More fans may stay away from the live game warns Deloitte

The latest Deloitte Annual Review of Football Finance is now available and is well worth reading: https://www.deloitte.com/content/dam/assets-zone2/uk/en/docs/services/consulting/2026/deloitte-annual-review-of-football-finance-2026.pdf

It sounds a cautionary note about the state of the game and the growing gap between fans and wealthy owners, but then we live in a world in which billionaires are increasingly calling the shots in culture, sports and politics.

The report states: 'The 2024/25 season was one of transformation and expansion, with both UEFA and FIFA launching refreshed competitions for their flagship men’s club competitions. These saw more clubs compete for larger prize pots, with distributions to those participating bolstering otherwise plateauing broadcast revenues.

These changes underpinned a 6% strengthening of the European football market, which surpassed €40 billion for the first time in 2024/25. The ‘big five’ leagues’ relative contribution to this total remained consistent with the prior season, at 54% (€22 billion).

Football cannot rely on more of the same to deliver sustainable growth, though. An increasingly saturated market is not good for players nor fans, and the game is in danger of prioritising short-term gain over longer-term prosperity.

The complex trajectory of media rights values, coupled with the ongoing shift towards revenue-linked spending regulation, means it is more important than ever that organic growth and innovation are prioritised by rights holders, whether they be governing bodies, leagues or clubs. Build it and they’ll come?

Aided by the increase in UEFA club competition matches, matchday revenue saw higher relative growth than any other revenue stream across Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues in 2024/25. Premier League clubs reached a new milestone, with matchday revenues surpassing a collective £1 billion for the first time.

But clubs across Europe and beyond now face a critical juncture when planning for the future of stadia. Ticket pricing structures for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, about to enter its Quarter Finals at the time of this publication’s launch, have understandably raised questions about the accessibility of the game. This is a heightened example of the theme of premiumisation, which is playing out across the club game.

Whilst the appetite for live entertainment and particularly sport is significant, the approach to fan engagement needs serious consideration, particularly for those fans who attend games week in, week out. Frustrations among this group at the top-end of the game are building and in future many more may decide to vote with their feet, and step away from the live game.

This year’s publication reviews clubs’ financial performance during the 2024/25 season, as well as exploring future projections and emerging trends shaping the industry. Having long sat at the helm of what is becoming an increasingly competitive and constantly evolving sports market, football rightsholders and club owners must now proactively consider the questions – what next, and where do we sit within this future landscape?

The fans, their recurring loyalty and the atmosphere are what make football the globally leading sport, and so clubs must strike a balance between growing revenues and preserving the essence of the live matchday experience. This may be a difficult equilibrium to find, and will differ from club to club and at different levels of the game, but will involve developing differentiated products that serve existing match goers whilst simultaneously catering to those seeking more personalised, high-end experiences.'

It's no deal say Spurs insiders over Taiwanese takeover

Senior figures at Tottenham Hotspur insisted on Friday that they had not been informed of any deal to sell Daniel Levy’s stake in the club. A business group, Eight Sports Capital — which is said to include a billionaire Taiwanese financier — claimed that it had an agreement in place to buy a 24.99 per cent stake in ENIC, the club’s majority owners, from Levy, who owns 29.88 per cent. The Times has been told Ng Wing Fai and Brooklyn Earick form part of the group, having both been linked previously to potential takeovers of the Premier League club. The Taiwanese businessman, Richard Tsai, is also said to be part of the consortium. He is reportedly worth £7 billion. Last year Earick, the former DJ and tech entrepreneur, was part of an attempted £4.5 billion takeover, which was “unequivocally rejected” by Spurs. An ENIC spokesperson said: “We can confirm that neither ENIC nor THFC are aware of any sale by Daniel Levy’s Family Trust of its minority stake in ENIC, THFC’...

Spurs CEO attacks luxury training base

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Fulham requires big funding from owner

After lengthy delays, Fulham’s shiny, new Riverside Stand has finally opened, creating “a unique Thameside destination with first class facilities for supporters and partners on match days, as well as for the wider community year-round”. This ambitious project has increased Craven Cottage’s capacity by around 4,000 to 29,600, while it has also taken advantage of the club’s fantastic location and wealthy catchment area by including two Michelin star restaurants, a rooftop swimming pool, corporate hospitality and event space, all benefiting from views of the Thames. Chief executive Alistair Mackintosh observed, “Fulham is the sort of club that can have a business class or first class and have fans that turn left on a plane.” Indeed, there is also an exclusive members club – with a football season ticket as an optional extra. It’s fair to say that “the times they are a-changing”, as this is a long way from the traditional pie and a pint. However, in a world where clubs face the tw...

The Political Economy of Football V2

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