# Soccer-European revenues rise 10% in 2020-21 despite COVID Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-08-18 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: European Soccer Revenues Rise Despite Pandemic Impact - Meta Description: Discover how European football industry surged by 10% in 2020-21 despite pandemic challenges. Deloitte report highlights growth in key leagues. URL: https://financedigest.com/soccer-european-revenues-rise-10-in-2020-21-despite-covidhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-08-17t231850z2lynxmpei7g10zrtroptp4soccer-italy-nap-uss-report-1736815445287-compressed.jpg) LONDON (Reuters) – European soccer revenues grew by 10% in the 2020-21 season despite most an almost total lack of fans in stadiums, according to a report published on Thursday. 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 euros. 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 euros and England’s Premier League rising 8% to 5.5 billion euros. 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](https://www.financedigest.com/for-some-european-states-rising-debt-costs-rekindle-2011-crisis-memories.html "For some European states, rising debt costs rekindle 2011 crisis memories") 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](https://www.financedigest.com/ladbrokes-owner-entain-buys-sports-media-business-365scores.html "Ladbrokes owner Entain buys sports media business 365scores") 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](https://www.financedigest.com/ge-healthcare-rises-8-in-market-debut-eyes-small-deals.html "GE HealthCare rises 8% in market debut, eyes small deals") 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 euros](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-seeks-clarification-on-italy-post-covid-plan-freezes-19-billion-euros.html "EU seeks clarification on Italy post-COVID plan, freezes 19 billion euros") 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](https://www.financedigest.com/coca-cola-hbcs-annual-profit-beats-warns-of-price-increases.html "Coca-Cola HBC’s annual profit beats, warns of price increases"), up from 49 million pounds to 479 million. Although combined net debt in England’s top flight increased by only 4% to 4.1 [billion pounds](https://www.financedigest.com/shell-to-evaluate-25-billion-pound-british-investments-after-windfall-tax.html "Shell to ‘evaluate’ 25 billion pound British investments after windfall tax") 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](https://www.financedigest.com/crimea-bridge-blast-why-is-bridge-important-and-what-happened-to-it.html "Crimea bridge blast: why is bridge important and what happened to it") 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](https://www.financedigest.com/inflation-boosts-jeronimo-martins-q4-profit-but-dents-margins.html "Inflation boosts Jeronimo Martins’ Q4 profit but dents margins") 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](https://www.financedigest.com/edf-edison-ansaldo-team-up-to-develop-nuclear-power-in-europe.html "EDF, Edison, Ansaldo team up to develop nuclear power in Europe") league, with Deloitte predicting revenues to exceed 6 billion pounds 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,”](https://www.financedigest.com/russias-gazprom-expects-increase-in-2022-revenue.html "Russia’s Gazprom expects increase in 2022 revenue") 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.”](https://www.financedigest.com/italys-mps-sees-safe-habour-ahead-after-strong-quarter.html "Italy’s MPS sees ‘safe habour’ ahead after strong quarter") (Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---