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Football League Vulnerability During COVID-19

1/4/2020

 
By David Butler

The general consensus is that the most vulnerable are those who receive the greatest protection. How does UEFA go about doing this for European leagues?

The table below is recreated from a recent UEFA benchmarking report and shows the breakdown of total revenue by income source (%) for each UEFA member. The categories making up total earnings are (i) UEFA revenue, (ii) Commercial/Sponsorship, (iii) Gate Receipts, (iv) Domestic TV  and (v) Other. Transfer revenues are excluded but shown in the original report.The figures mostly relate to the financial year ending in 2018 and are compiled by UEFA based on data submissions by clubs/national associations through a UEFA online financial reporting tool.

There are vast differences across UEFA members in terms of a reliance on different income streams. This may offer some insight on relative exposure to the crisis and help UEFA identify the most vulnerable leagues. 

I've ordered the table by gate receipts - the revenue source that has vanished. The second order is commercial/sponsorship, another income stream that will be impacted by fixture postponements.  Worryingly, but not surprisingly, the League of Ireland is 4th on list - we rely on gate receipts relatively more as an income source given the absence of any lucrative TV deal. 

Many of the smaller associations (at the end of the table) are, relatively speaking, not at as much risk, assuming there are no drastic cuts to UEFA or 'other' funding sources. 

Some caveats. First, these figures should be taken as estimates (some UEFA figures are actually over and under 100%!). Second, obviously there are significant variations in total revenues, but I'm assuming this is reflected in costs bases. Third, this take is not giving much thought to the plight of clubs outside the top divisions. Fourth, I'm guessing leagues relying on TV money may be facing a haircut or entering some negotiations in terms of their deal (?) - this might come down to the contracts and payments already received. Fifth, gate receipt revenue may include season ticket sales, but I'm sure clubs will be offering refunds to fans here. 

 

Country

UEFA

Comm

Gate

TV

Other

Scotland

18

26

43

10

3

Switzerland

16

31

31

9

14

Netherlands

8

41

29

15

8

Ireland

16

42

28

0

13

Sweden

7

44

24

12

13

Israel

13

18

24

19

27

Belgium

8

27

22

19

24

Northern Ireland

24

21

19

0

35

Spain

8

27

18

42

5

Austria

11

51

17

9

12

Finland

11

32

17

5

35

Germany

7

38

16

34

5

France

11

24

16

37

13

Cyprus

27

14

16

21

23

Norway

12

41

15

17

15

Portugal

20

24

15

32

8

Poland

5

41

14

25

14

Greece

32

32

13

18

5

England

7

26

13

53

1

Turkey

9

31

12

42

6

Italy

11

25

12

47

6

Faroe Islands

34

31

11

2

23

Serbia

52

25

11

4

9

Czech Republic

24

47

10

7

12

Luxembourg

34

46

10

0

11

Slovakia

20

58

9

2

12

Bosnia and Herzegovina

26

23

8

2

41

Romania

14

20

8

42

15

Russia

13

58

7

4

18

Denmark

8

48

7

19

18

Slovenia

33

36

7

3

22

Croatia

36

34

7

4

19

Andorra

71

17

7

0

6

Liechtenstein

10

66

6

4

13

Malta

25

49

5

0

20

Bulgaria

28

37

5

7

23

Wales

39

18

5

0

37

Kosovo

41

16

5

4

34

Iceland

15

27

4

5

49

Hungary

9

41

3

0

47

Albania

47

41

3

1

8

North Macedonia

44

29

2

0

26

Ukraine

69

22

2

3

4

Belarus

32

16

2

0

50

Lithuania

53

2

2

1

42

Azerbaijan

36

51

1

0

11

Latvia

17

49

1

0

34

Estonia

25

46

1

0

28

Moldova

60

29

1

0

10

Kazakhstan

8

19

1

0

72

Montenegro

28

18

1

0

53

Gibraltar

80

11

1

0

8

San Marino

13

15

0

0

71

Georgia

24

11

0

0

65

Armenia

57

0

0

0

42

 


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