The Political Economy of Football V2

A cross-border league between Belgium and the Netherlands has moved closer after Belgian Pro League clubs voted unanimously in favour:  https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/bene-league-belgium-dutch-football-clubs-b924537.html Some fans are concerned that it would only favour big clubs. There are a few leagues that have teams from other countries in them such as the MSL (Canadian teams), Vaduz playing in the Swiss League, Wellington Phoenix in the A-league and, at one time, Berwick Rangers in the Scottish leagues.   However, this would be the first full-scale cross-border merger.

The wealthiest club in the Netherlands, Ajax, will pay €3m into a solidarity fund to help other clubs.  The three other leading clubs will pay in €500,000 each:  https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/eredivisie-clubs-reach-agreement-on-tv-money-distribution/

Ajax's triumph over Real Madrid pushed the Dutch club's shares up 11 per cent to a record high. The Eurotext listed club added roughly €27m to its market capitalisation. Ajax is the biggest team Netherlands with revenues of €92m in 2018. However, it does not make it into the top 30 of Europe's richest clubs according to Deloitte. In 2017/18 Ajax's profit before tax decreased from €67m to €2m (profit after tax down from €50m to €1m), largely due to profit on player sales halving from €79m to €39m and revenue dropping €26m (22%) from €118m to €92m following the lack of income from European competition (figures from the authoritative Swiss Ramble). All three Ajax revenue streams decreased: broadcasting fell €18m (58%) from €30m to €12m; match day was down €6m (17%) from €38m to €32m; while commercial was €2m (4%) lower at €48m. Although revenue of around €100m is not too bad, it pales into insignificance compared to elite overseas clubs with Manchester United, Real M...

The authoritative Swiss Ramble takes a look at Ajax's 2017/18 accounts which cover a season when they finished second in the Eredivisie (for the fourth year in a row), but failed to qualify for the Champions League or Europa League group stages (the first time since 1990/91). Profit before tax decreased from €67m to €2m (profit after tax down from €50m to €1m), largely due to profit on player sales halving from €79m to €39m and revenue dropping €26m (22%) from €118m to €92m following the lack of income from European competition. Ajax are essentially a profitable club, reporting profits in seven of the last eight years (and the only loss in 2015/16 was less than €1m). Over that period, they have accumulated €159m profits, averaging €20m a season. All three Ajax revenue streams decreased: broadcasting fell €18m (58%) from €30m to €12m; match day was down €6m (17%) from €38m to €32m; while commercial was €2m (4%) lower at €48m. Revenue decline was partly mitigated by lower costs: w...

Smaller European countries have fallen behind in continental competitions. Dutch clubs were once leading contenders in European competitions, but are no longer, unable to compete with the likes of Bayern Munich or Real Madrid. An active discussion has now started about a 'super league' for Belgium and the Netherlands: Cross border proposal It wouldn't strictly be a 'Benelux' league as Luxembourg which has semi-professional or amateur teams would not be involved. As such, it might not be super enough, but there is the intriguing possibility of other smaller European countries becoming involved, not least Scotland. The idea of such a league was first discussed in the 1990s. The cited report notes, 'In recent years the Irn-Bru Cup, the Scottish cup competition for teams below the Scottish Premier League, has been revamped to include teams from Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and England. So far, the development is regarded as being a success...