Deloitte Study Reveals Middle East 'Key To Europe Football Market Boom'

Deloitte's Sports Business Group's 24th Annual Review of Football Finance revealed that the European football market continues to perform well with stakeholders from the Middle East continuing to play an important role in '13-14, "both from an ownership and sponsorship perspective," according to TRADE ARABIA. Deloitte Sports Business Group senior consultant Alexander Thorpe said, "A review of the financial landscape of European football is now impossible without observing the continued influence of stakeholders from the Middle East. Five of the top eight revenue generating clubs in the world now have Middle East-based shirt sponsors and the involvement of Middle East sponsors is a key part in driving the commercial growth at many of Europe’s biggest clubs. Similarly, the '13-14 season was one where the impact of Middle East owners was seen on the pitch, with Middle East owned champions in the top divisions of both England and France" (TRADE ARABIA, 6/13).