Multi-club ownership (MCO) has become one of the defining trends in modern football, whereby clubs have been transformed into an interconnected asset class. This has been driven by a combination of the commercialisation and globalisation of the game, US private capital and institutional investment, and the perceived economic and sporting benefits of owning clubs as a portfolio rather than as standalone assets.
In the third and final part in the series, Multi-club ownership (Part III): Football spotlight: MCO types, trends and compliance, Henry Goldschmidt explores the different models of MCO groups, the role of private equity, the rise of minority investments, and the key regulatory challenges facing investors and clubs. The article provides valuable insight into the opportunities, risks and future direction of multi-club investment in football, particularly given the strict (and fluid) regulatory regime that has emerged.
Readers interested in the business, governance and commercial evolution of sport will find this series, including Part I: The Rise and Regulation of Sport’s Portfolio Era and Part II: Rugby union, cricket, motorsport and beyond, an essential guide.