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.
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.
The verdict has been announced in Manchester City’s legal case against the Premier League over the league’s rules on commercial deals involving clubs’ owners.
City, who are owned by the Abu Dhabi-backed City Football Group, had some complaints upheld, with two aspects of the associated party transaction (APT) rules deemed unlawful by a tribunal.
But the Premier League says the tribunal rejected the majority of Manchester City’s challenges and “endorsed the overall objectives, framework and decision-making of the APT system”.
APTs are aimed at the value of sponsorship deals with companies linked to clubs’ owners.
This case is not directly related to the Premier League disciplinary commission which will hear 115 charges against City for allegedly breaching its financial regulations, some of which date back to 2009.
The tribunal – in a 175-page document – ruled that shareholder loans should not be excluded from the scope of APT rules and that some amendments made in February by the Premier League should not be retained.
In this arbitration process, Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton all acted as witnesses for City.
Witnesses for the Premier League included Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Brighton and West Ham.
Brentford, Bournemouth, Fulham and Wolves wrote letters in support of the rules.
The issue with yellow cards pre-dates Maresca’s appointment in June.
Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino spoke last season about how “silly” bookings were a problem and showed video clips to his players to try to rectify the issue.
The Blues were punished last season for not adapting to new Premier League rules for dissent.
Jackson picked up 10 bookings last season but only one was for a foul, the others were for dissent, not retreating quickly enough for a free-kick and entering the field of play when a substitute.
Other players fell foul in similar situations and captain Reece James received two red cards – including one for two yellows – despite playing just 421 minutes.
The immaturity of Chelsea’s young squad may be another factor and with centre-back Thiago Silva having departed in the summer the average age of the group has dropped further to 23.4, according to data from Transfermarkt.
The Blues also have the lowest average height in the league, according to Transfermarkt, averaging just over 5ft 8in, which was another issue Pochettino complained about when in charge.
It perhaps leads to a tendency for players to look at other ways to try and impart their physicality on matches.
And under both Pochettino and Maresca Chelsea are firmly a possession-based team, trying to implement various pressing styles. That pressing can lead to bookings in transition phases and there is a tendency for teams operating these tactics to produce tactical fouls to stop counter-attacks.
Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), the body which governs referees in England, has also changed the rules in recent years, with an automatic yellow card now expected to be brandished in several situations.
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