If you are a women's football fan you must read this. Yes it's about rugby and private equity and ownership of the league - but these are EXACTLY the questions, concerns & compromises being discussed now over who will own the WSL in the not distant future. https://www.ft.com/content/24e9fc43-4187-4884-8efe-7a6efb496f24?accessToke

Quick thoughts - the WSL would be cheap as chips for these investors (1.6 billion euros for Serie A anyone?). They could invest barely without blinking.

Post COVID the FA *needs* cash. Not the best negotiating position. "Buyout groups... can be reluctant to invest if they expect to have little say in the governance of leagues" - so will they lean on the FA's key principles? Say, protecting promotion/relegation & the pyramid?

There's a warning in the article about private equity enshrining dominance from already-rich teams (quicker to return an investment for those who might not care that much about nurturing culture/history/tradition of smaller clubs).

Will they sell commercial rights - but in order to go quick, prioritise broadcasting "already cooked" brands such as Chelsea/Man City/Arsenal.... leaving behind less well known clubs - Reading/Bristol and half the Championship?

We need the investment in the game and its growth. But there are checks and balances needed. There is cruel irony in the idea that women's football -
now recognised as a viable commercial product - becomes more reliant on rich men's clubs than ever before.