UEFA ready for assault on third-party player ownership, but clubs urge caution

Gianni Infantino 2

By Andrew Warshaw
March 6 – Third Party Ownership, the dubious process by which companies or individuals own the economic rights of players and take a portion of international transfer fees, may have its roots in South America but is also spreading its tentacles into a “growing” number of European countries according to the European Club Association which represents the interests of more than 200 clubs across the Continent.

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Ludogorets to donate 20% of Europa League gate receipts to charity

Domuschiev donation

By Alexander Krassimirov
March 5 – Bulgarian champions Ludogorets will donate 20% of its ticket revenue to charity from the upcoming home quarter final match in the Europa League against Valencia in Sofia next week. The club has established a foundation ‘Ludogorets for Bulgaria’, which will carry our charity work in all spheres of Bulgarian society.

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Romanian league eyes €100 million from new broadcasting rights deal

romania Liga 1

By Jaroslaw Adamowski
March 5 – Romania’s league association LPF is currently negotiating a new broadcasting rights deal for the Liga 1 which is expected to total €100 million for the next three years. The negotiations are expected to be completed this March, with several major media players set to bid for the contract, reported local daily Jurnalul National.

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European clubs cheat the player market by failing to pay ‘solidarity’ dues

football development

By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent, in Barcelona
March 5 – Hundreds of clubs responsible for developing players before they hit the big time in Europe are being unwittingly cheated out of their rightful compensation. New international transfer figures show that Europe’s clubs are all but ignoring their responsibilities to Continents like Africa and South America by paying out little more than one-fifth of required “solidarity” payments to clubs who train players during their formative years –

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ECA says transfer system is fit for purpose but slams FIFPro and agents

Money in football

By Andrew Warshaw in Barcelona
March 4 – European clubs paid agents a staggering $254 million in international transfer fees over the past two years, representing 14.6% of all deals involving contracted players. That was by far the most eye-catching finding of a wide-ranging independent analysis commissioned by the European Club Association and presented at their annual assembly today.

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