Off The Pitch’s Post

⚽️ Morning Snapshot 👔 Pablo Longoria, the president of Olympique de Marseille has been re-elected to the LFP - Ligue de Football Professionnel board, alongside Damien Comolli, Olivier LETANG, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Jean-Pierre Caillot, Jean-Pierre Rivère, and Juan Sartori as representatives of Ligue 1 clubs. 🤝 Manchester United and DHL, the club’s official logistics partner, have extended their collaboration until 2027. 🤝 Arsenal F.C and NTT DATA have revealed an official multi-year partnership. 🤝 Brentford Football Club have renewed their agreement with online retailer Aosom. 🤝 AFC Ajax have entered into a partnership with Team Rockstars IT, making the company the club’s official sleeve sponsor from January 2025. 🤝 Sporting Clube de Portugal have unveiled a new partnership with watchmaker Franck Muller Watchland SA. 🤝 AS Monaco have confirmed a new collaboration with Ebury for the 2024/25 season. #Partnership #Broadcasting #SportsBusiness #Commercial #Sponsorship #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #People #Data #Tech #Intelligence #Investment

Today’s LFP - Ligue de Football Professionnel presidential election sees incumbent Vincent Labrune on the brink of securing a second term despite ongoing financial crises and internal turmoil in French football. Challenging Labrune is Cyril Linette, a former executive at L'EQUIPE and CANAL+ Group+, who advocates for structural reform and sustainability. Will this election set a new course, or entrench the status quo? 1. Why is Vincent Labrune facing criticism despite his expected re-election? Labrune has dealt with major setbacks, such as the collapse of a significant broadcast deal and ongoing financial struggles within French football. While some stakeholders have raised concerns over decision-making and governance, Labrune has maintained strong support from top clubs, which has helped stabilize the league during turbulent times. 2. What is Cyril Linette proposing as an alternative? Cyril Linette, running on a reformist platform, seeks to revamp French football's financial structure by reducing its dependence on TV rights and player transfers. His vision includes restoring the Coupe de la Ligue and creating a more sustainable, balanced football ecosystem. 3. How has Labrune managed to maintain his position amid these challenges? Labrune has consolidated his influence by restructuring the LFP board, securing key support from powerful Ligue 1 clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais Groupe. This political strategy has helped him manage opposition and navigate the complex landscape of French football governance. #SportsBusiness #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #Forecast #Data #Tech #Intelligence

Aberdeen Football Club is pleased to announce the renewal of it’s partnership with football business intelligence provider Off The Pitch as the club’s Official Football Finance Intelligence Partner. Aberdeen Football Club continues to benefit from its ongoing partnership with Off The Pitch, leveraging the platform's comprehensive analytical tools and data solutions. This collaboration provides the club with access to financial and operational data for over 265 clubs, detailed takeover information via the M&A Tracker, and extensive insights into the transfer market. Especially valuable is the Player Valuation Tool, which estimates transfer values for more than 5,000 players. Over the past year, this tool has been instrumental in helping Aberdeen FC make well-informed decisions in player trading and negotiations. Aberdeen FC Director of Football Steven Gunn explains, “Off The Pitch has been a valuable data source supporting our player trading model to identify industry patterns and individual club behaviours in the transfer market. The access to Europe-wide financial data and the helpful comparison tools support our understanding of the current player transfer landscape when valuing our own talent. “Off The Pitch will continue to be an important source of data as we evolve our model further and continue to develop our reputation as the best developer of young talent in Scotland and maximise the future value in our player trading activities.” Off The Pitch's mission is to empower all football clubs with access to comprehensive data that facilitates better decision-making in a highly competitive environment. #Partnership #Football #Finance

⚽️ Morning Snapshot 🤝 AS Roma have revealed ComAve as their new E-commerce partner. 🤝 Chelsea Football Club have introduced Linglong Tire, a global tyre manufacturer, as their new official global tyre partner in a multi-year agreement. 🤝 AC Milan and the New York Yankees have unveiled a collaborative ACM x New York Yankees lifestyle collection, featuring outerwear, headwear, kidswear, and accessories. 🤝 Millwall Football Club have confirmed Nutrition X - NX as their official nutrition and supplement partner for the 2024/25 season. #Partnership #Broadcasting #SportsBusiness #Commercial #Sponsorship #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #People #Data #Tech #Intelligence #Investment

Borussia Dortmund’s remarkable Champions League run in 2023/24 has fuelled their financial growth, leading to an all-time high EBIT, we predict in this forecast. 1. How did Borussia Dortmund achieve record financial results in 2023/24? Borussia Dortmund’s successful Champions League campaign has significantly boosted revenue streams, including matchday, commercial, and broadcasting revenues. Their participation in the Champions League final alone is projected to add €120 million, helping the club achieve its highest EBIT. 2. What are the key financial highlights of Dortmund’s 2023/24 season? Dortmund’s turnover is forecasted to reach almost €500 million, with EBITDA set to increase by 33.3 per cent increase from the previous year. Their highest-ever EBIT is largely driven by the €90.4 million profit from player sales, especially from the sale of Jude Bellingham. 3. What challenges lie ahead for Borussia Dortmund’s financial growth? While player sales have been a crucial part of Dortmund’s financial model, the club’s future growth will increasingly depend on their ability to sustain Champions League participation. With no standout €100 million player in their current squad, they must rely more on European performance to maintain their financial momentum. #SportsBusiness #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #Forecast #Data #Tech #Intelligence

⚽️ Morning Snapshot 👔 A letter from Sport-Club Freiburg e.V. reveals that President Eberhard Fugmann stepped down from his position on 1 September and will not stand for re-election in the upcoming vote on 10 October. 👔 Olympique Lyonnais Groupe confirmed on Friday that sporting director David Friio has been suspended, pending a final decision to be made in the coming days. 🤝 Girona Futbol Club have revealed that their training centre will now be named the Girona Football Academy by PUMA Group, reflecting their strengthened partnership with the sports brand. 🤝 UEFA and OPPO have extended their Champions League partnership until 2027. 🤝 SSC Napoli have signed a new agreement with Lever Touch, which will be the club's Business Partner for the 2024/2025 season 🤝 West Ham United FC have confirmed the extension of their partnership with Dr. Cinik Plastic Surgery & Hair Transplant, a cosmetic treatment clinic, for the 2024/25 season. 🤝 Millwall Football Club have announced Eureka Solutions (Scotland) Ltd as their new official business management software provider. 🤝 Swansea City Football Club have renewed their partnership with The Resin Co, a leading provider of high-quality resin flooring solutions. 🤝 Royal Antwerp F.C. have extended their partnership with betFIRST until the end of 2027. #Partnership #Broadcasting #SportsBusiness #Commercial #Sponsorship #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #People #Data #Tech #Intelligence #Investment

Manchester United will release their financial report for the 2023/24 season on Wednesday, 11th September. Interested in a preview of the figures before they are published? Here is our financial forecast. Despite a challenging season on the pitch, the club is expected to set new turnover records for 2023/24. #FootballFinance #SportsBusiness #Football #Finance #SportsBiz #Intelligence #Data #MUFC Manchester United

⚽️ Morning Snapshot 👔 Chelsea Football Club have appointed Lorenzo Libutti as their new director of commercial football operations. 👔 Manchester United director Jean-Claude Blanc has joined the boards of the European Club Association (ECA) and UEFA's Club Competitions (UCC) Board of Administration. 👔 Sam Erith has been appointed as performance director for Manchester United on an interim basis until the end of the season. 🤝 The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has secured a digital partnership with TikTok, making the platform the official digital partner for the 2024-2025 season. 🤝 AC Milan have confirmed a new partnership with ASUS, naming them the club's official computer hardware partner. 🤝 VfB Stuttgart have announced LBBW (Landesbank Baden-Württemberg) as their new main sponsornew main sponsor, starting from the 2025/26 season. 🤝 Atalanta B.C. and LeoVegas Group have renewed their collaboration for the 2024/25 season. 🤝 Royal Antwerp F.C. have extended their partnership with the real estate company Heylen Vastgoed until 2028. #Partnership #Broadcasting #SportsBusiness #Commercial #Sponsorship #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #People #Data #Tech #Intelligence #Investment

This week, Leicester City Football Club emerged victorious in a legal battle with The Premier League, successfully appealing against a potential points deduction for allegedly breaching the EPL’s profit and sustainability rules. The ruling, which spared Leicester from sanctions, exposed weaknesses in the EPL's regulations, with an independent appeal panel criticizing the EPL's rules as "far from well drafted." 1. What penalties were Leicester City at risk of facing? Leicester faced a potential points deduction for breaching the EPL’s financial rules, which could have resulted in a seven-point deduction. Such a penalty would have jeopardized their league standing and potentially cost them millions in lost prize money. 2. How did Leicester avoid punishment? Leicester avoided sanctions because they were no longer a member of the Premier League when the accounting period in question ended. Their relegation and an accounting period adjustment placed them outside of the EPL’s jurisdiction at the time of the alleged breach. 3. What are the wider implications for the Premier League? The panel's criticism of the EPL’s poorly drafted rules may impact upcoming cases, particularly Manchester City Football Club, and raises questions about whether the EPL's regulatory framework is fit for purpose. An overhaul of football’s disciplinary system may be on the horizon.

⚽️ Morning Snapshot 👔 Andy O'Boyle, Manchester United’s deputy football director, is set to depart from the club. 👔 Atlanta United FC have parted company with vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra, with the decision taking immediate effect. 🤝 Chelsea Football Club have entered into a long-term partnership with Betway Group, who will serve as the club’s new official European betting partner. 🤝 West Ham United FC have confirmed the renewal of their partnership with the tyre brand, Tomket Tyres. 🤝 SV Werder Bremen GmbH & Co KG aA have secured a long-term agreement with TO GROUP, naming them the club’s new regional partner. #Partnership #Broadcasting #SportsBusiness #Commercial #Sponsorship #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #People #Data #Tech #Intelligence #Investment