UEFA secures €975m Spanish rights deal

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UEFA has confirmed an exclusive deal with Spanish telephone company Telefónica for the rights to leagues including the Champions League and Europa League.

UEFA has confirmed an exclusive deal with Spanish telephone company Telefónica for the rights to a number of leagues including the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

The deal, valued at €975m, runs for three years and begins from the 2021/2022 season. The matches will be available on the Movistar+ platform owned by Telefónica.

Movistar now have the broadcasting rights to all of the main European competitions for Spain and Andorra. The deal also gives Movistar the rights to show these matches in public places such as cafes restaurants and hotels.

“UEFA is delighted to be continuing the distribution of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Youth League in Spain with Telefónica, as well as the new European club competition, the UEFA Europa Conference League,” Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA Events SA Marketing Director said.

“This partnership ensures the competitions will continue to receive comprehensive exposure, through the delivery of innovative coverage to football fans in Spain.”

Currently Mediapro is the broadcast partner of UEFA, however Mediapro sublicenses the contract to Telefónica, allowing it to be broadcast on Movistar+. The new deal is directly between the UEFA and Telefónica.

“This agreement with UEFA is an important step in Movistar’s strategy linked to the world of sport,” Emilio Gayo, Executive President of Telefónica España said.

“Our Movistar+ platform continues to work after three decades to continue making football accessible in our country. A specialized team, the quality of everything surrounding the competition and differential production values are our hallmark.

“With Movistar, our client will always have the best sport and the latest technology to guarantee an added value entertainment experience, beyond the broadcasts”.

The UEFA Champions League will resume on August 7. The draws for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final for this year’s Champions League will be held on Friday in Switzerland.

Atalanta, Atlético Madrid, RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain have qualified for the quarter-finals. Chelsea / Bayern München, Napoli / Barcelona, Real Madrid / Manchester City and Olympique Lyon / Juventus are yet to finish their Round of 16 matches.

This latest Spanish rights deal comes after Telefónica locked in a new €300 million sublicensing agreement that will see rival Orange broadcast La Liga and Champions League games for the upcoming 2020/21 campaign.

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APL and PFA remain without agreement as bargaining tensions continue

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Image Credit: A-Leagues

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) remain without a new collective bargaining agreement, with negotiations continuing less than three months before the start of the 2026–27 A-Leagues season.

The APL presented the players’ union with a new one-year interim proposal on August 5, which included an increase to the A-League Women salary cap and a commitment to establish a pathway towards full-time professionalism for the women’s competition within 12 months.

The proposed agreement would provide an interim framework while the two parties continue discussions over a longer-term collective bargaining agreement.

APL chief executive Steve Rosich said the proposal reflected the league’s commitment to reaching a sustainable agreement with players following eight months of negotiations.

However, the PFA criticised the APL for publicly announcing the proposal shortly after presenting it to the union, arguing that the approach had further damaged trust between the two parties.

PFA Chief Executive Beau Busch also said players had overwhelmingly rejected the APL’s previous final offer, citing a lack of trust in the league’s ability to ensure its future.

Full-time professionalism for the A-League Women remains a key priority for the PFA, with players seeking improved conditions and greater investment in the competition.

The A-League Men and A-League Women seasons are both scheduled to begin on 16 October 2026.

With the new season approaching, both parties face pressure to resolve the dispute and establish the framework governing player conditions across the A-Leagues.

 

 

Jeff Bezos consortium set for $2.7 billion Liverpool investment

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Image Credits: Fortune

Liverpool could soon welcome one of the world’s richest men into its ownership structure.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is part of a consortium in advanced talks to buy a 30% stake in the club.

The proposed deal values Liverpool at around $8.6 billion (4.5 billion pounds). Bezos has a personal fortune estimated at $363 billion.

The investment would give Fenway Sports Group (FSG) a major financial return. It would also allow FSG to keep control of the club, which they bought in 2010.

The proposal has attracted attention across football. It has also created concern among sections of the Liverpool fanbase.

FSG set for major return

FSG bought Liverpool for $573 million (300 million pounds) in 2010. The ownership group later provided further funding through loans. In the last 16 years, the club has undergone major growth.

Liverpool ended a 30-year wait for a league title in 2020. The club also won the Champions League in 2019. Another Premier League title followed in 2025.

Stadium redevelopment and a new training centre have also increased the club’s value. FSG could cash in on $2.7 billion (1.4 billion pounds) if the 30% share is sold.

The deal would therefore represent a huge return on its original investment. However, whilst the investment would provide a massive cash out for the owners of Liverpool, due to Financial Fair Play there won’t be increased investment in the transfer market.

Why Bezos wants Liverpool

Bezos has explored sports investments before. He has been linked with major American franchises such as the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.

Liverpool would give him a stake in one of football’s biggest global brands. The club also has a large following in the United States. The New York Times has also reported Liverpool has 26 million fans in America.

That makes the investment attractive for investors looking to expand their reach in global sport. American businessmen Eduardo Saverin and Amit Bhatia are also reportedly involved in the consortium.

The deal would add to the growing American influence across English football.

Fans remain cautious

Liverpool supporters have not automatically welcomed the proposal.

The club’s previous experience under Tom Hicks and George Gillett still influences the fanbase.

Supporters also want greater clarity over the consortium’s intentions. Questions remain over board representation, control and the long-term purpose of the investment.

For many fans, ownership must involve more than financial ambition. The Bezos proposal could strengthen Liverpool’s commercial position. It could also deliver a huge payday for FSG.

But until the consortium reveals more about its plans, supporters are likely to treat the deal with scepticism.

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