Fans spend €1.3bn in Russia during World Cup 2018
By Paul Nicholson
July 20 – Overseas fans in Russia for the World Cup spent about €1.3 billion between June 14 and July 16, according to a report by Russia’s Sberbank.
Finance
Hannover 96 vow to overturn ‘incomprehensible’ 50+1 DFL ruling
July 20 – Hannover 96 failed in its bid to get an exemption from Germany’s 50+1 ruling to allow the Bundlesliga club’s president Martin Kind (pictured) to take control, but has said it will appeal against the German Football League (DFL) ruling.
Mbappé tops U21 ranking, more than double the value of Rashford and Jesus
July 19 – France’s standout forward Kylian Mbappé is the most valuable under 21 player in the world, twice as valuable as England striker Marcus Rashford, according to a new report that values Mbappé at £170.2 million.
Goals Soccer Centres warns investors UK’s extreme weather will impact year end results
July 19 – Goals Soccer Centres has warned that the impact of extreme weather in the UK in first quarter of 2018 will leave full year financial results “materially below market expectations”.
Billion dollar Barca. Club hit record revenues but profits edge down
July 19 – Barcelona have posted record revenues for the 2017/18 season and financial year of €914 million ($1.07 million). The club showed operating profit of €32 million, leaving net profit after tax of €13 million.
Melwood’s days numbered as Liverpool give go-ahead for new training campus
July 18 – Premier League Liverpool who completed a rebuild of their Main Stand at Anfield two seasons ago, are now focussing their construction attention on the £50 million redevelopment of the club’s Academy site in Kirkby which the club has said will now go-ahead.
Fiat workers to strike over ‘unacceptable’ cost of Ronaldo
July 13 – Juventus’ acquisition of Real Madrid and Portugal superstar for €112 million plus a €30 million per year salary, is not being welcomed everywhere in Italy.
Elliott takes control at AC Milan and throws club another €50m
July 12 – AC Milan’s Chinese buyer Yonghong Li has lost control of the club after US hedge fund Elliott Management announced it has taken over the Italian giants following Li’s failure to make a €32 million loan payment.
Beckham group seeks Miami approval for $1bn Miami Freedom Park development
July 12 – The David Beckham-led investment group behind Miami’s Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise may have been slow to secure the slot but is now gathering pace with meetings scheduled today with city officials regarding the plans for an ambitious new multi-use stadium complex.
Juve conclude Ronaldo deal for €112m and €30m a year salary
July 11 – A massive self-indulgent risk for a 33-year-old or a masterstroke? The latest phase in the remarkable career of Cristiano Ronaldo has seen him join Juventus from Real Madrid for about €112 million, making him one the four most expensive players of all time.
Money talks. Villa forced into player sell-off to meet FFP rules
July 10 – The brutal effect of financial fair play has been exposed by the case of Aston Villa who say they are having have to sell many of those who took the club to the verge of a lucrative return to the English top flight last season.
AC Milan in the wind again as Li misses interest payment to Elliott hedge fund
July 9 – AC Milan’s Chinese owner Yonghong Li has missed the deadline to repay €32 million of interest on the debt to US hedge fund Elliott Management which provided an estimated €335 million of the €740 million Li used to buy the club.
The cost of going up: Bournemouth settle FFP promotion year breach with £4.75m
July 6 – Bournemouth, about to enter their fourth season in the Premier League, have finally settled with the English Football League (EFL) over a breach of financial fair play (FFP) rules when they were in the Championship in 2014/15.
Rangers’ King flirts with contempt proceedings after failure to complete £11m share order
July 5 – The increasingly bitter feud between the chairman of Glasgow giants Rangers Dave King and the club’s so-called Takeover Panel has escalated, with King facing possible contempt of court proceedings for failing to comply with a judge-ordered £11 million bid for the club’s shares.
€100m Ronaldo to swap Real Madrid for Juventus?
July 5 – Real Madrid are reportedly weighing up an offer of around €100 million from Juventus for Cristiano Ronaldo.