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Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is part of a consortium attempting to invest in Liverpool FC -Credit:Anadolu, Anadolu via Getty Images
Jeff Bezos' proposed investment in Liverpool has generated significant headlines and raised numerous questions.
Why does the Amazon founder, valued at $257 billion (£190 billion) according to Forbes, want a stake in a Premier League soccer club? Prestige? To accumulate even greater wealth? Why are the current owners, Fenway Sports Group, willing to sell a third of the club? Why at this particular moment? And could this represent the opening move toward a complete takeover?
For some, it also raised concerns over a potential conflict of interest, given Bezos' connections to Amazon and the company's involvement in broadcasting the league. However, as explained by The Mirror, there are no such obstacles preventing the American from channeling a small fraction of his fortune into Liverpool.
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Amazon, operating under its Prime Video branding, held live broadcast rights in the UK for 20 Premier League games per season across six seasons until the winter of 2024. The streaming giant subsequently withdrew from a bidding war with Sky Sports and TNT Sports for the next four-year cycle, which is valued at £6.7 billion ($8.5 billion) to the Premier League.
They pulled out after the Premier League restructured the available broadcast packages, eliminating the smallest 20-game-per-season option. Amazon had been paying approximately £30 million ($40.5 million) per season for that package, utilizing it as an incentive to drive subscriptions to Prime.
Amazon subscribers in other nations can still watch top-tier soccer through Prime Video, yet the company currently has no direct arrangement with the Premier League itself. This is due to Amazon sublicensing the rights from Viaplay across the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark.
This creates a layer of separation between Amazon, Bezos, and the Premier League. A further distinction exists in that Bezos stepped back from day-to-day operations at the tech corporation in 2021.
Nevertheless, the 62-year-old remains executive chair, retains the largest shareholding and continues to play a role in high-level decision-making.
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A review of the Premier League rulebook, which outlines the competition's governing regulations, indicates that Bezos should face no additional obstacles in clearing the Owners' and Directors' Test, should the deal for Liverpool go ahead.
Despite rumored attempts to acquire NFL franchises the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, he has no prior involvement in sports ownership, meaning the Premier League has little cause for concern when conducting its due diligence.
The consortium had clearly weighed up such considerations before approaching FSG. Businessman Amit Bhatia, who is leading the group, was required to give up his ownership stake in EFL Championship club QPR in July in order to advance talks over investing in Liverpool, owing to regulations prohibiting financial interests in more than one club. He transferred his share in the London side to majority owner Ruben Gnanalingam.
Bhatia spent 18 years with QPR as director and co-owner, meaning he wouldn't pursue such a move without careful consideration. It's therefore evident that his strategy to unite Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin was already well-established.
The transaction with FSG for Liverpool carries too much value for the consortium to jeopardize by violating the Premier League's regulations. Although no regulatory obstacles are expected, the agreement will still require a considerable period to complete.
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