Premier League Clubs Lost 600 Million Pounds In Season Before Virus

Premier League clubs made a combined loss of 600 million pounds in the 2018/19 season, even before suffering the financial pain of the coronavirus pandemic, a report revealed on Tuesday. Analysis from football finance experts Vysyble shows the 20 clubs in the English top-flight combined to post the huge loss despite record revenues of 5.15 billion pounds ($6.6 billion). The financial impact of COVID-19 is set to have a huge impact on the Premier League, even if plans to complete the current season behind closed doors go smoothly. Premier League sides face paying a reported 330 million pounds to broadcasters in rebates as matches could not be completed on schedule.

An estimated 126 million pounds could also be lost in matchday income from gate receipts and hospitality.

"The COVID-19 virus is not the cause of football's financial distress. It is merely the accelerant on what our data has very clearly and very correctly identified as a much longer-term problem," said Vysyble director Roger Bell.

"The 2018/19 numbers are a disturbing and profoundly worrying financial outcome from England's senior football divisions and is symptomatic of the deeper issues with the overall financial model."

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