Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has revealed the staggering financial impact of Covid-19, with the league facing up to £2bn losses since the start of the pandemic.
After almost exactly a year without supporters in top-flight stadiums, it is no great surprise to see that there has been a huge economic impact on the game, with clubs missing out on vast sums of money with each passing fixture.
The lack of fans has not only seen millions lost in gate receipts, but has also impacted sponsorship and TV deals, with the need to see supporters return growing ever greater.
While there is hope of clubs welcoming back up to 10,000 fans for the final two Premier League games of the season, that will do little to quell the spiralling economic costs of the ongoing pandemic.
With the summer transfer window coming up, the full impact of these huge losses is likely to be felt, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having already admitted that it may not be business as usual in the transfer market for the Red Devils.
That will likely be the case for a number of clubs up and down the country, as Masters revealed the full economic impact of this unique season.
“There have been very significant financial losses, not just in the Premier League but throughout the football pyramid,” he told Premier League productions
“Towards the end of this season, we’ll get towards £2billion lost since the start of the pandemic in matchday revenue and broadcast revenue.
“We’ve kept the show on the road despite all of this. Clubs have continued to invest in competitive matchday squads and also the Premier League has continued to make good its contributions through the pyramid and wider football.
“But I think ramifications are that ultimately if there’s less money coming into football, then there’s less money going out in the short term.”
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