Sports Ticker #143 - Djokovic departs from PTPA and GSG’s debt finance drive - a speed read of commercial updates from the sports world

In a fortnight that saw the Ashes conclude with a fourth Australian test win, former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury announcing another return from retirement, and non-league side Macclesfield’s historic FA Cup victory against Crystal Palace, we bring you news of Novak Djokovic's departure from the PTPA, Global Sport Group’s €2.7 billion debt raise, and the most expensive World Cup tickets in history.

As always, if there are any issues on which you’d like more information (or if you have any questions or feedback), please do let us know or get in touch with your usual contact at RPC.

Tie-Breaker: Novak Djokovic departs co-founded players’ union
Grand Slam record holder Novak Djokovic has announced that he has “stepped away completely” from the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA). The world number four co-founded the association with fellow tennis professional Vasek Pospisil in 2020. In a statement shared on X, Djokovic cited concerns over “transparency, governance, and the way [his] voice and image have been represented”. The announcement comes amidst the ongoing legal battle brought by the PTPA against four of the sport’s major governing bodies (ATP Tour, WTA Tour, International Tennis Federation and International Tennis Integrity Agency) over alleged “anti-competitive practices” which are fully denied (see our take in Sports Ticker #124). Djokovic had previously distanced himself from the litigation, stating he did not fully agree with the claims made by the union. “I wish the players and those involved the best as they move forward”, Djokovic concluded, “but for me, this chapter is now closed.”  

Fans cry foul over World Cup ticket price surge
Soaring ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup have sparked widespread fan backlash, as prices for the group stage of the tournament reached three times those of Qatar 2022. The cheapest tickets for the final, which will be held in New Jersey, are currently priced at £3,119. Fan groups, including the Football Supporters’ Association, have condemned the prices as “scandalous”. FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the pricing structure, saying that it is a reflection of the “absolutely crazy” demand, citing 150 million ticket requests in 15 days for only six to seven million available seats. However, FIFA has now introduced a small allocation of “supporter entry tier tickets” priced at £45 for all 104 matches, specifically for fans of qualified teams. The tickets will be distributed through national football associations. Infantino reiterated that revenues generated from ticket sales will go “back to the game all over the world.”

Smart Strides: Team GB aims for athletics AI advantage

Chairman of UK Sport, Nick Webborn, has suggested using AI to boost the success of Great Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic teams. Team GB equalled its tally of 65 medals from London 2012 at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, but fewer golds meant a seventh-place finish in the medals table, lower than the previous four Games. The Chairman believes AI may provide a competitive edge and encourage greater collaboration across sports. Webborn revealed that UK Sport is already working with sports in order to utilise AI to “compliment coaches and boost athlete performance in areas such as performance analysis, load management, injury prevention, Paralympic classification and talent identification”. AI has also been used to support British athletes, with AI-based social media protection offered last year to combat online abuse. Alongside this technological push, UK Sport has announced plans to invest a record £330 million into the 2028 Los Angeles games.

Global Sport Group eyes next play with €2.7b debt finance plans
CVC Capital Partners is reported to be seeking external investment in its investment vehicle Global Sport Group (GSG), with the investment vehicle launching a €2.7 billion debt raising process. The injection of capital, being overseen by Goldman Sachs, is expected to support the group’s expansion phase, with a new wave of acquisitions planned for 2026. Launched last September, GSG consolidates CVC’s league-level sports assets – including the Women’s Tennis Association, La Liga, Ligue 1, the Six Nations and Premiership Rugby – into a single fund believed to be the largest sports-focused fund in private equity. The move will run alongside discussions related to an imminent equity investment into the fund. Taken together, the transactions are expected to lower funding costs, increase leverage capacity and support further expansion, with a continued focus on acquiring stakes in premium leagues and governing bodies rather than clubs.

Planning reforms move the goal posts on playing fields protection
Proposed planning reforms aimed at increasing the speed of planning decisions, to assist the government in reaching its target for 1.5 million new homes in England by 2029, may put playing fields at risk in England and Wales. Heads of sporting and governing bodies, as well as sports stars such as Jill Scott MBE, Ama Agbeze MBE, and Sir Mo Farah have raised concerns at the proposal to remove Sport England as a statutory consultee on planning applications. Numerous former and current athletes and other stakeholders have signed an open letter urging policy makers to ensure “planning reforms retain a meaningful mechanism to protect playing fields and sports facilities for future generations”. Sport England protected more than 1000 playing fields in the last year as part of its mission to increase physical activity, and its removal – alongside other statutory consultees – is expected to cut more than 3000 consultations annually.

Extra time...

…and finally, The Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour, ranked as the second-highest competitive tier on the Premier Padel circuit, is headed to London for the first time this summer. Whilst the venue of the six-day event is yet to be announced, sponsors such as Qatar Airways and Sela have been lined-up to deliver world-class entertainment and inspire engagement as padel continues to surge in popularity. The opportunity has been praised by the Lawn Tennis Association as a defining moment for the future of padel that will “help strengthen the sport from grassroots participation to professional players”. With more than 1,000 padel clubs across the UK, 6 of which rank among the world's top 10 revenue-generating clubs, it seems pivotal that London becomes a permanent resident on the Premier Padel tour.