3.5 billion euros in bonuses is the main argument of the organizers of the Super League. Let us delve into where this figure came from.
3.5 billion is not a gift
The most important detail: this amount cannot be considered a sponsorship payment, which UEFA receives annually from Sony, Heiniken, Nissan and others. This is an infrastructure loan from JPMorgan Chase.
What does it mean? In simple words, this is a targeted loan: for stadiums and infrastructure development. According to the Financial Times, clubs will be required to return the bank a total of 264 million euros per year (for start-up capital). It looks like a loan at 2-3 percent, and TV rights are a guarantee of return. If the clubs suddenly do not pay off the loan, the bank will take a share of the TV rights.
How will these 3.5 billion be distributed?
As you already understood, this is not an annual bonus fund, but only a starter bait.
The Financial Times has a plan for the distribution of this money, if the Super League has 15 founders (12 clubs who are already publicly in business, plus three unnamed founders): 350 million euros each for six clubs, 225 each for four, 112 each. 5 - for two, 100 - for three.
It is said that this money will come in handy to cover the coronavirus losses.
There is money for the first season, and then what?
Of course, there is also a plan further on (when it comes to such large investments, there is no other way - although the elaboration of the project as a whole is not impressive).
According to El Pais, TV revenue from subversive competition is estimated at around 4 billion euros. 32.5% will be distributed among 15 clubs, 32.5% - among 20 clubs, 20% - depending on the results, 15% - depending on the ratings.
Super League clubs will earn at least 60 million for their participation, and the winner will receive just over 250 million euros - more than double what the winner of the current Champions League receives.
Another investor in question is Key Capital. According to several Italian media reports, the DAZN platform is interested in buying the rights.
Is it much worse than what UEFA is currently offering?
See for yourself.
Now for the details. SwissRamble's Twitter has calculated how much the top participants of the Champions League 2020/21 have earned by this time, by the semifinals: PSG - 109, Real - 109, Man City - 104, Chelsea - 101, Bayern - 92, Liverpool - 98, Barcelona - 84, Juventus - 82, Borussia - 78, Atlético - 74.
It is easy to calculate that only the Super League starting bonus is Juventus' four seasons in the Champions League with the current results.
At the same time, UEFA announced that due to the pandemic, the total bonus pool is reduced by 3-4% - it also works in the red.
Interestingly, in the mid-tenths, the union just followed the lead of the top clubs and increased the bonuses for the historical rating. The reward based on the coefficient, which is formed by the sum of performances in European competitions over ten years, is now more than for the share of TV money from one's own country - the so-called Market pool. This is not enough for the top clubs.
Financial fair play everything?
The Super League is aiming for the level of earnings in North American tournaments, where there is an important nuance - tough salary ceilings. The same Financial Times writes that there is a plan for restrictions in the Peres project. Here are the key points:
• No more than 55% of the budget for salaries (now the figure for top clubs is 70-80%).
• General tax rate of 45%. This would help Spanish clubs with higher taxes to compete with others. How exactly they want to implement it is still a question.
• Profit before interest, taxes and depreciation. So that no one would be tempted to invest a billion to buy a dream team.
UEFA will fight again - wants to attract 6 billion!
All these are only plans so far, but UEFA believes in their reality and is also bustling about.
According to Bloomberg, the union has begun urgent negotiations with the London-based investment fund Centricus Asset Management. It is not a fact that this will lead to success, but Centricus Asset Management has already tried to enter football: he wanted to invest in Basel, and also, together with SoftBank, discussed the launch of new tournaments with FIFA.
There are no details here at all, only the figure is 6 billion.
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Nobody, except those closely involved in the process, yet knows how far the plans of the Super League have been worked out - for example, last Saturday Andrea Agnelli officially supported the restart of the Champions League. It is not known how long and how thoroughly he, Florentino Perez and other initiators prepared the ground for a new tournament.
However, there are many signs that the plans are being drawn up in a wild rush. All the numbers look impressive, but too little time has passed to be considered a thoughtful scenario.
Photo: / Jan Kruger; / AP Photo / Amy Sancetta, Oscar J. Barroso / Anadolu Agency