English football faces strain between money and fans? needs, says report

• Premier League had revenue of ?6.3bn in 2023-24
  
• ?Challenge of fan unrest at ticket price and accessibility?

England?s football system is ?under strain? in a climate of tension between commercial imperatives and the needs of supporters, according to a new report from Deloitte. The analysis also warns that uncertainty over the role and scope of an independent regulator is ?unhelpful? to those wishing to join the rush of investors entering the sport.
The Annual Review of Football Finance painted an overall picture of a booming industry, pointing out that the European football market was worth a record ?32.2bn in 2023-24. More than ?16.9bn of that was generated by the ?big five? leagues, with the Premier League alone recording revenues of ?6.3bn. Deloitte cautioned, though, that those numbers do not tell the full tale of a game caught between its community roots and the requirement for continued growth. ?There can be no doubt that the system in English football is under strain,? said Tim Bridge, lead partner at Deloitte sports business group, in the report?s foreword. ?Repeated reports of fan unrest at ticket price and accessibility demonstrate the challenge in the modern era of balancing commercial growth with the historic essence of a football club?s role and position in society: as a community asset.?
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