Portuguese Professional Football Yearbook 2021-22

Preface

The recent times have been challenging on multiple fronts, and football was no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic imposed constraints on the industry that extended over time, challenging its future. But if there is a lesson that we have learned from such a demanding period, it is the sector's resilience, proactivity and ambition, demonstrating an ability to reinvent and adapt that could serve as an example for other economic sectors. This was achieved through dedicated action and hard work.

Following the storm, we welcomed back crowds into the stadiums, and the longing for football – referred to as "saudade" in Portuguese –overcame any lingering fears.

“Following the storm, we welcomed crowds back into the stadiums, and the longing for football – referred to as "saudade" in Portuguese – overcame any lingering fears. That was the biggest achievement of 2021-22: seeing families return to the stands amid a period of economic recovery and growth.

Closer to change

That was the biggest achievement of 2021–22: seeing families return to the stands amid a period of economic recovery and growth. This yearbook provides insight into the industry's value and its potential, even in a season of gradual return to normality

As highlighted in the yearbook, despite the challenges of a closeddoors 2020–21 season and the persistent constraints of the pandemic in the early stages of 2021–22, the potential for natural growth within the industry remains evident. Despite this atypical context, the Portuguese Professional Football Sports Societies have contributed more than €617 million into the gross domestic product (GDP), paying more than €214 million in taxes. Despite the limitations, this industry has not stopped valuing itself and investing in it, creating 3,595 jobs a number that is set to rise with ongoing projects. It is often during times of great adversity that the most promising opportunities emerge, and it is crucial that these are not missed.

The numbers in these yearbooks, demonstrated edition after edition,

highlight the importance of football in the national economy. This justifies the need for Professional Football to be acknowledged differently, reflecting its potential as a global phenomenon – more than €1.866 million of total media exposure in 2021–22.

Liga Portugal continues to be proactive and collaborative with the Government and other political, economic and social stakeholders to discuss and promote the future of our industry. Our track record of success speaks for itself.

We are in a time of transformation, and we are steadily getting closer to our goal. We have reached the threshold of centralizing audiovisual rights: the process is already underway, with fundamental updates. The revolution in the sustainability model for societies and the internationalization of our brand is increasingly close. In these ambitious times, we remain focused and humble. Our daily commitment to being one of the top European leagues is unwavering, and nothing will deter us from our path. This yearbook shows that we are on the right track.

Pedro Proença Liga Portugal President

“

After two seasons marked by the pandemic, the 2021-22 season marked the return of full stadiums and the original Allianz Cup format. It is the return to a new normal, marked by the recent changes in the World and in this industry. Sports Societies and Liga Portugal forecast a challenging but promising future ahead.

The 2021–22 season: the return to a new normal

This sixth edition of the Portuguese Professional Football Yearbook shows a period of growth for the national leagues. However, we are not oblivious to the moment of total transformation that the world is going through, and we know that there will be a huge impact on Professional Football.

The collaboration between EY and Liga Portugal commenced six years ago, with the purpose of stimulating the development and advancement of Professional Football in Portugal. This collaboration allows us to have a deep vision of the industry and its evolution, and most importantly to look at all the challenges that lie ahead.

Transformation is invariably an opportunity for those who foresee it. Keeping this in mind, before focusing on the main conclusions of this study, I wish to emphasize that this is the moment for the evolution and elevation of this industry in Portugal, which is now more crucial than ever.

In the 2021–22 season, Portuguese Professional Football directly contributed with more than €617 million to the GDP, generating more than 3,595 jobs and more than €214 million in taxes.

The large numbers continue to demonstrate the enormous impact that revenues from the sale of

athlete's rights have in Portugal. In the case of Liga Portugal, the revenue arising from the participation in European competitions is having a growing impact, which in turn accentuates the widening financial gap for the Sports Societies that do not participate in those competitions. The revenues from audiovisual rights continued to be significant for Sports Societies, though it is still unequal given the decentralized negotiation. It is expected that the new centralized negotiation model from 2027 to 2028 will contribute not only to greater equity but also the amount to be shared.

Other impactful themes of the national and international paradigm of the industry are identified and alluded to in this yearbook. We take a look at economic sustainability, the relationship with the fans, repositioning and internationalization, the competitiveness of Portuguese Professional Football, as well as the impacts on competitions as we know them.

Our aim for this yearbook is to continue serving as an essential analytical tool, contributing not only to a deeper understanding of the challenges, but also the sustainability and growth of the industry and its stakeholders.

Miguel Farinha EY Strategy and Transactions Partner

Summary

The 2021–22 season in review

The 2021-22 season marked the return to a new normal, after a period of many difficulties and restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2021-22 season continued the strategic cycle of Liga Portugal for the four-year period 2019-23, which seeks to position Portuguese Professional Football at the top of the European leagues, and promote its sporting and economic appreciation.

This season is marked by the return of the public to the stadiums, the return of the Allianz Cup in its original format and the fantastic performance of the Portuguese Sports Societies in European competitions.

Portuguese Professional Football Yearbook results from a strategic collaboration between Liga Portugal and EY. The content gathered in this sixth edition presents the direct financial, economic and social impact of Professional Football in the 2021–22 season, highlighting the overall importance of the sector.The Liga Portugal chapter contains the strategic objectives for the 2019–23 four-year plan. The five strategic axes aim to leverage the current maturity phase of the sector through the affirmation of Liga Portugal, the elevation of competitions, the focus on digital, and the industrialization and internationalization of Portuguese Professional Football.The historical evolution is focused on the growth of Portuguese Professional Football, seeking to create value for its members a purpose that intensifies with the responsibility of managing the centralization of audiovisual rights from the 2027–28 season onward. The chapter on the impact of Portuguese Professional Football in the economic, cultural and social aspects is very relevant. The sector generates, without accounting for the indirect impact, more than €617 million for GDP, in addition to creating more than 3,595 jobs and contributing more than €214 million in taxes. In this chapter, the main initiatives of the Liga Portugal and Sports Societies in the field of social responsibility are also presented.We move on to the chapter dedicated to the competitions of the Liga Portugal. The return of the fans to the stadium and of the original

Allianz Cup format, as well as the good performance of the Portuguese Sports Societies in European competitions have led to a significant increase in revenues generated by Portuguese Professional Football. In 2021–22, the revenues amounted to more than €913 million.

Despite this a typical context, the Portuguese Professional Football Sports Societies have contributed more than €617 million into the GDP, paying more than €214 million in taxes. Despite the limitations, this industry has not stopped valuing itself and investing in it.

Pedro Proença Liga Portugal President

Finally, and as usual, the yearbook ends with the identification of the hot topics of the football industry, mapped in close collaboration between EY and Liga Portugal, divided into five structural topics: the economic sustainability of the industry, the involvement of fans, the repositioning of Portuguese Professional Football, the competitiveness of Portuguese Professional Football and competitions.

Liga Portugal and the Sports Societies of Liga Portugal bwin and Liga Portugal SABSEG contributed in 2021–22 with:

€617m to the

€1,616m

€1,866m in total media exposure(2) (3) Over €905m in expenses

€913m in revenue(1) 91% of the matches were broadcast

CHAP

TER 1

Liga Portugal and its work

The annual activity plan presented by Liga Portugal is based on the major strategic objectives defined for the 2019-23 cycle and aims to assist in the reestablishment of Portuguese Professional Football in the top five European leagues, promoting its economic and sportive enhancement.

Mission, vision and values of Liga Portugal

Mission To ensure the excellence of the competitions in compliance with the economic and financial sustainability of the institution and its members.

Vision Establish itself as one of the most important leagues in Europe, being constantly on the path of good international practices, and placing economic and sporting value to the professional football.

Values

Source: Liga Portugal.

In all aspects, both competitions and in business management Credibility

To create the conditions to defend football’s best interests Aggregation

Both in the competitions and their players and in the industry as a whole Talent

Five new strategic lines of action for the 2019–23 cycle

To gather the ingredients to make competitions more and more spectacular, both inside and outside the stadiums Spectacle

Liga Portugal has outlined an ambitious strategy for Portuguese Professional Football with the purpose of commercially, economically, and sportingly strengthening and enhancing the industry. The five strategic lines of action have been translated into 90 concrete measures that are being monitored by Liga Portugal.

1

Affirmation of Liga Portugal

Strategy for greater visibility and prominence of Liga Portugal

Source: Liga Portugal.

2

Valorization of the competitions

Strategy for greater transparency and better regulation of Portuguese Professional Football

3

Industrialization of Portuguese football

Integrated strategy for a greater commercial valorization of the spectacle, managed as a business

43/90 measures completed

4

Investment in the digital world

Strategy for accelerating the digitalization of Liga Portugal and Portuguese Football

5

Internationalization of Liga Portugal

Strategy for obtaining a significant international visibility for Liga Portugal

37/90 measures undergoing 90 operational measures

Liga Portugal’s goals

1 To organize and regulate competitions of a professional nature under the terms of the applicable legislation

2 To promote the defense of the common interests of its associates and the management of the matters inherent to the organization and the practice of Professional Football and its competitions

3 To exercise, concerning its associates, the functions of disciplinary control and supervision established by law in the statutes and regulations of Liga Portugal

4 To exercise, concerning professional football competitions, the powers of organization, direction and discipline, under the terms of applicable law

5 To promote training in matters related to the organization, management and integrity in professional competitions and the organization of events and activities related to them

Liga Portugal’s strategic goals

Stimulate the competitiveness of competitions by improving their competitive frameworks and models.

Project Portuguese Professional Football abroad, as well as diversify its sources of income.

Guarantee the financial sustainability of the Sports Societies by implementing strict rules for access to competitions.

Promote technological innovation as a lever for sports fairness and ties with the fans.

Promote a joint strategy across all football stakeholders to combat manipulation and corruption.

Counter some of the cultural idiosyncrasies that hinder the implementation of a more advantageous business model.

Develop commercial strategies that meet the new consumer profile and their needs.

Source: Liga Portugal.

Implement a new model of governance that is democratic, agile and reliable that promotes a modern management of Liga Portugal

Qualify and valorize the show, stimulating the interest of the partners and potentiating a greater economic return.

Contribute to social dialogue, making the interests of the protagonists of the show converge.

Prepare the reflection of the new challenges that Sports Societies will face regarding their audiovisual rights.

Pedro Proença Liga Portugal President

Organizational Structure of Liga Portugal

Liga Portugal is organized in a representative and participative model, with bodies for deliberation, administration and management of the entity, and several departments with operational competence.

How was Liga Portugal organized in the 2021–22 season?

General Assembly

Supreme deliberative body, consisting of all ordinary associates that compete professionally

Board

Collegiate body for administration and management, comprising the President of Liga Portugal, a member of the Board of the Portuguese Football Federation and eight Associates

Executive Board

Presidential executive and deliberative body, consisting of a president and three executive directors

2 votes per Sports Society

Liga Portugal bwin

18 Sports societies

69 % of the votes

5 members

Liga Portugal bwin

Three allocated for sporting merit, with two more elected yearly

President

• Pedro Proença

Departments

Operational structure to monitor the activity plan outlined for each sports season

Source: Liga Portugal.

Financial

Competitions

Registrations and contracts

Content and media

Integrated management system

Human resources

1 vote per Sports Society

Liga Portugal SABSEG

16 Sports societies

31 % of the votes

3 members

Liga Portugal SABSEG

Three elected annually, with unrepeatable terms

Executive Directors

• Helena Pires

• Tiago Madureira

• Rui Pereira Caeiro

Strategic plan

Legal

Marketing, commercial and business development

Technology

Executive board assistance

Participation in Work Groups

The governance of Liga Portugal is based on a representative model. The participation of the Sports Societies in the Work Groups demonstrates their involvement and commitment to the future of Professional Football.

The Work Groups promote the debate between the staff and managers of the Sports Societies about common issues related to different areas.

In the 2021–22 season, these Work Groups began on 24 September 2021. Several meetings were held, and, for the first time, all Sports Societies were involved in the meetings.

Participation rate in the Work Groups meetings

Portugal bwin Sports Societies

Liga Portugal SABSEG Sports Societies

Source: Liga Portugal.

Work Group Topics

• Analysis of competitive models

• Stadium categorization, and infrastructure importance and investment

• Game organization

• Digital platforms Competitions

Marketing

• Commercial properties

• Consulting project for the Sports Societies

• Liga Portugal – image and reputation

• Collective licensing

• eSports

Financial

• Totonegócio

• Sports betting

• Competition licensing manual

• Taxation in football

• Sports insurance

• UEFA solidarity fund regulation

• “Crescer 2024”

• Centralized club funding program

• Collective hiring

• Disciplinary proceedings

• Competition licensing manual

• Other topics Legal

Prevention and security

• Monitoring of law 39/2009

• Continuous training in security

• Supporter liaison officer and accessibility for people with disabilities officer

• Liga Portugal’s security department

Source: Liga Portugal.

• eLiga

• Demo tactical feed, scouting and tracking

• Digital security

• Digital stadium Technology

Social responsibility

• Accessibility

• Liga Ambiente

• Social responsibility in football

• Foundational implementation

• Broadcasting manual

• Media accreditation

• Contents and social media

• Media and broadcasting operations Contents and media

Strategic Planning

• Portuguese Professional Football Yearbook

• Study and investigation center

• Incentives

• New facilities – Sede Liga Portugal

Liga

Liga Portugal Financial Results

After the COVID-19 crisis, Liga Portugal has registered a record of €22 million in revenues during the 2021–22 season, with the professional competitions representing 68% of this value.

Operation of professional competitions

Partners and Liga Portugal

Source: Liga Portugal.

Main trade agreements in 2020–21

3 Main sponsors Official sponsors of Liga Portugal competitions

4 Official sponsors Official sponsors of Liga Portugal

6 Official partners Official partners of Liga Portugal

2 Allianz Cup sponsors

Allianz Cup’s official sponsors

3 Final Four sponsors

Allianz Cup’s Final Four official sponsors

Source: Liga Portugal.

Evolution of the overall results of Liga Portugal

€782m net result

Source: Liga Portugal.

Evolution of Liga Portugal’s cost structure

Structure, services, and others

Distributed to the Sports Societies

Events and trainong

Organisms and entities

Source: Liga Portugal.

Support to Sports Societies in 2021–22

Source: Liga Portugal.

(1) Fund approved by the General Assembly in December 2017

Liga Centralização

In the context of the centralization of audiovisual rights, Liga Portugal created Liga Centralização. This new institution aims to keep Portuguese Professional Football more attractive, competitive and with greater international projection.

Objective

The Liga Centralização aims to study and define a proposal for the future model of centralized commercialization of audiovisual and multimedia rights, and other audiovisual content, of professional football competitions in Portugal, as well as for the subsequent commercialization of them.

In addition, it is the intention of Liga Portugal’s board of directors – one of the elements that make up the organizational pyramid or the organs of society – to put other topics under discussion in Liga Centralização, namely the new model of negotiation of the League Cup, among other issues that can be negotiated centrally.

Mission and values

Credibility

Talent

Spectacle

Aggregation

Credibility, aggregation, talent and spectacle – these are the pillars of success for Liga Portugal.

The Decree Law of March 2021 requires the centralized commercialization of audiovisual rights from the 2028–29 season onward, making it necessary to develop the work immediately.

Based on this premise, Liga Portugal Centralização was created as a guideline of the Presidents’ Summit of 2 September 2021, with a view to anticipate this fundamental design for the growth and development of Portuguese Professional Football.

Liga Centralização strategic objectives

The main strategic objectives – defined at the VII Presidents’ Summit – that guide the day-to-day work of Liga Centralização are:

1

Definition of the general conditions for the exploitation of content

5

Evaluation of the anticipation scenarios of the centralization process

Source: Liga Portugal.

2

Global revenue allocation models and criteria 6

Liaison or compliance with the competition authority

3

Definition of the models and conditions of the sales lots

7

Development of an action plan to improve the fight against piracy

4

Expansion plan for international markets

8

Strategy to improve the audiovisual product and competition brand

Status of activities for centralization

At the end of the 2021–22 season, the activity status of Liga Centralização was:

23 work meetings

1

point of situation at the Presidents’ Summit

Milestone calendar

2020–21

Establishment of the company in September 2021

Source: Liga Portugal.

2021–22

Inclusion of new members on the Board of Directors and start of working subgroups

2022–23

New state of situation at the Presidents’ Summit

11 meetings of the Board of Directors

1

study on the reception and adhering of football content in Portugal

2025–26

Submission of the proposal for a centralized marketing model to the competition authority

2028–29

Start of the centralized marketing of the audiovisual rights of League I and League II matches

CHAP

TER 2

The

Impact of Portuguese Professional Football

Economic, cultural and social

The Impact of Portuguese Professional Football

Professional Football plays an important role not only in the economic sphere, through the creation of wealth and employment, but also in the social and cultural sphere, due to its ability to unite communities and inspire people.

Football has relevant impacts on Portuguese society

Football is a universal language, capable of inspiring and uniting communities, and thus has several dimensions –social, cultural and economic. In this yearbook, its economic dimension receives a greater deal of attention, calculating the impacts of the aggregate results of Liga Portugal and the Sports Societies.

Professional football is more concentrated in the North and the Lisbon Metropolitan Area

There is a high concentration of Sports Societies in the north of Portugal and in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. Only nine out of the 34 Sports Societies (26%) are located in the Center, Alentejo, Algarve and islands.

Center, Algarve and Islands 26% Lisbon Metropolitan Area 24%

Impacts on the economy

Portuguese Professional Football produces direct and indirect impacts on the economy. However, in this yearbook, only the direct impacts of Sports Societies and Liga Portugal are calculated.

Liga Portugal

bwin

Liga Portugal

SABSEG

Liga Portugal

• Sales and services provided

• External supplies and services

• Transfer balance

• Other operational results

• Job positions

• Taxes paid

• Economic activity generated by the value chain as a result of the direct impacts of professional football

• As an example, the income from restaurants on match days, sports betting, gaming and tourism

• Economic activity supported by an increased consumption in the economy, due to direct and indirect impacts of employment generated by professional football

Source: EY

Source: Liga Portugal.

In 2021–22, Liga Portugal and the Sports Societies had an estimated contribution of €617 million to the Portuguese GDP.

Liga Portugal bwin 18 Sports Societies

Liga Portugal SABSEG 16 Sports Societies

Liga Portugal 1 organizer

Contribution to the GDP €617m

12.2% increase in 2021–22

Football economic contribution increases in the year of return to normality

Liga Portugal and the Sports Societies generated €917 million in turnover, which resulted in a contribution of around €617 million to the Portuguese GDP (0.29%) in 2021–22, surpassing the prepandemic values. It should be noted that this value does not include the indirect and induced impacts of Professional Football on the national economy.

Liga Portugal bwin was responsible for 94% of the contribution generated by Professional Football in this season.

To a large point, this increase is justified by the increase in ticket sales revenues, given the return of the public to the stadiums, and by the revenues from competitions, which stems from the beginning of a new cycle of European competitions and the impressive European campaigns of SL Benfica and Sporting CP in the 2021–22 season.

Employment and job positions

In the 2021–22 season, Portuguese Professional Football employed more than 3,595 people, paid more than €319 million in salaries and registered an average productivity rate of more than €150,000.

Job positions

3,595

3.6% decrease in 2021–22

Average annual productivity increases, although still lower than pre-pandemic

Liga Portugal and the Sports Societies of Liga Portugal bwin and Liga Portugal SABSEG were directly responsible for 3,595 jobs.(1)

The Sports Societies of Liga Portugal bwin are responsible for most of the jobs created. They employ 2,682 people, of whom 976 are players, 252 are coaches and 1,454 are employees in the areas of support, management and administration.

Athletes are the highest paid sports agents, earning a total value of €243 million, followed by coaches and staff.

The average annual productivity of football professionals (athletes, players and staff) was €153,000. The increase over the previous season (€5,000) reflects the largest increase in gross added value when compared with the increase in employment.

In 2021–22, Liga Portugal and its Sports Societies generated the following job positions:

Evolution

of

the number of job positions(2)`

Source: Liga Portugal.

Sports Societies’ employees in the 2021–22 season

employees

Source: Liga Portugal.

Liga Portugal defends that it is essential to invest in the education and training of the people in the football industry, fostering a more professional and earnest football sector in Portugal.

Liga Portugal is founded on a well-defined strategy, designed to enhance its prominence and reputation. There are 24 measures that are part of this strategy, six of which focus on talent development.

In this context, Liga Portugal has been developing several initiatives, from trainee programs with the objective of attracting talent to graduate programs in order to train that talent.

During last season, Liga Portugal had more than 100 candidates and about 78 speakers in the two postgraduation programs: Communication in Professional Football, and Organization and Management in Professional Football.

838 support staff 290 others

453 management

Aiming for a deeper professionalization of the Portuguese Professional Football, Liga Portugal has significantly invested in the promotion of training and postgraduate sessions on various topics.

For the development of these post-graduate programs, Liga Portugal has established several collaborations, such as the one with Universidade Católica.

In addition, Liga Portugal, with the intent of attracting international best practices to Portugal, has been establishing collaborations with other international institutions in the football industry. To improve these collaborations, Liga Portugal has also defined several internal policies that encourage the use of these collaborations to provide exchange programs and international experience to its professionals.

Recognizing the ongoing internationalization and professionalization of the football industry globally, Liga Portugal creates conditions for the empowerment of Sports Societies and agents through industry-oriented training.

(1) FC Vizela’s and CD Trofense’s employment data was not included due to lack of information. (2) The analysis was based on the most recent historical information available. For more details, see the study methodology section.

Fiscal contributions

The fiscal contributions indexed to the remuneration of sports agents, such as personal income tax and social security, remain the most impacting in terms of the fiscal and parafiscal burden supported by the Sports Societies.

Fiscal contribution

11.5% Increase in 2021–22

Personal income tax and social security represented about 78% of fiscal contributions.

Portuguese Professional Football has produced more than €214 million in taxes. In this edition of the yearbook, as in previous ones, we provide a detailed account of taxes including the personal income tax (IRS), valueadded tax (VAT) and social security as reported by the Sports Societies, at an aggregate level.

Liga Portugal bwin contributed with €189 million, corresponding to 88% of the estimated total tax impact.

The Liga Portugal SABSEG and Liga Portugal contributed with €26 million, with a weight on tax contributions of 10% and 2%, respectively.

The most relevant volume of tax contributions is indexed to the remuneration of sports agents. The IRS and social security contributions totaled to €169 million, with a weight on tax contributions of 60% and 19%, respectively.

In 2021–22, Liga Portugal and the Sports Societies contributed with the following fiscal impacts:

2021–22 Total (%)

Liga Portugal bwin 18 Sports Societies

Liga Portugal SABSEG 16 Sports Societies

Liga Portugal 1 organizer

Evolution of fiscal contributions(1)

Source: Liga Portugal. 0

Detailed fiscal impacts of the Sports Societies in the 2021–22 season(1)

€127.7m personal income tax (IRS) •

€38.8m social security

€38.8m value-added tax (VAT)

€1.9m corporate income tax (CIT)

€3.6m other taxes

Source: Liga Portugal.

•

Social responsibility

Fundação do Futebol – Liga Portugal uses the reputation of football to promote the connection between Sports Societies and communities, promoting a fairer society, and aims to become one of the reference entities in the area of corporate social responsibility in the field of football.

Fundação do Futebol – Liga Portugal

Since its establishment in 2018, Fundação do Futebol has been making an impact in the Portuguese society. It takes advantage of the wide reach of football and its players, acting as an aggregating element of sports agents and using the competitions that Liga Portugal organizes for social responsibility. It embodies this object in five main areas of intervention:

Social inclusion

Drafting, planning, supporting and promoting projects of social inclusion for socially vulnerable and/or at-risk groups

Environmental sustainability

Raising awareness for the implementation of consumption reduction policies, reutilization of materials and recycling.

Protection of values

Promoting sport and the values that come along with it and its organization, and implementation of actions aimed at promoting fair play among sports agents

Fundação do Futebol strategic objectives

Great humanitarian causes

Supporting and promoting great national and international humanitarian causes within the football industry

Science and technology for football

Promotion research in the sector, supporting the study and production of scientific and literary works, encouraging the academic training of young people, and stimulating workgroups and events about the impact of football on society and knowledge

1 2 3 4 5

Promoting the essence of the Fundação do Futebol – Liga Portugal, consolidating the positioning of its performance, and establishing partnerships with reference organizations in the social and environmental sphere

Source: Liga Portugal.

Promoting the joint and responsible participation of Sports Societies, stakeholders and the general public

Contributing to the dissemination of the values of Fundação do Futebol – Liga Portugal, in sport and football in particular

Promoting awareness of social responsibility and environmental sustainability in professional football, through the creation of value for the various agents

Promoting the image of Liga Portugal and Sports Societies as active agents in the areas of social and environmental intervention, both nationally and internationally

Projects of the Fundação do Futebol done in 2021–22

Futebol Solidário

• Area of activity: social inclusion

• Purpose: creating opportunities for socially disadvantaged communities, providing them contact with football

• Conducting programs with the youth from institutions of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia in the presence of public figures and O Ligas, mascot of Liga Portugal

• Visits to the stadium and museum of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, aimed for senior groups

Eco Challenge Cup

• Area of activity: environmental sustainability

• Purpose: project that challenged Sports Societies to participate in a program to evaluate their own environmental aspects

• Participation of 19 Sports Societies in the Eco Challenge Cup project by completing the conducted surveys

• Follow-up and monitoring of responses performed by the EY teams and the Sports Societies that participated in the surveys

Formação sobre discriminação

• Area of activity: value protectionPropósito: training done with Sports Societies, aimed at combating racism, xenophobia and intolerance, and promoting reflection and debate

• Soccer personalities invited to participate in the debate, such as Abel Xavier, Domingos Paciência, Victor Gomes and Luís Estrela, the coordinator of the Fundação do Futebol

Ajuda: O Jogo com Prolongamento

• Area of activity: social inclusion

• Purpose: extra support for communities involving Sports Societies; specific support channeled to these institutions or associations

• Sixteen food banks against hunger were supported, distributing food throughout the country and islands according to the needs indicated by the organization

• This action had an impacted in 2,218 institutions and more than 356,666 people in need

Esta Bata tem Poderes

• Area of activity: major humanitarian causes

• Purpose: provide a moment of joy, strength and encouragement for hospitalized children by offering them the possibility to exchange the hospital gown for a football shirt

• Campaign carried out in partnership with the Fundação do Gil and Santa Casa da Misericórdia, through the delivery of jerseys from 34 Sports Societies, which were transformed into hospital gowns

Outros projetos

• Centro de Estudos Award: award of scholarships and support to companies for innovative projects in football, with the objective of raising new ideas and projects, and mapping human resources with the necessary skills and competencies, which can integrate the sector

• Mundo d’O Ligas, Campanha Racismo Não, #Goals4Trees and Campanha Doação de Sangue, among others

Fundação do Futebol’s big numbers in the 2021–22 season major projects implemented 32 national strategic partnerships made 17 additional initiatives 7 social responsibility awards given 10 workgroup meetings 44

Source: Liga Portugal.

Sports Societies’ social actions

The social responsibility awards distributed by Fundação do Futebol promote and praise the effort of Sports Societies in actions that create value for society, stimulating the creation of campaigns.

Social responsibility awards 2021-22

FC Arouca

Sócio Solidário

Jul 2021

Initiative among club supporters to help the financially disadvantaged fans to maintain their participation in club activities

Casa Pia AC

Voamos juntos

Sep 2021

Awareness initiative with a special emphasis on respect and cultural diversity

Leixões SC

Marcar golos pela solidariedade

Nov 2021

Exchange of tickets in the game with CD Trofense for food and essential goods, which is then delivered toward the Padre Grilo project

Santa Clara

Ajudar as Feteiras

Jan 2022

Fundraising for the village that was most damaged by the December 2021 storm in the Azores

Fundação Benfica

Juntos pela Ucrânia

Mar 2022

Campaign created to support Ukrainians facing essential goods shortage

CD Nacional

Não Te Deixes Fintar

May 2022

Initiative to prevent addictive behaviors and dependencies, to inform and raise awareness of their harms

Aug 2021

Crianças especiais

The presentation on Marcelo’s signing featured a video of the player making sweets in Associação de Apoio à Trissomia 21, leveraging the media spotlight to draw attention to the community

Oct 2021

Unidos por uma Causa

FC Famalicão | FC Vizela

A call out to help and promote Pirilampo Mágico, an annual solidarity initiative, with the aim of raising funds for Fenacerci and ACIP

Dec 2021 FC Porto/SC Braga/Fundação Benfica

Juntos Venceremos”, “Braga Solidário e Cruz Vermelha” e “Fábrica dos Sorrisos

Award given to three Sports Societies, appealing to various social causes

Feb 2022

Audiodescrição: O Relato Inclusivo

FC Porto

Audio description pilot test, providing an inclusive report to three fans with audiovisual difficulties

Apr 2022 Estrela da Amadora

12.º jogador Muito Especial Emanuel, a tricolor disabled fan, giving his team an unwavering display of love for the club and strength to the players

Jun 2022

Académico de Viseu

Um Académico Para Todos!

Guilherme, a young man with trisomy, was offered an internship, highlighting the integration of fans, the city and people in the social area

Gil Vicente FC

[Testimony of Luís Estrela about the Fundação do Futebol] “

The Professional Football community is increasingly aware of its role as a unifying force and as a catalyst for positive and sustained change within clubs and their communities. We will continue to fulfill our great goal: one club, one community, one foundation.

Big numbers from the 2021-22 season

103

social responsibility actions

272 of which are in the protection of values area

72%

increase compared with the previous season

52 91%

average participation of the Sports Societies in the promoted activities

social responsibility actions

116 of which are in the protection of values area

23%

increase compared with the previous season

Miguel Ribeiro FC Famalicão

Tiago Madureira Liga Portugal

Diogo Godinho FC Vizela

Luís Estrela Liga Portugal

Francisco Esguelha CF Estrela da Amadora

CHAP

TER 3

Liga Portugal bwin

FC Porto won the league in 2021-22; Sporting CP and SL Benfica got second and third place.

Two years later, FC Porto is the champion again, winning its 30th national championship, with a total of 91 points. The team led by Sérgio Conceição had a campaign with 29 wins, four draws and one defeat.

FC Porto squad led Liga Portugal from the 10th match week until the end, having scored 86 goals and conceding just 22 goals, and achieving the highest goal difference in the competition (+64). The champions were the team that scored the most goals and conceded the least.

6 points

Difference between the champion and second place

24.3 million

Total number of viewers(1)

807

Goals scored(1) 2.6 Average goals per match(1)

€ 1,349m

Media exposure value of the competition in editorial space

(1) The figures shown do not include the play-off matches.

Liga Portugal bwin under the microscope(1)

306

Matches played in the competition

807

1,823

116

Goals scored in the competition Yellow cards shown Red cards shown

Victories for the hosts (121 matches)

First team to score won the match (184 matches)

Goals scored in the second half(2) (440 matches)

Goals scored in last 30 minutes(2) (317 goals)

51 22 23 34

Average attacking plays per match (15,508 plays)

Best attack in the league

Average crosses per match (6,776 crosses)

Best defense in the league

Average shots per match (7,030 shots)

Most goals scored in the first half

The highlights of the season

Average fouls per match (10,457 fouls)

Most goals scored in the second half

The most common outcome of the competition was 1-1. However, 49% of the matches had three or more goals scored. The average goals per match increased from 2.4 in the previous season to 2.6 in the 2021-22 season.

Source: Liga Portugal.

26 goals

Darwin SL Benfica

16 assists

Rafa Silva SL Benfica

1-1

Most common outcome

150

Matches with three or more goals

2.6

Average goals per match

8.7

Average shots per goal

(1) The figures shown do not include the play-off matches. (2) The figures shown include goals scored after regulation time.

The show watched from the stands

Despite the reduction of some restrictive measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the beginning of the 2021-22 season was still affected by restrictions on the use of full stadium capacity, contributing to a much lower average attendance than in the pre-pandemic seasons.

2.4 million

Total stadium audience

Average utilization of the stadiums 34%

7,730

Average audience per match

Source: Liga Portugal.

Weight of the big three in the total stadium audience 63% 13th match week 03/12/2021 | 21:15 x

48,790

Most assisted match

Match days and its schedule

The matches with the largest audience started between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., with approximately 75% of all games occurring after 6 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday were the weekdays that held most matches. Wednesday and Thursday were the weekdays that had the highest average audience, despite hosting only four and five matches, respectively.

Average ticket price

In average, the difference between the highest ticket price and the lowest ticket price was €18. Sporting CP, FC Porto, Marítimo M., SC Braga and SL Benfica were the Sports Societies with the greatest disparity in average prices between match weeks.

Sports Societies with the greatest average price difference between match weeks Match with the highest average ticket price x

Source: Liga Portugal.

The show watched from the couch

More than 24 million supporters watched Liga Portugal bwin matches on television, which represents an average of 80,000 viewers per match.

Evolution of the audiences during the competition(1)

Number of viewers

Broadcast of matches on television

Match week

The match that had the biggest audience happened in the 30th match week, featuring Sporting CP versus SL Benfica on Sunday, 17 April 2022.

9.04% x

446m Television share

Number of people who watched the match on television

FC Porto was crowned champion in the 33rd match week.

The stars that generate audiences

The media return from the competition is estimated to be about €1.341 billion. In the 2021-22 season, online media increased its share to €327 million. Television continues to be the predominant mean of communication (€933 million).

Broadcast of matches on television(1)

The broadcast of Liga Portugal bwin matches is done by two channels, Sport TV and BTV. Sport TV broadcasts all the competition’s matches except SL Benfica’s home matches, which are the responsibility of the Sports Society’s channel. Currently, the negotiation of audiovisual rights is done individually by the Sports Societies.

Source: Liga Portugal.

The media return of the competition (AVE(2))

The value of the editorial space generated by Liga Portugal bwin increased by €8 million compared with last season. Television and online media are the main value-generating media. The online segment had €327 million of returns, with Facebook and Twitter being responsible for €2 million.

Source: Liga Portugal.

(1) The figures shown do not include the play-off matches. (2) Advertising value equivalency is the equivalent cost of advertising in minutes and spaces (traditional or digital) of the competition presence in the media.

Match days and its schedule

Ricardo Horta SC Braga

Mbemba FC Porto

Otávio FC Porto

Mehdi Taremi FC Porto

Pepe FC Porto

Matheus Nunes Sporting CP

Matheus Reis Sporting CP

Darwin Núñez SL Benfica

André Silva FC Arouca

Sérgio Conceição FC Porto

Vitinha FC Porto

Diogo Costa FC Porto

Darwin Núñez SL Benfica

Vitinha FC Porto

Pedro Porro Sporting CP

Transfer market

In the 2021–22 season, the total sales accounted for €223 million and 55% of the departures involved foreign clubs (vs. 50% in the 2020–21 season), illustrating the growing internationalization of the Portuguese Professional Football league.

Departure of players(1)(2)

In 2021–22, 226 players were transferred from Liga Portugal bwin to foreign clubs. This corresponds to 55% of the departures (a total of 412).

There were also 69 players transferred to other Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies (17%), 47 to Liga Portugal SABSEG (11%) and 50 to nonprofessional leagues (12%).

The positions experiencing the highest number of departures were center backs, at 74, and strikers, at 60. The summer market proved to be the most active.

Main data on the departures

€80m

Most valuable departure

Liga Portugal bwin

Departures to

Liga Portugal bwin

Liga Portugal SABSEG Others Abroad

Departures to

Liga Portugal SABSEG

Departures to nonprofessional leagues

Signings to foreign leagues

€303m

Total departures

(1) The Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies’ player signings and departures include player transfers and loans. Departures of players who have finished their sporting careers were not considered. Data was extracted from transfermarkt on 30 August 2022. (2) Twenty players who left without a club were counted as departures.

Source: Transfermarkt.

SL Benfica Liverpool FC

Source: Transfermarkt

Darwin Nuñez

The aftermath of the transfer market

In a total of 405 player signings, 69 were originally from Sports Societies of Liga Portugal bwin (17%), 43 from Liga Portugal SABSEG (11%) and 203 from foreign championships (50%). The average age of a new signing is 24 years.

Similar to the departures market, central defenders dominated the signings in the Liga Portugal bwin.

In the summer market, there were 321 player signings, compared with the 84 that occurred during the winter transfer period.

Source: Transfermarkt

Main data on the signings

Source: Transfermarkt

KAA Gent SL Benfica

Roman Yaremchuk

(1) The Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies’ player signings and departures include player transfers and loans. Departures of players who have finished their sporting careers were not considered. Data was extracted from Transfermarkt on 30 August 2022. (2) Seven players who were without a club were counted as signings.

Income statement

Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies’ revenues increased to €867 million, due to an increase in the revenues from competitions, commercial activity and other revenues, compared with the previous season.

Total revenue

€867m

13.1% increase in 2021–22

Revenues

from athletes' rights and audiovisual rights are the most relevant.

Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies’ total revenues for the 2021–22 season totaled €867, million(1) an increase of 13.1% compared with 2020–21.

Revenue remains concentrated in the top three, which, in 2021–22, constitutes 77% of total competition revenues, an increase of 4 p.p. compared with 2020–21.

Revenues from the sale of athletes' rights, competitions and audiovisual rights are the most relevant, representing 34%, 21% and 20% of the total, respectively.

Competition participation prizes increased significantly between 2020–21 and 2021–22 (€79 million), which can be explained by the entry of the new revenue cycle of European competitions and SL Benfica’s performance, reaching the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. Ticketing and merchandizing revenues increased by 350% (€47 million), compared with 2020–21, due to the reduction of COVID-19 pandemicrelated restrictive measures.

Source: Liga Portugal.

Source: Liga Portugal. Evolution of the aggregate revenue of the Sports Societies(1)

Main revenue streams

In 2021–22, Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies generated the following revenues:

Athletes' rights

Transfers and loan revenues

€291m 34%

Audiovisual rights

Commercial activity

Sponsorship, advertising and corporate

Source: Liga Portugal.

Revenue gained from competitions has counterbalanced the decrease in revenues from audiovisual rights

Revenues from the sales of athletes' rights have a significant impact on the results of Sports Societies, representing 34% of total revenue.

In 2021–22, competition revenues increased considerably (€79 million), counterbalancing the drop in audiovisual rights revenues (€27 million), which happened due to the 2020–21 season recognizing revenues from postponed matches of the 2019–20 season.

Audiovisual rights are important for smaller Sports Societies, but its impact has been getting smaller

Revenue from audiovisual rights is significant for Sports Societies, placing particular emphasis on those between 7th and 18th places about 35% of the total. However, the dependence on audiovisual rights revenues for these clubs has reduced over the years. In 2021–22, compared with 2020–21, this decrease occurred due to the increased importance of revenues from the athletes’ rights an increase of €7 million.

Impact of television rights on results Impact of audiovisual rights on total revenue

Source: Liga Portugal.

Source: Liga Portugal.

Income statement

Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies’ expenses have increased compared with last season, with the spending on external supplies and services (ESS) being the item that most contributed to this increase.

Total revenue €842m

7.6% increase in 2021–22

ESS spending was the main driver for the increase in total

expenses.

Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies’ total expenses for the 2021–22 season were €842 million,(1) representing an increase of 7.6% compared with the previous season.Expenses were also concentrated in the top three Sports Societies (76% of total expenses).

About €384 million of the total expenses were staff-related expenses. Approximately, 63% of this amount corresponded to players' salaries and 10% to coaches' salaries. There were €120 million of expenses related to athletes' rights amortizations.

External supplies and services totaled €194 million in the 2021–22 season, an increase of 30% compared with the 2020–21 season.

Evolution of the aggregate expenses of Sports Societies(1)

from 1–3 positions

from 4–6 positions

Expenses from 7–18 positions

Evolution of the remuneration of Sports Societies’ athletes and coaches outside the podium

Commercial activity

Source: Liga Portugal.

Main expense streams

In 2021–22, Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies had the following expenses:

Personnel expenses

Athletes, coaches and others

External supplies and services (ESS)

€384m 46%

€194m 23% Player

Source: Liga Portugal.

Decrease in personnel expenses motivated by the decrease with other agents(1)

Sports Societies’ staff-related expenses reached €384 million in 2021–22, a reduction of 1.3% compared with the previous season. Contrary to 2020–21, when personnel expenses increased, in 2021–22, there was a stagnation of this stream, mainly motivated by the decrease in costs with other agents.

Weight of personnel expenses decreased given higher revenue and lower personnel expenses

In the 2021–22 sports season, total revenues increased due to increased revenues from participation in competitions, transaction of athletes' rights and revenues from commercial activity. Considering this, and together with the decrease in personnel expenses, its weight in total revenue for 2021–22 decreased to 44% (a decrease of 7 p.p.).

Source: Liga Portugal. Source: Liga Portugal.

The financial position

Sports societies’ assets and liabilities have reached record values, and are increasingly more concentrated. The number of Sports Societies with positive net results increased.

Total assets

€1,526m

1.3% increase in 2021–22

The highest and most concentrated asset in history

Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies’ total assets were €1,526 million(1) in the 2021–22 season, an increase of 1.3% compared with 2020–21.

In relation to the previous season, there is a higher concentration of assets in the top six Sports Societies, which now represent 92% of the Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies’ total assets.

The main driver of the asset's growth was the payments to be received from customers, which increased by around €110 million (+39%) compared with last season. This increase is justified by the sale of several players by FC Porto, Sporting CP and SL Benfica, such as Vitinha and Darwin Nuñez.

This increase allowed to compensate for the fall in intangible assets of around €74 million (-12.7%), compared with the previous season, a sign of the capacity of the enhancement of athletes.

In 2021–22, the main components of the assets of the Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies were as follows:

Evolution of the Sports societies’ asset structure(1)

Source: Liga Portugal.

Sports societies’ net result

Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies presented a negative aggregate net result of €920,000, showing a large recovery compared with last season, in which they presented a negative aggregate net result of €48 million.

In total, nine of the 18 Sports Societies showed negative net results.

Sports societies with positive net results

Total liabilities

€1,538m

1.2% increase in 2021–22

Liabilities stabilized, with clubs having higher debts to suppliers

Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies’ total liabilities were €1,538 million(1) for the 2021–22 season, a slightly higher value than the one recorded in 2020–21 (€1,520 million).

Bank loans stood out as the main source of financing, around €433 million, which represent 28% of the total liabilities. Bond loans were another relevant source of financing for Sports Societies, accounting for around €271 million, representing 18% of the liabilities.

Supplier debts increased by 18% compared with the previous season, representing 25% of the total liabilities during the 2021–22 season.

Liga Portugal SABSEG

Rio Ave wins Liga Portugal SABSEG and returns to the first division after one season.

One year after the relegation to Liga Portugal SABSEG, Rio Ave was crowned champion and got promoted to Liga Portugal bwin. After a season start at the top of the standings, Rio Ave returned to first place in the 32nd match week, becoming champion at the end of the season.

Casa Pia AC finished in the second place with 68 points and returned to the top tier of Portuguese Professional Football, 83 years after its first participation.

GD Chaves, finishing as the third, participated in the promotion play-off to Liga Portugal bwin, winning against Moreirense.

2 points

Difference between the champion and second place

5.7 million

Total number of viewers(1)

760

Goals scored 2.5 Average goals per match(1)

€ 305m

Media exposure value of the competition in editorial space

(1) The figures shown do not include the play-off matches.

306

Matches played in the competition

Victories for the hosts (129 matches)

51

Average attacking plays per match (15,559 plays)

Best attack in the league

Source: Liga Portugal.

Liga Portugal SABSEG under the microscope(1) The

760

Goals scored in the competition

First team to score won the match (182 matches)

26

Average crosses per match (8,041 crosses)

Best defense in the league

Yellow cards shown 1.652 Red cards shown 60

Goals scored in the second half(2) (425 goals)

23

Average shots per match (7,075 shots)

Most goals scored in the first half

highlights of the season

Goals scored in last 30 minutes(2) (300 goals)

29

Average fouls per match (9,653 fouls)

Most goals scored in the second half

The number of goals per match increased compared with the last season, increasing to 2.5 goals per match. João Carlos finished the season as the top scorer, having scored 17 goals.

Source: Liga Portugal.

17 goals

João Carlos A. Académica

12 assists

Marco Matias CD Nacional

1) The figures shown include goals scored after regulation time.

1-0

Most common outcome

145

Matches with three or more goals

2.5

Average goals per match

9.3

Average shots per goal

The show watched from the stands

The 2021–22 season signaled the return of 307,000 people to the stadiums of Liga Portugal SABSEG teams, with an average use of 21% of the total capacity.

Source: Liga Portugal.

307M

Total stadium audience

Average utilization of the stadiums

1,002

Average attendance per game

Weight of the first three ranked in the total stadium attendance

33rd match week

8th May 2022 11:00 x

Most watched match 21% 17%

5,161

Match days and its schedule

The matches with the higher average attendance started between 5–6 p.m. and 7–8 p.m.

Most of the matches started before 5 p.m., making up about 65% of the total matches.

Sunday was the weekday with the most matches held. Thursday and Sunday were the days with the highest average attendance.

Average ticket prices

On average, the difference between the highest and lowest price was €2. GD Chaves, Estrela da Amadora, A. Académica, CD Mafra and Casa Pia AC presented the highest disparity in average prices per matchweek.

Match with the highest average ticket price

Source: Liga Portugal.

Matches’ schedule and average audience

Source: Liga Portugal.

Matches’ schedule per weekday

Source: Liga Portugal.

Sports societies with the highest average price difference between match weeks

The show watched from the couch

Liga Portugal SABSEG registered an average audience of 22,000 viewers per game, with this number increasing over the course of the competition, where Rio Ave FC won in the 34th match week.

Rio Ave FC was crowned champion in the 34th match week.

Broadcast of matches on television(1)

The match with the highest television audience happened at the 30th match week between Rio Ave FC and SL Benfica B, on Sunday, 17 April 2022.

Source: Liga Portugal.

The stars that generate audiences

Liga Portugal SABSEG has recorded a consistent increase in its media return, and this growth is supported by the increase in the transmission of matches on television and through online platforms.

The television broadcast of Liga Portugal SABSEG matches is made by four operators: Sport TV, Benfica TV, Porto Canal and Canal 11. FC Porto B and SL Benfica B matches are broadcasted through their Sports Societies’ channels. In the 2021–22 season, 84% of matches from Liga Portugal SABSEG were broadcasted on television. The rest were broadcasted by Sport TV Match Centre streaming service. Broadcasted

(1)

TV BTV Porto Canal Canal 11

Source: Liga Portugal.

The media return of the competition (AVE(2))

The value of the editorial space generated by Liga Portugal SABSEG action has been increasing, having reached €305 million this season. The focus on online platform (49%) has made it the format with the highest media return in 2021–22, surpassing television (48%) compared with 2020–21.

Source: Liga Portugal.

Acknowledgment of the stars

Best

Leonardo

Saviour Godwin Casa Pia AC

Aderllan Santos Rio Ave FC

João Teixeira GD Chaves

Jota Silva Casa Pia AC

Vasco Fernandes Casa Pia AC

Diogo Pinto Estrela Amadora

Alexsandro GD Chaves

Guga Rio Ave FC

Fábio Fortes A. Académica

Filipe Martins Casa Pia AC

Henrique Araújo SL Benfica B

Ricardo Baptista Casa Pia AC

João Carlos A. Académica

Guga Rio Ave FC

Lelo Casa Pia AC

B teams: enhancement of young talents

B teams play an important role in sustaining reputation, and in the national and international affirmation of the young players. In 2021–22, there was a significant increase in the use of promoted athletes from B teams (40).

Source: Liga Portugal.

Debutants for the main squad since 2012–13

Source: Liga Portugal.

Athletes developed in B teams that played in a Big Five league(2)(3) +100

Source: Liga Portugal.

58%

2020 Portuguese national team athletes developed in B teams

2

There was a decline in the value of player transfers who passed through B teams, still a reflection of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SC Braga was the Sports Society with the highest financial volume in the sales of players who played in the B team in 2021–22 (€19m).

Source: Liga Portugal.

of players from the B team in its first team.

B teams playing in Liga Portugal SABSEG in the 2020–21 season

26%

B team matches broadcasted on TV in the 2021–21 season

€1.2b

Direct sales of athletes that played for a B team since 2013–14

(1) Players who made their first-team debuts without playing in team B were not considered. (2) England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France (3) Statistical data collected by January 2022

Vitória SC remains the Sports Society with the highest utilization

Transfer market

In the 2021–22 season, only 47 players (12%) that joined Liga Portugal SABSEG came from Sports Societies of the Liga Portugal bwin and 72 (18%) came from other Sports Societies of the Liga SABSEG.

The aftermath of the transfer market

Player signings

Source: Transfermarkt.

Source: Transfermarkt.

Kerwin Vargas

CD Feirense

Guilherme Ramos

SL Benfica B

Cristian Arango

CD Feirense

Income statement

Despite the significant increase in revenues, the increase in expenses was higher compared with the 2020–21 season, resulting in a deterioration of the financial performance of Liga Portugal SABSEG Sports Societies.

Total revenues

€46.1M

Average increase of 47.9% per Sports Society in 2021–22(2)

Audiovisual rights and athletes' rights drive an increase in revenues.

Liga Portugal SABSEG Sports Societies’ revenues amounted to €46.1 million(1) in the 2021–22 season. The average value of revenues increased by 47.9%, setting at €2.8 million in 2021–22, largely explained by the change of the Sports Societies participating in this Liga Portugal SABSEG edition, as a result of promotions and relegations. Revenues from audiovisual rights of the home matches and the sales of athletes' rights are the main sources of revenue of these Sports Societies, weighing, respectively, 23% and 31% of total revenues.

It is noteworthy that the weight of revenue from athletes' rights increased by 16 p.p., resulting in an evolution from €4.5 million to €14.2 million. It is also noteworthy that there is a high concentration of revenues within the first six classified, summing up to 62% of the total revenues.

Audiovisual rights

In 2021–22, Liga Portugal SABSEG Sports Societies generated the following revenues:(2) Evolution of the revenue average per Sports Society(1) Source: Liga Portugal.

Source: Liga Portugal.

Total expenses

€63.0m

Average increase of 44.4% per Sports Society in 2021–22

The increase in personnel expenses led to the increase in the total expenses.

Liga Portugal SABSEG Sports Societies’ expenses amounted to €63.0 million(1) in the 2021–22 season. The average per Sports Society amounts to €3.9 million, an increase of 44.4% compared with the past season, due to the change of the teams participating in this season.

The main drivers that led to this cost increase were personnel expenses and external supplies and services (ESS) expenses, which increased by €13 million and €2 million, respectively.

The distribution of expenditures is more balanced than the revenues. This is mainly due to the classification of Rio Ave (first place), Nacional (sixth), Farense (11th) and Ac. Viseu (15th), which are the Sports Societies that recorded the highest personnel expenses.

The financial position

In the 2021–22 season, despite the average increase in the assets of the Liga Portugal SABSEG Sports Societies, the increase in liabilities was even higher, leading to a lower financial autonomy(1)

Total assets

€47.8m

Average increase of 81.9% per Sports Society in 2021–22

About 72% of the asset is concentrated in three Sports Societies.

Liga Portugal SABSEG Sports Societies’ total assets was €47.8 million(2) during the 2021–22 season, registering an average value of €3.0 million per Sports Society, an increase of 81.9% compared with the 2020–21 season.

As revenues and expenses, this increase occurred due to the change in the Sports Societies that participated in this season of the competition. Asset growth drivers were, above all, increased payments to be received from customers, intangible fixed assets and other receivables.

In 2021–22, there is a greater inequality in the distribution of assets by Sports Societies, with the top three classified representing 72% of the total assets. This inequality is mainly due to Rio Ave FC (first place) and GD Chaves (third place) being the Sports Societies with the highest assets in the league.

In 2021–22, the main components of the assets of Liga Portugal SABSEG Sports Societies were as follows:

Other receivables

Diverse payables to be received

Evolution of the average of the assets per Sports Society(2)

Source: Liga Portugal.

Sports Societies’ net result

In the 2021-22 season, there was a negative aggregate net result of €17 million, keeping the financial performance of the Liga Portugal SABSEG Sports Societies stable, which, in 2020-21, also recorded a negative aggregate net result of €17 million. Moreover, only one Sports Society presented positive net results in the 2021-22 season.(2)

In 2021-22, the main components of Liga Portugal SABSEG Sports Societies’ liabilities were as follows:

€78.4m

Average increase of 47.2% per Sports Society in 2021-22

Increased debt stimulated by an increase in the loans obtained and suppliers

The total liabilities of all Sports Societies were €78.4 million.(1) The average value of liabilities increased significantly to €4.9 million, an increase of 47.2% compared with last season.

The increase in liabilities is mainly due to the increase in noncurrent liabilities, which increased about 72% compared with the previous season. This increase is mainly explained by a €17 million increase in debts to associates and the increase in loans obtained by around €11 million (of which €9 million are part of noncurrent liabilities).

The increase in liabilities was also partially offset by the decrease in other accounts payable and debts to the government. Compared with the previous season, liabilities are better distributed, with the first third of the classification table now representing 41%, instead of 65% as in the 2020-21 season.

Source: Liga Portugal.

Allianz CUP

Sporting CP wins back-toback titles in Allianz Cup

After winning the Allianz Cup in 2020-21, Sporting CP won the trophy in 2021-22 by defeating SL Benfica in the final, now having four Allianz Cup trophies in its trophy cabinet.

SL Benfica, the most titled club in this competition, was defeated in the final. The final result was 1-2, in favor of Sporting CP. SL Benfica made it to the final after beating Boavista FC in the semifinals.

The 2021-22 Allianz Cup edition was marked by a return to the original format of the competition, returning to have more matches than in the previous edition, given the return of the group stage (from seven to 37).

4 wins

Consecutive wins from Sporting CP in this Allianz Cup edition

94 Goals scored 2.5 Average goals per match

3.9 million

Total number of viewers

€ 212m

Media exposure value of the competition in editorial space

Allianz Cup under the microscope

37

Matches

Victories for the hosts (13 matches)

Goals scored 94 Yellow cards shown

First team to score won the match (27 matches)

4

175 Red cards

Goals scored in the second half(1) (49 goals)

Goals scored after the 60 minutes(1) (35 goals)

51 25 21 33

Average attacking plays per match (1,890 plays)

Best attack in the competition

Source: Liga Portugal.

Average crosses per match (913 crosses)

Average shots per match (792 shots)

Most goals scored in the first half

The highlights of the season

Average fouls per match (1,230 fouls)

Most goals scored in the second half

After an increase seen in the 2020-21 season, the average goals per game decreased from 2.6 to 2.5 goals. Boavista FC, eliminated in the semifinals, had the top scorer and one of the two players with the most assists.

4 goals

Gustavo Sauer Boavista FC

2 assists

Filipe Ferreira e Rochinha Boavista FC e Vitória SC

0-1

Most common outcome

19

Matches with three or more goals

2.5

Average goals per match

8.5

Average shots per goal

(1) The figures shown include goals scored after regulation time.

Source: Liga Portugal.

The show watched from the stands

The Sports Societies' stands received 100,000 fans throughout the Allianz Cup in 2021-22, with this value being inferior compared with previous seasons, due to restriction imposed by the pandemic.

100,000

Total attendance

Average utilization of the stadiums 13%

Evolution of the number of fans

Total attendance has decreased sharply in the last two seasons due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2,703

Average attendance per game

Average utilization of the stadiums during the Final Four 51%

Source: Liga Portugal.

20,622

Most watched game

Source: Liga Portugal.

and

The matches with the highest average attendance started between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Out of the 37 matches in the competition, approximately 51% were held after 7 p.m..

Saturday and Sunday were the days of the week with more matches held. However, the matches held on Tuesday and Wednesday were the ones with the highest average attendance, due to the matches of the big three and due to the semifinals.

Group stage audience

On average, stadium attendances of the group stage matches amounted to 4,981 spectators.

FC Penafiel and Vitória SC were the Sports Societies with higher utilization of the stadium capacity in the game they held at home.

Sports societies that recorded a stadium utilization higher than 35%

Source: Liga Portugal.

Source: Liga Portugal.

(1) The first and second stages of the Allianz Cup matches were played without audience due to the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The show watched from the couch

The 2021–22 season marked the return of the original Allianz Cup format. One million viewers watched the regular stage of the competition and 2.8 million viewers watched the Final Four, with Sporting CP becoming the winner of this season’s competition.

Matches and TV audience

TV audience by competition stage

The Final Four was responsible for the biggest audience share.

Source: Liga Portugal.

3.9M

Total television audience

Source: Liga Portugal. 2%

Average share of all the matches

106,100

Average TV audience per match

2.3 million

Match with the highest TV audience

The return of the Fan Zone

After a season without any people presence on the stands, the Final Four of the 2021–22 marked the return of the Fan Zone.

There were several actions promoted by Liga Portugal with the intent of having fans closer to their teams and closer to the spectacle of football.

Final Four matches had a stage at pitch level, where guests and digital influencers had the opportunity to observe the matches and get along.

Final Four Comedy Club

A novelty in the Final Four of the Allianz Cup was the two free comedy sessions, with the presence of comedians such as Vasco Elvas, Hugo Sousa, among others.

The Stars Match at the Fan Zone ministadium featured ambassadors of the Portugal League and public figures.

Source: Liga Portugal.

A competition with innovation

Innovation and the focus on technology were present at the Allianz Cup Final Four, held in Leiria for the second consecutive year.

Through several technologies and innovative activations, Liga Portugal sought to elevate the television and football product offered to fans.

Innovative stage

LED screens, high-definition images and a set of lights allusive to the competition were shown in a stage at the Final Four, allowing greater interaction with the audience.

Half-Time Flash

The television broadcasted a Half-Time Flash interview. This is an innovative moment of communication at halftime when a player from each team gives statements.

Augmented reality

Living room experience

Stars Match

Final Four matches had an augmented reality show.

The impact of the media

Despite the greater number of matches in the competition compared with the previous year (7 vs. 37 matches), the non-transmission of all matches in television (as in 2020–21) reflected in a decrease of the media return for the Allianz Cup.

Broadcasted matches on television

The proportion of matches from the Allianz Cup of the 2021–22 season broadcasted on television stood at 73%. Sport TV stood out as the operator of choice for the competition, having broadcasted 27 of the 37 matches of the competition. The matches that took place after 19 hours were all broadcast on Sport TV.

Schedule of broadcasted matches per TV operator

Source: Liga Portugal.

The media return of the competition (AVE(1))

The value of the editorial space generated by the Allianz Cup decreased by €129 million in 2021–22, due to the greater number of matches not broadcasted on television compared with 2020–21 (in which the competition took place in 7 matches, all with television broadcast). The weight of the online component has gained dimension compared with television, year after year.

Source: Liga Portugal.

Entertainment for the whole family

The Allianz Cup is a competition that distinguishes itself by the entertainment and by the concepts it brings to the whole family.

Final Four

Consolidation of attractiveness

Ingredients for success

The 2021–22 edition of the Allianz Cup, which was marked by the return of the public to the stands, had a total of 3.9 million viewers.

2.3M

Final match TV audience

6,161

Number of news generated from the Final Four

Cup Final Four media return

eLiga Portugal Cup

with DJ Wilson Honrado

Liga Portugal and its work

With the return of the original format and consequently greater number of matches, the Allianz Cup distributed among Sports Societies the highest prize value in the history of the competition.

Competition revenue distribution

The 2021–22 season was marked by the return of the Allianz Cup to its original format after a season with a reduced competitive framework due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The return to the original molds led to an increase in the prizes distributed to the Sports Societies, being around €2.1 million. It is the highest figure of the last four seasons, with a compound annual growth rate of about 4% since 2018–19.

Source: Liga Portugal.

Sports societies of Liga Portugal bwin stand out in terms of accumulated prizes, since they have reached the more advanced stages of the competition.

Source: Liga Portugal.

Source: Liga Portugal.

The biggest prize winners in the competition

Of a total of approximately €2 million distributed, 46% went to the Sports Societies that ensured presence in the Final Four of the competition, 38% for the teams present in the group stage and 16% for the teams that fell in the first two phases of the competition. Sporting CP and SL Benfica, as a result of their performance, were the Sports Societies that obtained the highest distribution of revenues from the competition.

result of the competition

This season, the competition recorded an 83% lower net result than the previous season, with an increase of 135% in income and 186% in spending.

Liga Portugal.

CHAP

TER 4

Topics of football today

In this edition’s yearbook,

•

•

•

•

01

Hot topics

New model of financial fair play and its impact on Sports Societies

In 2010, the Financial Fair Play (FFP) sought to implement a sustainable financial climate in European professional football. However, the reality of football has evolved, and it has become necessary to develop a model more suited to globalization and technological development, which considers the impacts of COVID-19.

Thus, from the 2022–23 season, Sports Societies will be governed financially by UEFA’s new financial rules, known as the Financial Sustainability Regulations. With this new regulation, Sports Societies will be financially constrained by three key pillars: solvency, stability and cost control. According to the solvency rules, Sports Societies will have to pay off their debts by a stipulated deadline.(2) Regarding the stability pillar, the imposition of the financial breakeven of the FFP remains; however, there will be changes that aim to encourage investment through equity and not debt. In order to control costs, the new rules will also limit the ratio of costs(3)/revenues of Sports Societies to a limit of 70% (from 2025–26).

In 2021, Portuguese Sports Societies recorded a wage-torevenue ratio of 86%, which must be adjusted by 2025–26 to meet the assumptions. Although this computation does not include the balance with transfers, which is normally positive for Portuguese Sports Societies, it is important to note that Portugal represents the highest ratio after France.

New business models, origin of investment and legal regime

Globalization and the increase of capital in football, combined with a constant professionalization, created the need to implement agile business models, capable of offering competitiveness to Sports Societies. In fact, in 2016, 80% of the new investors in European clubs came from China. By 2021, 83% of the new investors were European and 10% from the US. The growth of American investment in relation to Chinese investment has been linked to the introduction of new management practices, such as the use of data analytics, a common practice in American sports.However, the business models used may vary according to location. According to UEFA, in 2021, clubs controlled by public authorities were mostly in Eastern Europe, while 50% of clubs controlled by foreigners were in England, France, Belgium and Italy.In Portugal, founding clubs still have a relevant presence in the capital of Sports Societies, but it may be necessary to evaluate the advantages of facilitating the entry of external investors into the capital, in order to maximize financial and sports competitiveness.Liga Portugal has already submitted concrete proposals on this issue to the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport.

Weight of wage costs (%) compared with revenues generated by Sports Societies (2021)(1)

Participation (%) of the founding club in the share capital of Sports Societies (2021–22)

(1) Sample with clubs that reported accounts in advance; in Portugal, SL Benfica, Sporting CP, FC Porto, SC Braga, FC Paços de Ferreira and CD Santa Clara are included. (2) Debts to other clubs, officials, tax authorities and UEFA with a deadline of 30 June, 30 September and 31 December will have to be settled by 15 July, 15 October and 15 January, respectively. (3) Agent commissions, transfers and salaries of players and coaches

Source: European Club Footballing Landscape 2022.

Source: Liga Portugal.

Paradigm change in sponsors

Football’s popularity has transformed Sports Societies and leagues into media stages capable of offering great visibility to sponsors. In fact, in 2021, sponsorships accounted for 26% of the revenues of European Sports Societies.This increased demand for the advertising space that the football industry offers is leveraged by the forces of globalization. This fact impacts the value and, consequently, the profile of the brands that make up the asset with the greatest media exposure: the front of jerseys. In this way, its high value limits companies and sectors with the ability to access this “stage.”

In 2021, companies in the sports betting, financial, and retail services sectors led the sponsorship of European clubs' front-of-jersey space, with contributions of 19%, 14%, and 10%, respectively.

There are currently different approaches in the strategic definition associated with sponsorships, both for sellers and for buyers.

A sponsor selection is critical for the success of a club’s image. The selection process is now much more complex, given the globalization and emergence of more innovative brands and industries that are still less scrutinized than the established industries. For example, cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are spaces of opportunity, despite the challenges associated with the lower regulation still existing in these areas.

A sponsorship aligned with the ideals and history of the club may create a greater connection with the existing fan base. However, giving up a sponsorship with greater financial value and less connection may affect sports competitiveness. This decision is increasingly gaining relevance, given the potential influence on the sports and financial performance of Sports Societies.

Sources of revenue from European Sports Societies (2021)

European Sports Societies front-of-jersey space sponsorship by sponsors’ industries (2021)

Source: European Club Footballing Landscape 2022.

Tax burden of Portuguese Professional Football

The retention of talent is predominant in the most varied industries, and it is of utmost importance in football, where the goal is to provide fans with a high-quality sports and entertainment experience. However, the increase in taxation applied to Sports Societies makes it difficult to retain the best football talent, nationally and internationally.

At the European level, Portugal is the country, alongside Italy, where the maximum IRS tier (48%) is taxed at the lowest absolute value (€75,009). This level of tax creates a level of spending in Portuguese Sports Societies that leads to the loss of financial competitiveness, and consequently sportive competitiveness, compared with the Sports Societies of the other European leagues. Some measures implemented, such as the “Programa Regressar," have shown a positive impact. The reduction in the cost charged to Sports Societies allows Portuguese Professional Football to attract more talent, since it offers greater wage competitiveness to Portuguese Sports Societies, compared with those of other European countries. Tax conditions should then be enhanced to compete for talent, benefiting the Liga Portugal as a whole.As an enhancer of live shows in Portuguese stadiums, it is also of particular importance to review the tax framework in VAT, including reducing the rate for sports event tickets, similar to what is done in other cultural sectors.

Tax and parafiscal burden on the average income of a Liga Portugal bwin athlete(1) (2021–22)

Sources: European Parliament 2021; Orçamento de Estado 2022; United Kingdom government.

(1) This estimate was based on the legal normative in force, with the following assumptions: (i) Professional player, tax resident in the continent (not benefiting from any special tax regime), single, without children, without disability, only the income from dependent work; (ii) Income is fully subject to IRS and social security; (iii) It is a contributory basis for one-fifth of the value of the actual remuneration, in accordance with the Sports Society scheme applicable to professional sports practitioners; (iv) No deductions are contemplated in the gross collection of IRS or any tax benefits related to the participation of the municipalities of the collection of IRS; (v) Based on the legal regulations in force for the year 2022

IRS rate in the countries of the major European football leagues

Fans’ engagement

Hot topics

The transformation of the fans’ digital experience

The digital space is an increasingly important element in the connection among the various stakeholders of the football industry, from fans and Sports Societies to agents and journalists. Liga Portugal, guided by the 2019–23 strategic plan, has established a set of initiatives that promote the development of the fans’ digital experience. One of the initiatives was the conclusion of a partnership in August 2022 between Liga Portugal and LaLiga Tech LaLiga's business unit that develops and commercializes digital solutions in the area of sports and entertainment which aims to enhance the technological and digital development of Portuguese competitions.

Liga Portugal is also committed to leverage the potential of blockchain and virtual reality spaces (metaverse), as evidenced by the launch, in 2022, of the first centralized trend, called "NFT Fantasy Games and Digital Player Collectible." In addition, the use of virtual replacement technology is also increasingly recurrent, which allows changing the advertisement panels visible in television broadcasts, depending on the location or television channel, maximizing the value of this advertising space. In this way, Sports Societies will be able to leverage these technologies and tools of interaction with fans to develop important new sources of revenue and thus increase sports competitiveness.

Stadium audience and fan engagement

Despite the restrictions that the 2021-22 season had due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was able to welcome fans back into the stadium stands.As the public returns, it is crucial to provide infrastructure that can support all the physical and technological requirements of the fans, in order to optimize the fans’ experience on match days. Liga Portugal has established this as a priority, setting specific objectives that include the improvement of the infrastructure manual.International benchmarks also demonstrate the importance of this topic. The Spanish Sports Societies, through the agreement between La Liga and CVC Capital Partners, will have an investment of about €1.7 billion (about 60% of the total agreement) for the development of infrastructure and fostering of innovation, with regard to stadiums, academies and digitization. This investment will be paid to the private equity firm over the next 40 years, but without imposing any interest on the Sports Societies.

The renovation of the infrastructure is an opportunity to improve the fans’ experience, increasing the currently low occupation of Portuguese stadiums. With this, it is expected not only to provide a better show, but also more revenues, namely from box office, match-day and merchandizing.

Followers of Liga Portugal on major social networks (2017–21)

Source: Liga Portugal.

Stadium assistance evolution of the main European leagues and the Portuguese League (2017–22)

Portuguese Professional Football repositioning

03 Hot topics

Portuguese Professional Football internationalization

A well-structured internationalization strategy is fundamental for the growth of national football, and Liga Portugal plays a key role in this area. Thus, one of the strategic pillars defined by Liga Portugal for the period 2019–23 was the internationalization of the Portuguese Professional Football, which has been developed in close collaboration with other international leagues, media operators and other stakeholders of the industry.

An example of this is the various partnerships between Liga Portugal and La Liga. From the exchange of delegates to the partnership with La Liga Tech to promote digital space, there have been several exchanges of experiences and best practices in order to raise the level of national Football. The internationalization strategy of the Portuguese league extends beyond Europe, as evidenced by its collaboration with a Japanese agency to create Japanese social media profiles, and its numerous partnerships with African leagues aimed at exchanging knowledge and best practices.Liga Portugal has also been working on the centralization of audiovisual rights, which will bring greater international exposure. The increase provided by the bigger exposure of national football will bring more direct revenues to be distributed and even a greater interest by sponsors, athletes, agents and other stakeholders, promoting financial and sports competitiveness.

The centralization of audiovisual rights will play a critical role in this strategy of internationalization. Furthermore, Liga Portugal has been analyzing the strategy of the main European Leagues since each league has different specificities, such as the distribution of revenue from the sale of international audiovisual rights.

Nationalities of the players of the main Portuguese leagues (2021–22)

Source: Liga Portugal.

Competition

Premier League

LaLiga

Serie A

Description

• Fair distribution between clubs until the 2018–19 season

• Distribution of the surplus value based on domestic performance

• Included in the distribution of domestic rights

• Included in the distribution of domestic rights Bundesliga

• 35% distributed equally between clubs

• 50% distributed depending on the points gained in UEFA competitions in the last 5 years

• 15% distributed based on their presence in UEFA competitions over the past 10 years

Ligue 1

Source: European Club Footballing Landscape 2022.

• Included in the distribution of domestic rights

Revenue distribution from the sale of international audiovisual rights (2021)

Liga Portugal bwin

Liga Portugal SABSEG

Sports betting, agent’s compensation models and promotion of positive football (vs. match-fixing)

In the 2021–22 season, according to SRIJ Serviço de Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos football contributed with about 70% of the total volume of online sports betting in Portugal. Liga Portugal bwin represented about 8% of the total bet on football.

The revenue stemming from sports betting Placard and online betting is relevant to the income structure of Liga Portugal and appear as a source of income for Sports Societies, since Liga Portugal directly distributes part of the value from sports betting.In the 2021–22 Liga Portugal annual meeting, one of the working groups proposed to change the current distribution of funds from sports betting, aiming to change the legal framework, and promoting a fairer and more equitable distribution of the ever-increasing revenues provided by sports betting.The growth of the sports-betting market promotes the increase of match-fixing practices in football. In the context of low wages or late payment, poor working conditions, or lack of incentives in competition, there is an increased incentive for these manipulation practices.

Liga Portugal defined as priority the combat of the matchfixing practice, by promoting and implementing positive values in sport, and capitalizing on the social, educational and cultural role of football.

In view of this objective, during the 2021–22 season, Liga Portugal and the Sports Integrity Global Alliance signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation, which aims to cooperate in different areas, with the main objective of promoting and implementing positive values in sport, such as prevention and fight against illegal betting and match-fixing.

Amount of sports betting received by Liga Portugal and Portuguese Football Federation (2017–22) (1)

Amount of sports betting from (2017-2022)(1)

Source: Análise EY.

(1) The amount from sports betting received by the Portuguese Football Federation in the 2021–22 season is a forecast. (2) Sports Societies are considered unmotivated, when playing the last two rounds of the competition and have already ensured their maintenance for the next season and are not able to pursue any additional objective (such as the League title or an European competition spot). To standardize, two places of relegation were considered in 2019–20.

Hot topics Competitions

A new era in European competitions

In 2021, UEFA approved a new competitive format for European competitions Champions League, Europa League and Conference League from the 2024–25 season. The main change is the abandoning of the traditional group stage in favor of a league format featuring 36 teams, where each team plays eight matches (six in the Conference League), followed by the playoff stage. Comparing with the current standards, the number of teams will be increased from 32 to 36, with the number of matches also increasing from 125 to 189. The qualification rules are based on international sports performance, further encouraging Portuguese Sports Societies to value performances in international competitions even more.(1)

This restructuring will have an impact on national leagues. In fact, the increase in the number of games will impact the scheduling of internal championships. Furthermore, restructuring will involve the conclusion of new audiovisual contracts, and given the likely greater number of mediatic matches, a significant increase in the value of contracts is expected.

The new format directs European football to a transnational panorama, being crucial for Liga Portugal to safeguard the Portuguese Professional Football ecosystem, together with the national and international stakeholders of the industry.

Prevention of violence in the football ecosystem

Professional football thrives on the passion and excitement of the fans. However, there are incidents of violence and indiscipline, which, although a minority, can impact the assistance and experience in football matches.

In the 2021–22 season, there were 1,361 incidents in the Portuguese Professional Football competitions, of which 898 occurred in Liga Portugal bwin (66%). The host team, on average, records a higher number of incidents than the visiting team.

This same season was notable for the implementation and later repeal of the Cartão Adepto, a policy that sought to strengthen security measures in sports matches. However, after intense social and political debate, it was eventually repealed. Nonetheless, the Zones with Special Conditions of Access and Permanence for Fans remained in effect, requiring attendees to present a photo ID and a named ticket for entry

At the same time, Liga Portugal has conducted several actions to raise awareness and reduce violence in football. Of the several campaigns, one that needs to be highlighted is the campaign “Somos = Equal,” which aims to combat racism, xenophobia and various forms of discriminatory violence, and the campaign “More Football, Less Hate A motto for all.”

Evolution of audiovisual revenues from UEFA competitions (2012–24)

Millions of euros

Source: European Club Footballing Landscape 2022.

Distribution of the number of occurrences in matches: by professional competition (2021–22)

898

22,130

29,546 stewards

Sources: Liga Portugal e Diário da República Eletrónico

(1) The allocation of the four additional slots will be carried out as follows: two of the vacancies will be allocated to clubs with the best European coefficient in the previous year, the third spot will be awarded to one of the champions of a league outside the European top 10 and the fourth spot will be assigned to the team that finished third in the fifth best-placed European league in the UEFA rankings.

Growth of eLiga and eSports

New technologies have offered new dimensions to the football ecosystem, with eSports taking a prominent position. In fact, this market has seen significant growth in the number of viewers worldwide, which was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to industry reports, in 2021, there were about 474 million viewers tracking eSports, 20% more than in 2018.

The increase in market awareness resulted in an average annual revenue growth rate of 14% from 2018 to 2021, surpassing the US$1 billion mark in revenue in 2021. Of the revenues generated by eSports in 2021, the main source was sponsorships (59% of the revenues), followed by media rights (18%) and revenues from event fees (12%). Following this historical and potential growth, in order to develop the sport, Liga Portugal implemented several measures, with emphasis on the creation of eLiga in 2019.

eLiga Portugal is a competition played by the 18 Sports Societies that operate in Liga Portugal bwin. In order to foster interest in the sport, eLiga Portugal is offering the highest prize pool this season in the history of national virtual football, totaling €50,000.

In addition to the eLiga, Liga Portugal bwin Sports Societies also participate in two more competitions: the eLiga Portugal Cup and the eLiga Super Cup. The first is structured in an eliminatory format, involving all of the 18 Sports Societies. The second has only four teams and is organized in a Final Four format, in which the winners of the eLiga face the winners of the eLiga Portugal Cup, and vice versa, fighting for a place in the final that marks the end of the season.

Liga Portugal has developed these offers in its working groups. In the Liga Portugal annual meeting of 2022, the format and content of the Sport TV program on eLiga was reviewed, as well as the other elements of eSports promotion with Sports Societies.

eSports market revenue sources (2021)

eSports audience (2018–21)

market revenues globally (2018–21)

Source: Newzoo Global eSports Market Report.

Source: Newzoo Global eSports Market Report.

Methodology and contents

This yearbook was made by EY based on information provided by Liga Portugal and the Sports Societies. They did not perform an analysis on the quality of the information and assumed that the information received was correct.

1. Given the closing date of the document, the audited financial statements of the Sports Societies for the 2021–22 season were not received, with the exception of those from CD Tondela, SC Braga, FC Vizela and UD Vila Franquense.

2. The financial information of the Sports Societies was provided by Liga Portugal for the 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons in two different formats: (i) aggregation of the Reports and Accounts of the Sports Societies for the mentioned seasons, (ii) details provided by the Sports Societies for the mentioned seasons. Whenever possible, preference was given to the use of the Reports and Accounts aggregator format.

3. The file (i) was sent by the Sports Societies through two different ways: a) Report and Accounts in digitized PDF format and b) filling out Annex 1 of the list of requests of the EY-Liga Portugal Yearbook. In the cases in which the files were received through both methods, preference was given to a).

4. File (ii) was provided by the Sports Societies via two different ways: a) provision of Annex 1 sent annually to Liga Portugal, in Excel format and b) completion of Annex 4 of the EY-Liga Portugal Yearbook request list. In the cases in which the files were received through both methods, the use of a) was preferred.

5. For the Sports Societies that did not provide the necessary information in the season under analysis, the most recent historical information

available was used.

6. For the Liga Portugal bwin 2021–22 season, all the files mentioned in point 2 for all Sports Societies were obtained, except for point (i) of FC Arouca and point (ii) of FC Arouca and Vizela FC

7. The files (ii) mentioned in point 2 made available by FC Porto in 2019–20 and 2020–21 relate to consolidated accounts. Given the unavailability of detailed information regarding individual accounts, consolidated data was used.

8. For Liga Portugal SABSEG in 2021–22, the files (i) and (ii) mentioned in point 2 were not received by the following: Rio Ave FC, A Académica de Coimbra, Varzim SC, SC Covilhã and CD Trofense.

9. Due to the absence of previous information from Trofense CD, the file (i) mentioned in point 2 was completed using the SABI database and the information in the file (ii) mentioned in point 2 was not accounted.

10. As for Liga Portugal SABSEG, no files (ii) mentioned in point 2 was made available for three Sports Societies in the 2017–18 season, two in 2018–19 and two in 2019–20. And for Liga Portugal bwin, no files (ii) mentioned in point 2 was made available for three Sports Societies in the 2019–20 season and two in 2020–21.

11. The file (ii) mentioned in point 2 made available by Leixões SC in 2019–20 does not reconcile with the audited financial statements. Given the unavailability of an alternative detailed information source, the available data were used.

12. The economic analysis of professional football focused on the direct impact of Liga Portugal’s activity and that of the Sports Societies participating in Liga Portugal bwin and Liga Portugal SABSEG on the Portuguese economy.

13. Information on jobs, tax burden and remuneration of players, coaches and employees was made available by completing Annex 2 of the list of requests for the EY-Liga Portugal Yearbook.

14. However, the sending of information was not complete. No information was made available for three Sports Societies in the 2017–18 season, four in 2018–19, five in 2019–20, four in 2020–21 and nine in the 2021–22 season.

15. For Sports Societies that did not provide the necessary information at the time under analysis, the most recent available historical information was used.

16. Annex 2 of the EY-Liga Portugal Yearbook of FC Porto Sports Society was first made available in 2020–21. The values in the historical period were revised considering the information made available for this edition

17. The formula contemplated for the calculation of gross added value was inspired by the Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE) metadata, which subtracts the production value from its

intermediate consumption. The formula has been adapted to the professional football sector.

18. The gross added value of the Sports Societies of Liga Portugal bwin and Liga Portugal SABSEG results from the sum of sales and services, other income and earnings, transaction balances of athletes' rights, cost of goods sold, external supplies and services, and other expenses and losses and inventory variations in the analyzed period. The gross added value of professional football was compared with the value of the GDP projection of the Portuguese economy for 2022, according to data from the INE and the European Commission projections (Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs DG ECFIN).

19. The turnover of the Sports Societies of Liga Portugal bwin and Liga Portugal SABSEG results from the sum of sales and services, and other income and earnings and transaction balances of players, while the turnover of Liga Portugal results from the sum of sales and services provided and other income. The income of Liga Portugal with the Sports Societies themselves was excluded.

20. The information on transfers of players from the Sports Societies of Liga Portugal bwin was obtained on the football website

Transfermarkt, focusing only on the analysis of the signings and departures of players from the Sports Societies.

21. The management information of professional competitions including schedules, attendances and television broadcasts of matches was provided by Liga Portugal for the 2021–22 season.

22. The total aggregate revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities were calculated from file (i), of aggregation of the Sports Societies’ financial statements for the seasons referred to in point 2, with the information restrictions described.

23. Expenses with external personnel, external supplies and services, interest and other similar expenses, components of assets and liabilities, and net income were also calculated from file (i), with the same restrictions.

24. The calculation of detailed income, such as gains in the transaction and transfer of athletes’ rights, audiovisual rights and commercial activity, was made from file (ii), with details provided by the Sports Societies for the seasons referred to in point 2, with the restrictions described.

25. The detailed calculation of expenses, such as expenses in the transaction and amortization of athletes’ rights, and remuneration of sports agents, was made from file (ii), with the same restrictions.

Miguel Farinha

EY – Head of Strategy and Transactions

Mobile: +351 217 912 000

Email: miguel.farinha@pt.ey.com

Sara Lourosa

EY-Parthenon – Principal, Corporate Strategy

Mobile: +351 211 599 344

Email: sara.lourosa@parthenon.ey.com

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