisa owns Club America while TV Azteca owns Morelia and Atlas.
In reality Slim has not been as aggressive within the football business as many observers had expected. However, although exiting ownership América Movil will retain some broadcasting rights over Pachuca, León and Mineros de Zacatecas for its different platforms.
An América Móvil statement said “it has reached an agreement to sell its 30% shareholding in Promotora del Club Pachuca, S.A. de C.V., Fuerza Deportiva del Club León, S.A. de C.V. and Centro Universitario del Futbol y Ciencias del Deporte, S.C., all of which are part of Grupo Pachuca, to the current controlling shareholders of such companies.
“As part of this transaction, América Movil will hold certain broadcasting rights over the national soccer clubs Pachuca, León and Mineros de Zacatecas, which will allow AMX to continue developing sports contents in its different platforms.
“Likewise, Grupo Pachuca and AMX have entered into a strategic commercial relationship.”
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