European football revenues rise 10% in 2020-21 despite COVID

The season was like no other with the COVID-19 pandemic curtailing virtually all matchday income, but Deloitte's Annual Review of Football Finance showed the industry had held up across the continent with total revenues of €27.6 billion.

The so-called big five leagues in England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France enjoyed a combined 3% rise in revenues with Italy's Serie A up 23% to £2.5 billion and England's Premier League rising 8% to €5.5 billion.

Deferred broadcast revenues from the previous season, 48% in the case of Serie A, and the success of the postponed Euro 2020 tournament played across the continent in 2021, were behind the rise in European revenues, the report said.

"Clubs across Europe played a significant proportion of matches behind closed doors or with reduced capacity during the 2020/21 season which caused an almost complete loss of matchday revenue," said Tim Bridge, lead partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte.

"It's testament to the resilience of the industry, the value driven by broadcast deals and the success of the Euros that the European football market has achieved tenacious growth, in revenue terms, over the past year."

Behind the impressive numbers, however, the picture was not rosy everywhere.

Germany's Bundesliga reported combined revenues down 6% to €3 billion while Spain's La Liga also contracted by 6%.

Of the big five leagues, only the Premier League saw an increase in clubs' cumulative operating profits, up from £49 million to £479 million.

Although combined net debt in England's top flight increased by only 4% to £4.1 billion in 2020-21, debts in the second-tier Championship increased by 32%, with wage costs exceeded revenues for the fourth-consecutive year.

"It is important not to overlook the loss-making position of many clubs," Bridge said.

"Leaps made to boost financial sustainability through new UEFA regulations and to professionalise the women's game will challenge clubs to break from tradition, potentially boosting profitability in a notoriously loss-making industry and creating a more inclusive environment for all. It is an exciting period, but one to be well prepared for."

While only four Premier League clubs reported a pre-tax profit in 2020-21, it remains well placed to maintain its position as Europe's most powerful league, with Deloitte predicting revenues to exceed £6 billion this season.

"As the Premier League enters its fourth decade, it's further ahead of the competition than ever before, having emerged from the pandemic without as significant an increase in net debt as many might have expected," Bridge said.

"The stark reality, however, is that the league last broke even at a pre-tax level in the 2017/18 season, highlighting the crucial need for strong governance and financial planning in the years ahead."