Covid’s impact on football: £1.7bn loss for Europe’s 20 richest clubs
Barcelona top the Money League, but their finances have taken a huge hit
European football’s 20 richest clubs will take a combined hit of £1.7bn due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the latest Football Money League study by Deloitte, the 20 clubs had already lost around £976m during the extended 2019-20 season, the BBC reports. And that figure will rise to £1.7bn by the end of the current 2020-21 campaign.
With coronavirus restrictions in place across Europe, elite sporting events have either been cancelled, postponed or played behind closed doors. Matchday revenue of Money League clubs was close to zero from March 2020 onwards and broadcast rebates of the “big five” leagues and Uefa reportedly total almost €1.2bn (£1bn) currently, “of which a large proportion is borne by Money League clubs”, Deloitte says.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The study found that the top 20 clubs generated a combined €8.2bn (£7.28bn) in 2019-20, down 12% on the prior season’s figure of €9.3bn (£8.26bn). The €1.1bn (£976m) decrease is explained by a €937m (£832.5m; 23%) drop in broadcast revenue and €257m (£228.3m; 17%) fall in matchday revenue. However, it was offset by a €105m (£93.2m; 3%) increase in commercial revenue.
“As live football returned, matches were largely broadcast without fans in attendance, with the strange sight of empty seats and lack of crowd atmosphere,” said Deloitte. “The financial impact of fans’ absence will be fully reflected in next year’s Money League and depends, in no small part, on the timing and scale of fans return; with the hope being a return to full stadia in 2021 as soon as public health and safety considerations allow.
“Those clubs traditionally at the top of the Money League will be most impacted in absolute revenue terms, even though smaller, particularly lower league, clubs have potentially suffered more in relative terms.”
Barca top the money league
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
FC Barcelona are top of the Football Money League having generated more money than any other club in Europe, the BBC says. But the Spanish giants also had the “second-largest revenue fall in absolute terms”. Revenues at the Catalan club fell from £741.1m to £627.1m.
Real Madrid, Barca’s La Liga rivals, were second with revenues of £627m (down from £667.5m). Bayern Munich (£556.1m), Manchester United (£509m) and Liverpool (£489.9m) make up the top five.
2019-20 revenues compared to 2018-19
The revenues generated by each of the 20 clubs in the 2019-20 season compared to 2018-19, according to the Deloitte Football Money League.
Club | 2019-20 revenues | 2018-19 revenues |
1. Barcelona | £627.1m | £741.1m |
2. Real Madrid | £627m | £667.5m |
3. Bayern Munich | £556m | £581.8m |
4. Manchester United | £509m | £627.1m |
5. Liverpool | £489.9m | £533m |
6. Manchester City | £481.6m | £538.2m |
7. Paris Saint-Germain | £474.1m | £560.5m |
8. Chelsea | £411.9m | £452.2m |
9. Tottenham | £390.9m | £459.3m |
10. Juventus | £349m | £405.2m |
11. Arsenal | £340.3m | £392.7m |
12. Borussia Dortmund | £320.7m | £332.4m |
13. Atletico Madrid | £291m | £324m |
14. Inter Milan | £255.6m | £321.3m |
15. Zenit St Petersburg | £207.4m | £159m |
16. Schalke | £195.4m | £286.3m |
17. Everton | £185.9m | £185.5m |
18. Lyon | £158.5m | £194.7m |
19. Napoli | £154.6m | £182.8m |
20. Eintracht Frankfurt | £152.6m | £160.6m |
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Mike Starling is the digital features editor at The Week, where he writes content and edits the Arts & Life and Sport website sections and the Food & Drink and Travel newsletters. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.
-
Who actually needs life insurance?
The Explainer If you have kids or are worried about passing on debt, the added security may be worth it
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Sexual wellness trends to know, from products and therapies to retreats and hotels
The Week Recommends Talking about pleasure and sexual health is becoming less taboo
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Is the AI bubble deflating?
Today's Big Question Growing skepticism and high costs prompt reconsideration
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
The cost-benefit analysis of hosting the Olympics
In Depth Hosting an Olympic Games may not be as economically beneficial as you would think
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Can MLB solve its uniform crisis?
Today's Big Question See-through pants and sweat stains draw derision from players and fans alike
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Is legalized betting hurting sports?
Today's Big Question A 'building avalanche of gambling scandals' threatens competition
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Is this the year women take over March Madness?
Today's Big Question Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and other stars make the women's game more popular than ever
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
The NFL's concussion settlement has seemingly failed its players
Under the Radar The league promised to pay players who had suffered brain trauma. Allegedly, it has not happened.
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
College football has a major controversy. Will Congress get involved?
Talking Point Why Florida State was left out of the College Football Playoff
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
The Ronaldo effect: what big players mean for the finances of major football clubs
feature Manchester United hoping to cash in big after securing the Portuguese star’s signature on two-year contract
By The Week Staff Published
-
Betting sponsorship: sport’s next financial crisis
Why Everyone’s Talking About Football and darts will be hit hard by shake up of gambling advertising laws
By Mike Starling Published