Our firm advised an international investor on the acquisition of a strategic minority stake in an Italian professional football club, covering both the corporate structuring of the investment and the sporting and regulatory legal issues arising from the transaction.
On the corporate side, we advised on the structuring of the investor’s entry into the club’s share capital and on arrangements for board representation and future growth of the investor’s shareholding within the club.
On the sporting and regulatory side, we advised on the approval process required from the Italian football federation (FIGC) and league bodies for the change in the club’s ownership structure, as well as on the club’s compliance with applicable club licensing and financial sustainability requirements, ensuring the change of ownership did not affect the club’s regulatory standing or competition eligibility.
The transaction was completed successfully, with the investor acquiring its stake in the club and taking up board representation, while the club’s regulatory compliance and competition eligibility were preserved throughout the process.
This case illustrates the multidisciplinary legal support often required in football club investments, where corporate transaction work must be closely coordinated with sporting and regulatory advice to ensure a smooth and compliant change of ownership.
