Governance
Fifa 2023 revenues buoyed by WWC, sponsorship makes up 39 per cent
World governing body FIFA enjoyed income of $1.17bn (€1.07bn) in 2023, boosted by strong commercial revenues from the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Blow to European Super League as Danes win trademark case
No other football league or competition in Europe will be able to use the name, The Super League, after the European Union Trade Mark Office sided with Denmark's Superligaen A/S.
MCO ‘essential’ to grow women’s football revenues, Mercury 13 set for first deal
Multi-club ownership (MCO) in women’s football is a necessity to growing the overall quality of the game and, eventually, commercial revenues, according to two leading protagonists.
Coe: World Athletics holding talks with global investment funds
Investment conversations that continue to be held by World Athletics are with global players and are being sparked by ongoing revamps to the sport to maintain its audience engagement, according to Sebastian…
Tebas slams ‘deceitful’ A22 for free-to-view Super League promise
Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, has reignited his war of words with A22 Sports Management, the backers of the proposed breakaway European Super League (ESL), claiming the organisation is attempting…
Canada Soccer board members hit with $30m legal challenge to CSB rights award
Current and former members of the Canada Soccer board have been hit with a C$40m ($29.6m/€27.4m) lawsuit over approving the 2018 award of a long-term media and sponsorship rights contract to Canada Soccer Business.
NRL ready to close gap on AFL in next rights deal after record 2023 revenues
Australasia's National Rugby League will find itself in its strongest-ever financial position when it comes to negotiate its next domestic media-rights deal, after reporting record revenues topping A$700m (€424m/$458m).
DFL drops private equity investment plans amid fan revolt
Plans for private equity investment into the German Football League (DFL) have been abandoned for the second time in nine months, with seemingly no end in sight to the fan opposition that has disrupted…
Blackstone exits DFL investment race, CVC sole bidder
CVC Capital Partners is the last remaining private equity firm in the running to become the strategic partner of the German Football League (DFL) in a new media company after Blackstone dropped its bid…
Bundesliga protests escalate as league nears D-Day on private equity
The German Football League (DFL) is coming under increasing pressure to hold another vote into its decision to take on private investment and potentially drop the plan altogether following another weekend…
SA Rugby to set up commercial unit with investor ASG
South Africa Rugby is to establish a commercial vehicle to manage its media and sponsorship rights after striking an agreement with Ackerley Sports Group (ASG), a new unit of the US investment firm
Mass job cuts planned at A-Leagues, KeepUp media unit set to shut
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL), the governing body of the A-League Men and Women competitions, is set to cut as much as 50 per cent of its workforce, with its KeepUp media arm among the casualties,…
IOC social media rules aim to balance athlete engagement with rights-holder exclusivity
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has significantly loosened its restrictions around athletes' use of social media during the Olympic Games following discussions with media rights-holders, albeit…
Wembanyama rise fuelling closer ties between NBA, LNB
France’s importance to the NBA is growing with a media tie-up in the country among the latest initiatives off the back of an annual regular-season game and the success of French rookie Victor Wembanyama’s debut season.
ECJ rules against Fifa, Uefa but no ESL approval yet; A22 plots free OTT service
Fifa and Uefa acted unlawfully when they threatened to ban clubs and players joining breakaway competitions like the European Super League (ESL), the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled
DFB names media rights expert Blask as CEO; finances still hurt by historic tax issues
The German Football Association (DFB) has promoted its senior marketing and sales executive Holger Blask to the role of chief executive
Bundesliga clubs narrowly vote to enter private investor talks
The German Football League (DFL) has been given the green light to re-enter talks with potential investors, after the smallest possible majority of Bundesliga and 2
Garber: 2023 transformational for MLS after Messi arrival
The arrival of Lionel Messi pushed Major League Soccer into the worldwide soccer conversation and helped the league overdeliver on its expectations for global media partner Apple, commissioner Don Garber…