Football
Women’s football: Can the sport become big business?
Part of the reason revenues are soaring in the WSL is because of the money and resources men’s football provides to its women’s clubs, allowing them to grow quicker.
Philippou uses Arsenal as an example. The women’s team regularly plays home matches at Emirates Stadium and has access to the same marketing resources as it’s men’s team.
“Their income has massively increased and a huge part of that is their matchday income, which is having games at the Emirates – you can’t do [that] if you’re not affiliated [to a men’s club],” she added.
But progress can come at a price. Even though all clubs are growing, there remains a significant gap in resources across the league.
Reading’s demise has led to growing concerns that the women’s game could be too reliant on men’s football.
Maggie Murphy, former chief executive officer of Lewes FC, said: “If the men’s side of the club chooses to go a different way, or they have an ownership crisis or get relegated, the women’s team is still a dependent and will suffer as a result.”
Another option is multi-club ownership, something that has been normalised in the men’s game.
London City Lionesses owner Kang has been revolutionary in the women’s game, with her approach and investment receiving widespread praise.
“London City don’t have to go through long negotiations on the men’s side in order to access, facilities,” says Murphy.
“They have just bought their own training facilities, they are looking to buy their own ground and Kang has a huge focus on sports science and female physiology – [they are] game changers. It is really, really important in the overall health of the ecosystem.”
While Kang has her own source of wealth, Mercury/13 and it’s investors aim to make money as they build their own empire.
Their model relies on commercialising clubs, building partnerships and bringing in various sponsors. By their own admission it’s “risky”, and only time will tell if their ambition matches the reality.
Manchester United weigh up various options for managerial role, Liverpool and Newcastle interested in Bundesliga players and Bayern Munich set to offer £400,000-a-week contract.
The future of Erik ten Hag, 54, as Manchester United manager will be decided at a club meeting on Tuesday, with his assistant, Ruud van Nistelrooy, 54, favoured to take over as a caretaker if a change is made. (Guardian), external
Manchester United are lining up German Thomas Tuchel, 51, as a potential replacement for Ten Hag. (Manchester Evening News), external
Dutchman Ten Hag believes he retains the faith of Manchester United bosses heading into the international break. (ESPN), external
Liverpool are interested in Eintacht Frankfurt and Egypt striker Omar Marmoush, 25. Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa wanted to sign him last summer. (Sky Germany – in German), external
West Ham will price their Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus, 24, out of a move away from the club next summer despite interest from Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea. (Football Insider), external
Newcastle will push to sign Germany winger Leroy Sane, 28, next summer, when his contract expires at Bayern Munich. (Football Insider), external
Bayern Munich are ready to make Germany playmaker Jamal Musiala their joint best-paid player, along with England striker Harry Kane, on about £400,000 a week. The 21-year-old is not thought to be in talks with Real Madrid or Manchester City. (Sky Germany – in German), external
Wolves are maintaining their full support for head coach Gary O’Neil, 41, after sacking set-piece coach Jack Wilson. (Sky Sports), external
Barcelona are tracking Lille and Canada striker Jonathan David, 24. (Todofichajes – in Spanish), external
Reading have entered into a new period of exclusivity with an unnamed buyer – on the same day the club has been handed a fresh transfer embargo by the English Football League.
The stricken League One club has suffered from fines, points deductions and fan protests during Dai Yongge’s tumultuous reign as owner and had a previous transfer ban lifted in August 2023.
In a statement on the club’s website,, external Reading said the new embargo was due to “the late filing of financial accounts to Companies House, and relates to the 2022-23 accounting period”.
Reading added they believed the embargo would be lifted once the overdue accounts are finalised, which they hoped would happen “at the earliest opportunity”.
The Royals were relegated to League One in 2022-23 and have been deducted 18 points overall during Chinese businessman Dai’s tenure as owner.
A deal for former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig to buy the club fell through last month after an agreement could not be reached.
“The club can confirm it has agreed to a period of exclusivity with a potential purchaser,” the statement added.
“Both parties are working hard to finalise terms with the intention to complete a sale at the earliest opportunity.
“This exclusivity period also includes further provision to fund the club until the transaction’s intended completion.
“The proposed sale will include Mr Dai’s shareholding in Reading Football Club Limited, as well as the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park Training Ground.”
The head of women’s refereeing in England, Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb, is leaving the role to take up a position with Fifa.
The German, who is married to men’s referee boss Howard Webb, joins the world governing body as its new head of women’s refereeing.
The 45-year-old previously enjoyed a stellar career as an official and joined Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in 2021 when the organisation took charge of officiating in the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship.
Under her leadership the select group of officials for the women’s professional game has doubled in size.
In a statement the PGMOL said it wanted to build “on the progressive foundations” set by Steinhaus-Webb and thanked her for her “immense contribution”.
This case is not directly related to the hearing into Manchester City’s 115 charges for alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, which began last month.
City were charged and referred to an independent commission in February 2023 following a four-year investigation.
It is alleged City breached the Premier League’s financial rules between 2009 and 2018.
“I don’t think this will have too much of a direct impact but this will probably give Manchester City a slight bounce because they’ve been found to be correct in a couple of narrow areas,” said Leaf.
“But equally, I think the Premier League will be relieved, especially after the recent Leicester decision where their rulebook was heavily criticised by an esteemed panel.”
He was referring to Leicester’s successful appeal against an alleged breach of Premier League financial rules – which means they are set to avoid any punishment.
Leicester successfully argued that because their 2022-23 accounting period ended on 30 June, they were not longer bound by Premier League rules – because they had just been relegated to the Championship – and so could not be found in breach.
Leaf added: “The fact that the majority of the Premier League’s rules have been found to be lawful and OK will probably come as a relief to them.”
BBC Sport’s chief football news reporter Simon Stone said: “The fierce manner in which City have responded to the verdict, allied to the knowledge they are currently fighting the substantive issue of 115 financial breaches, suggests they have spotted a weakness in the Premier League’s regulations which they will look to exploit as far as they can.”
Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho has pulled out of Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia with a knee problem.
The 20-year-old, who played the full 90 minutes of United’s 0-0 Premier League draw at Aston Villa on Sunday with a strapping on his left knee, has been replaced in the Argentina squad by Leicester City’s Facundo Buonanotte.
The world champions are top of the South American qualifying standings – two points ahead of second-placed Colombia.
Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina travel to sixth-placed Venezuela on Thursday and host Bolivia, who are eighth, next Tuesday.
Garnacho has won seven caps for his country and helped Argentina clinch a record 16th Copa America title in the summer.
Big PartnershipHealth campaigners have criticised the Scottish Professional Football League’s new sponsorship deal with a major lager brand.
The SPFL announced the partnership with Carling for the next three seasons, which will see the brand promoted at league and Premier Sports Cup matches.
However Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) said the deal will lead to more consumption of alcohol during a public health crisis.
Figures released last month by National Records of Scotland revealed there had been 1,277 alcohol deaths in Scotland in 2023, which marked the highest number in 15 years.
The partnership will see the company marketed as the official beer of the league.
The SPFL said this would include a number of “engaging opportunities for supporters” to get involved with.
‘Out of step’
Dr Peter Rice, the chairman of SHAAP, said mass marketing lager to fans is “out of step” with the need to tackle the harm alcohol can cause.
He added: “All the evidence shows that the more we are exposed to mass marketing of this sort, the more alcohol is consumed and therefore the more damage to our health is done.
“Right now Scotland is in the grip of an alcohol public health crisis that needs to be addressed – encouraging people to consume more is not the answer.
“This lack of duty of care to fans flies in the face of our research which shows that while many football fans recognise the need to generate income for Scottish football, there is not so much appetite for that income to come from the alcohol industry.”
Alison Douglas, the CEO of Alcohol Focus Scotland called the decision “particularly disappointing” given the recent statistics regarding alcohol deaths.
She said: “This marketing will be on full display to children across Scotland who idolise their teams and their favourite players. Big alcohol brands capitalise on this, signing deals with sports teams and leagues as a means to ‘recruit the heavy using loyalists of tomorrow’.
“The evidence is overwhelming, alcohol marketing increases alcohol consumption and early onset alcohol use by children and young people.”
‘A rich history’
Dr Rice called on authorities to “aim a bit higher” with sponsorship deals, and both SHAAP and AFS pointed to Scottish women’s football as an example of this – with SHAAP itself having partnered with the women’s game since 2019.
Neil Doncaster, SPFL group chief executive, said the deal was “fantastic news” as the company has “a rich history” of supporting the Scottish game.
Carling previously sponsored Celtic and Rangers, as well as the Scottish national team.
A number of clubs in Scotland have alcohol related sponsorship deals.
Lee Willett, Carling brand director at Molson Coors Beverage Company, said they were “committed to supporting the beautiful game at every level here in Scotland”, citing grassroots initiatives.
The partnership was secured for the SPFL by the Scottish Football Marketing venture.
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