Finance guru: Man City ‘braced’ for financial hit as £523m deal under the microscope
Man City are “braced” for a financial hit if the Russia-Ukraine crisis continues to impact the Premier League’s overseas TV deals.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about how geopolitics is affecting the broadcast pot.
The Premier League announced on Tuesday (8 March) that it has suspended its Russian TV deal in response to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.
China pulled its coverage of the top flight last weekend over gestures of solidarity with Ukraine, as relayed by BBC Sport last Friday (4 March).
Per the Daily Mail yesterday (9 March), the Premier League will return to screens in China today after formal messages of support were discontinued.
City have condemned Russia’s actions, as has their Ukranian defender Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Plumley used China’s £523million TV deal to illustrate how the likes of City could feel the impact of the “totally necessary” action against Russia.
“It has an impact financially,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“Of course, there is a much bigger, more important story here. No one is arguing that it isn’t the right thing to have done this. It’s totally necessary.
“If you look at the international market for the Premier League, there is no specific figure for the new Chinese TV deal.
“But the old deal was worth £523m over the course of the contract. The new one is believed to be a little lower, but it will be in a similar ballpark.
“Any broadcaster who is suspended or removes themselves from the list, that means clubs are going to be braced for a hit as there’s less money coming in.”
City are currently lead the Premier League by six points, though title rivals Liverpool have a game in hand.
They are next in action against Cyrstal Palace on Monday (14 March).
In other news, Medical expert claims Ruben Dias out “longer than expected” after “sinister” Man City reveal.