Manchester United suffered the largest revenue decrease out of the Football Money League clubs during the 2019/20 season.
The 24th edition of the Football Money League, published by Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, have reported that the 20 highest revenue generating clubs in world football are set to continue missing out on revenue throughout the current campaign as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to be felt.
The top 20 clubs generated a total of €8.2 billion during the 2019/20 season, a decline of 12 per cent compared to last year’s €9.3 billion, with the loss of revenue projected to rise to €2billion by the end of the current campaign.
The loss has been explained by a 23 per cent drop in broadcast revenue, primarily due to revenue deferral and broadcaster rebates given when Europe’s top leagues were suspended for three months during 2020.
There is also a 17 per cent drop in match day revenue, and with fans unlikely to return in significant numbers for the rest of the current campaign that will continue to decline.
United themselves have seen the biggest year-on-year decline over the last 12-months, with a decrease of €131.1m (£118.1m, 19 per cent) from last year’s revenue of €580.4m (£509m).
As well as a losing money due to empty seats at Old Trafford and broadcast rebates and deferrals, the explanation for United’s decline is because they did not compete in the Champions League during the 2019/20 campaign.
This has seen the club slip to fourth in the Money League, with treble Bayern Munich leapfrogging them into third.
While United had the biggest decrease in value, they weren’t alone in feeling the losses with only two of the top 20, Everton and Zenit, seeing revenue growth this past year.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an impetus for clubs to rethink and recalibrate their wider strategic objectives and business models to ensure a strong recovery from the current situation,” Tim Bridge, director in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, said.
“In particular, the focus on both internal and external digital capabilities has accelerated as digital interaction has become the dominant way in which clubs can engage with their employees and fans.
“The most agile, and innovative clubs will be the best placed to deliver the greater value to their key stakeholders and be rewarded with the fastest and strongest recovery.”
Deloitte Money League Top 20:
Barcelona – €715.1m
Real Madrid – €714.9m
Bayern Munich – €634.1m
Manchester United – €580.4m (£509m)
Liverpool – €558.6m (£489.9m)
Manchester City – €549.2m (£481.6m)
Paris Saint-Germain – €540.6m
Chelsea – €469.7m (£411.9m)
Tottenham – €445.7m (£390.9m)
Juventus – €397.9m
Arsenal – €388m (£340.3m)
Borussia Dortmund – €365.7
Atletico Madrid – €331.8
Inter – €291.5m
FC Zenit – €236.5m
Schalke – €222.8m
Everton – €212m (£185.9m)
Lyon – €180.7m
Napoli – €176.3m
Eintracht Frankfurt – €174m
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