Liverpool will be unaffected by UEFA rules that led to the resignation of an FSG partner, while LeBron James and Trent Alexander-Arnold have crossed paths
Liverpool is owned by Fenway Sports Group, which means it has many investors indirectly. This is because FSG has repeatedly accepted funding over the years.
Originally, LeBron James actually had a stake in Liverpool, the team he supports. But he traded that into a smaller stake in FSG, one which he has since expanded in exchange for giving his lifetime marketing contract to Fenway Sports Management.
Then there’s RedBird. The investment group purchased a 10% interest in FSG in 2021 for approximately $735 million (£575 million/€669 million) as the Liverpool owners tried to minimize the impact of the pandemic on day-to-day operations.
RedBird also owns a share in Toulouse and AC Milan. But what does that signify in terms of UEFA rules? This week’s resignation throws some insight on the subject.
Meanwhile, LeBron James and Trent Alexander-Arnold have spent their week in the same way, with two worlds (almost) merging in Paris. FSG has had to be preparing for the NHL draft the entire time, with its Pittsburgh Penguins side aiming to quickly right its streak-ending failure to make the playoffs.
This was FSG’s week.
Liverpool is’safe,’ but an FSG partner has resigned from the board.
According to the ECHO, RedBird founder and managing partner Gerry Cardinale resigned from the board of Toulouse this week. This comes after the French club qualified for the Europa League for the first time under the ownership of the investment group.
According to UEFA rules, two clubs with common ownership cannot compete in the same competition. Interestingly, despite qualifying for the same competition as Toulouse, Liverpool is considered’safe’ in this aspect. Given that RedBird owns FSG rather than the team, there is no perceived conflict.
However, because RedBird also owns AC Milan, the Italian club may be forced to compete in the same league as Toulouse. Cardinale resigned in order to ensure that both teams can compete in European competition, citing the possibility of a clash.
According to Liverpool.com, Liverpool fans may have hoped for more when FSG took on RedBird financing, but it was always intended to assist absorb pandemic costs.
The firm already owned Toulouse at the time, but it’s been fascinating to watch them take over at AC Milan. However, Liverpool has reaped no benefits from what appears to be a valuable stable of teams that are ultimately governed as completely distinct entities.
The benefit for Liverpool is that UEFA has no reason to be concerned about Jürgen Klopp’s side’s independence. It previously met Milan in the Champions League last season and may meet Toulouse (or, eventually, Milan again) in the Europa League this season.
Trent and LeBron cross paths.
Where are LeBron James and Trent Alexander-Arnold now that the NBA season is done and international soccer players have been relieved of their final responsibilities for the season? Of course, the answer is Pharrell Williams’ debut Louis Vuitton Fashion Week show.
It was a hot ticket, with Beyoncé, Zendaya, and Kim Kardashian all sighted (USA Today). The singer-turned-designer is the high-end label’s newest creative director, and his debut was definitely eagerly anticipated.
Alexander-Arnold was spotted at the performance with Jude Bellingham, which sparked outrage on social media.
Meanwhile, according to The Mail, LeBron James ‘joined soccer players at the five-star Hôtel Plaza Athénée’ on Wednesday. It’s unknown whether he met Alexander-Arnold, but the FSG part-owner and Liverpool star were surely nearby.
According to Liverpool.com, both LeBron and Trent have earned the right to relax in whichever way they deem suitable. Alexander-Arnold is coming off a fantastic international break with England, when he made a strong case to be a regular starter in midfield. James was instrumental in getting his Lakers team into the playoffs, where they went on to win the Conference Finals.
Last season, James appeared to indicate that he was voting for Alexander-Arnold for Player of the Season (This is Anfield).
Penguins get ready for the NHL Draft
There is less than a week until the NHL draft begins. And it’s crucial for the Penguins, who are aiming to rebound after missing the playoffs for the first time in 17 years.
It’s not the finest first impression for FSG, which only took control in November 2021. The draft, however, is only a minor part of the rebuilding process, with significant changes already made to the backstage. Kyle Dubas, the new president of hockey operations and interim General Manager, will take over next week.
The Penguins will take 14th overall if they do not trade that pick later in the draft. Bleacher Report selected Matthew Wood for the FSG-owned franchise in their final mock draft before the main event.
According to Liverpool.com, it will be intriguing to see if the Penguins decide to use their draft pick, which is becoming more likely by the day. The temptation is to barter it away in pursuit of immediate success, but The Athletic puts their ‘prospect pool’ as low as 29th, implying a need to begin planning for the future.
Whatever happens in the draft, FSG understands it will be under pressure until the Penguins improve significantly next season. In that regard, it is similar to the situation in
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