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<ul><li>The League onboarded over 35 partners across 15 countries in a pandemic hit 2020. </li><li>These sponsorships helped <keyword id="3163924" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="LaLiga">LaLiga</keyword> grow 15% over its previous season and clock in 100mn euros in revenue, an exceptional case where some of the biggest businesses/sporting events were grappling with stability/existence.</li></ul> In a stringent environment when lockdown was the norm, <keyword id="685822" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Spanish-Football-League">Spanish Football league</keyword> – LaLiga, was among the first few sporting properties which gave the world of sport a ray of hope. The league is known for its meticulous planning and impeccable execution was up and about on the field to host the top 20 <keyword id="2147717" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="football-teams">football teams</keyword> of Spain in just 3 months/one-quarter of the lockdown announcement. In order to ensure the safety of around 3,300 staff members and 1000 players, LaLiga adhered to the strict protocols laid down by authorities and was back on its feet due to a well-coordinated effort between the league’s officials, Spanish authorities and participating clubs to complete the 238 of the remaining matches of the season.<br /><br />The League onboarded over 35 partners across 15 countries in a pandemic hit 2020. These sponsorships helped LaLiga grow 15% over its previous season and clock in 100mn euros in revenue, an exceptional case where some of the biggest businesses/sporting events were grappling with stability/existence.<br /><br />In a close-knit press conference today, four of LaLiga’s top management reviewed/shared light on some of their institutional achievements of the year 2020 and outlook for the 2021 season. The top brass shared their insights on topics such as league protocols, economic viability, sponsorships, management of stakeholders and how they stitched all these crucial aspects together to ensure they were back in action considering the challenges of the new normal.<br /><br />Jaime Blanco, Attached to Chairman’s office, said, “Being a world-class football league, we have always set benchmarks, and this was yet another chance to set an example for the sporting world. While such a situation was never imagined by anyone, we wanted to lead from the front. We had certain contingent safety protocols in place and adapted/altered them to align with the given scenario. The planning was detailed, and we ensured that we covered all possible scenarios. With the support and cooperation from clubs, we successfully executed our plan and provided real experience and excitement of a live match again.”<br /><br />Luis Manfrendi, Economic Control Director, said, “The sporting world has been very dynamic in the recent past. Being the Financial controller, as a norm we plan and are prepared for financial exigencies. As a practice, since 2013, LaLiga had laid out a series of economic operating procedures/measures for clubs which made our commercial position stronger in a crunch situation like this. It is due to the adherence of the mandate that we have been able to manage an exceptional comeback without a great economic damage. This year we have also witnessed a significant increase in revenue coming in from the International market.”<br /><br />Diego Sanchez, Head of Commercial, said, “2020 has undoubtedly been a very tough year for everyone across the globe. The universal love for the sport of Football and specially LaLiga has been proven once again in these challenging times. The League has an avid audience in almost every country of the world. Last season, LaLiga successfully partnered with 35 brands from 15 different countries bringing its total sponsor count to 42. With the onboarding of the recent sponsors the league has been able to clock in a revenue of 100 million euros in the pandemic hit year. Going forward we will continue to provide the best possible assets to our partners for them to reach their goals.”<br /><br />Jose Antonio Cachaza, Managing Director, LaLiga India said, “LaLiga has undoubtedly been one of the audiences favorite football leagues. The league has always focused on providing the best football action to its stakeholders and in return have got immense support from them. The year gone by has been hard on everyone, but football has been one of the binding factors which has given hope to the people/audience. Being a culturally strong league with high level of flexibility has made it possible to keep our partners happy and engaged during the pandemic. We hope to continue to bring another exciting football year and keep the viewers entertained.”<br />

LaLiga sponsorship grows by 15% and records revenue of €100 million

Digital content entity ‘<keyword id="20904773" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sportico" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Sportico" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Sportico">Sportico</keyword>’ has unveiled its list of the world’s most valuable football clubs, with the English powerhouse <keyword id="19920554" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manchester-United" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Manchester United" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Manchester United">Manchester United</keyword> seizing the coveted top spot. The Red Devils have clinched this remarkable distinction despite their recent lacklustre on-field performances, nowhere near the heights achieved during the glorious reign of their legendary manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.<br /><br />According to Sportico’s assessments, United boasts a staggering valuation of $6.2 billion (£4.96bn). Trailing closely behind are other illustrious European clubs like <keyword id="19897067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Real-Madrid" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Real Madrid" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Real Madrid">Real Madrid</keyword> ($6.06bn), <keyword id="19901199" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Barcelona" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Barcelona" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Barcelona">Barcelona</keyword> ($5.28bn), <keyword id="19930444" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Liverpool" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Liverpool" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Liverpool">Liverpool</keyword> ($5.11bn) and <keyword id="20115173" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bayern-Munich" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bayern Munich" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bayern Munich">Bayern Munich</keyword> ($4.8bn), rounding up the top five spots.<br /><br />Real Madrid, fresh off their recent progression to the Champions League final, was named the most valuable club ahead of Manchester United in Forbes’ prior listing, released in May 2023.<br /><br /><div type="twitter" handle="Sportico" handlename="Sportico" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1788203004048400729"></div><br />Sportico’s valuation methodology mirrors that of the Forbes football rich list, meticulously tracking and computing the total values of football clubs.<br /><br />The revenue streams are analysed based on figures published by club accounts. The revenue figures are broken down into three categories: broadcast (domestic and international media deals), commercial (sponsorships, advertising, corporate hospitality, catering and non-matchday events) and matchday ( ticket sales, membership income).<br /><br />Moreover, Sportico employs “team-specific multipliers” that consider various factors such as historical sales, brand strength, on-field performance, debt obligations, projected future economic factors for the team and the league, among others.<br /><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="MLS dominance - the Leo Messi effect?" comment="subhead" text="MLS dominance - the Leo Messi effect?"><span data-til="noop"><keyword id="20069497" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MLS" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="MLS" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="MLS">MLS</keyword> dominance - the <keyword id="21603855" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Leo-Messi" source="keywords">Leo Messi</keyword> effect?</span></cmsannotation><br />Remarkably, an impressive 20 teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States have secured spots on the global top 50 list, defying Europe’s traditional football dominance. Leading this MLS contingent is Los Angeles FC ($1.15bn), securing the 15th position, followed by Atlanta United, Inter Miami, LA Galaxy, and New York City FC, all within the top 20 ranks.<br /><br />This MLS surge can be attributed to recent strategic moves, including a lucrative 10-year broadcast agreement with Apple, the United States’ hosting role in the 2026 World Cup, and the high-profile arrival of Lionel <keyword id="19945360" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="messi" source="keywords">Messi</keyword> at Inter Miami.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the English Premier League is the second most represented league in the top 50, boasting nine clubs. It is followed by Italy’s Serie A with six, the German Bundesliga with four, and Spain’s La Liga with three clubs.<br />

Manchester United named world’s most valuable football club! MLS dominates top 50 list - the Messi effect?

<ul><li><keyword id="1734364" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Duff-Phelps">Duff &amp; Phelps</keyword> has undertaken a study to analyze the impact of <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> on the value of <keyword id="6354312" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> Ecosystem, which was estimated in their IPL Brand Valuation Report 2019.</li><li>They have considered various scenarios which were addressed by BCCI President, <keyword id="6507" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saurav-Ganguly">Saurav Ganguly</keyword>, during his press conference over the weekend and estimated the impact on IPL Ecosystem value under each of those scenarios in this note by <keyword id="5571816" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Santosh-N">Santosh N</keyword>, Managing Partner D and P Advisory LLP and external advisor, Duff &amp; Phelps. </li></ul><br />We might just be in the first quarter of 2020, but the year has already seen the unprecedented shutdown of global sports leagues due to COVID19. The last such shut down happened during World War II when all major sporting events across the globe including the Olympics in 1940 &amp; 1944 were cancelled.<br /><br />Major sports leagues across the world including EPL, La Liga, Seria A, NBA, Champions League, bilateral cricket tournaments are suspended at least until the first week of April as governments scramble to contain the spread of the virus which has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. UEFA EURO 2020 and COPA America 2020, the two major football events scheduled to take place this year in June have also been pushed to 2021. Even the Olympics 2020 being held in Japan face the threat of cancellation or postponement if the pandemic does not subside in the next couple of months. More recently, the Indian Super League finals between ATK &amp; Chennaiyin FC had to be played behind closed doors. <br /><br /><keyword id="6354831" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</keyword> (IPL), one of the most keenly awaited events in India has also felt the heat of <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword>, with Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) deciding to postpone the start of IPL season until April 15th with no clear visibility of its start date and a major threat of cancellation looming around. The Government of India and various state governments have mandatorily banned public gatherings in view of public health and safety concerns. The government has also suspended visas from most countries which might impact the availability of foreign players who are a vital cog in the IPL. Given this background, the options before BCCI are somewhat limited.<br /><br />Duff &amp; Phelps has undertaken a study to analyze the impact of COVID19 on the value of IPL Ecosystem, which was estimated in our IPL Brand Valuation Report 2019. We have considered various scenarios which were addressed by BCCI President, Saurav Ganguly, during his press conference over the weekend and have estimated the impact on IPL Ecosystem value under each of those scenarios. <br /><br />The scenarios considered are:<br /><br />1) Scenario 1: Truncated IPL with the number of matches reduced to half, a high possibility as per BCCI.<br /><br />2) Scenario 2: The entire IPL 13 season getting cancelled<br /><br />Our impact analysis has been carried out on the IPL ecosystem value calculated by Duff &amp; Phelps last year which was US$6.8 billion in 2019. The analysis doesn’t reflect the current value of the IPL ecosystem which would have been estimated after considering the factors available post completion of IPL 2020.<br /><br /><strong>Scenario 1:</strong> According to BCCI officials, in case the IPL season commences on April 15th, it will be truncated as more than 15 days would have been lost by that time. In our analysis we have assumed that in a truncated season, each team will play against the other only once, instead of the home &amp; away format, thus reducing the number of league matches by half. We have also factored in two situations - one where the spectators are allowed inside the stadium and another where the matches are played behind closed doors, effectively impacting the in-stadia revenues including gate receipts and food and beverages. The impact of revenue loss on account of lack of gate receipts is negligible on the IPL value. It might in fact benefit the broadcasters if the shutdown persists and more people are forced to spend time at home thus increasing the television audience for IPL, though none of the stakeholders including the broadcasters prefer this option. Further, we have factored in the loss of revenue from broadcasting and sponsorship, as broadcast partners and sponsors will renegotiate the contracts based on the number of matches being played. We have also considered the impact of a truncated tournament on the sale of official merchandising and associated revenues. Overall, under Scenario I, the IPL ecosystem value estimated by us last year is expected to reduce by USD 200 Million to USD 350 Million range (3.0% to 5.0%).<br /><br /><strong>Scenario 2:</strong> Under this scenario we have assumed the possibility of the entire IPL 13 getting cancelled, a high possibility if the current situation persists. This scenario will have a massive impact on the IPL Ecosystem value as it will also consider larger economic and financial consequences.<br /><br />In this scenario, we have considered two sub scenarios. First there is no impact on the next year’s edition and the second, a complete one year set back from revenue perspective for all the stakeholders. In sub scenario 1, we have considered nil cash inflow from the broadcaster or title &amp; associate sponsors for the 2020 season as the same is assumed cancelled. Likewise, franchisees will not receive their share of revenue from central pool nor will they be required to share profits with BCCI as part of their franchise fees. However, we have considered the expenses incurred by BCCI, IPL franchisees and other stakeholders with respect to advertising, promotional events and other general administrative costs including salaries to their non-cricket playing staff, etc. In sub scenario 2, apart from the cashflow impact considered for the 2020 season, we have also considered economic impact due to the one year set back, where we have anticipated that the sponsorship revenues might not grow at desired levels next year due to the current disruption.<br />Under Scenario 2, we estimate the IPL Ecosystem value to reduce by USD 700 Million to USD 1,000 Million range (approx. 10.0% to 15.0%). Our analysis under this scenario does not capture a financial recession like event which would further impact the IPL Ecosystem value.<br /><br /><em><strong>- This note has been written by Santosh N, Managing Partner D and P Advisory LLP and External Advisor, Duff &amp; Phelps</strong></em><br />

COVID-19's impact on IPL 2020: Duff & Phelps

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table full"><div><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></div>Manchester United and Real Madrid have agreed on a $99-million transfer fee for Ángel Di María, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/aug/25/manchester-united-angel-di-maria-transfer-real-madrid">according to the Guardian</a>.</p>
<p>It's the largest fee ever paid by an British team for a player.</p>
<p>Di Mar<span>í</span>a, a 26-year-old Argentinian winger, is one of the best players in the world at his position. He had 17 assists in 27 La Liga starts last year, and was voted man of the match in the Champions League final, which Madrid won.</p>
<p>The record move comes after United stumbled out of the gates in the English Premier League. A loss to Swansea in the opening week was followed up with a draw at Sunderland - a set of results that new coach Louis van Gaal called <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/11054370/Louis-van-Gaal-refuses-to-hide-behind-Manchester-United-penalty-claims-admitting-side-are-not-good-enough.html">"not good enough."</a></p>
<p>United finished seventh in the league last year. It was the worst season for the club since the inception of the Premier League. To turn things around the team has spent an eye-popping $218 million in transfer fees this summer, bringing in Di Mar<span>í</span>a, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo, and Luke Shaw.</p>
<p>If any team in England can afford this sort of spending spree, it's United.</p>
<p>The club <a href="http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/9312551/manchester-united-reveal-record-revenues-in-latest-financial-figures">reported record revenues</a> last May. Since then they've <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/manchester-united-kits-value-2014-7">more than doubled the value of their shirt sponsorship deal</a> and triple the value of their shirt manufacturing deal.</p>

Manchester United Buys Real Madrid Player For A Record $99 Million After Dismal EPL Start

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><p class="source">Jasper Juinen/Getty Images</p></div><p></p></div>According to the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, soccer giant <keyword id="6363543" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Real-Madrid">Real Madrid</keyword> is in talks with Bill Gates about <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/real-madrid/10404930/Real-Madrids-stadium-could-be-renamed-the-Microsoft-Bernabeu-according-to-Spanish-report.html">a deal to grant Microsoft naming rights to its storied stadium</a>, the Bernabéu.</p>
<p>Opened in 1947, the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is named after the man who served as Real Madrid president for 35 years and helped transform the club into one of the dominant players in the world's most popular sport. Since its inception, the Bernabéu has seen Real win 30 Spanish league championships and nine European titles.</p>
<p>Though doing so might anger longtime fans, selling naming rights to the Bernabéu would help Real Madrid <a href="http://as.com/diarioas/2013/09/20/english/1379678400_288387.html">fund a proposed renovation of the stadium that is expected to cost more than $400 million</a>. The club said in May that if it did sell naming rights, <a href="http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2013/05/31/4016023/real-madrid-to-sell-stadium-naming-rights">it would do so in a way that kept Santiago Bernaéu's name beside that of a sponsor</a>.</p>
<p>As it stands, <keyword id="10387" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword> and Real Madrid already have a good working relationship, having collaborated recently <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/es-xl/news/TheRealmadridFoundat.aspx">on projects to bring software and athletic programs to impoverished youth in Latin America</a>. For Microsoft, the move would burnish the company's image as a pioneer and leader in the tech field and allow it to profit from the Real Madrid brand, <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2013/10/11/the-forbes-fab-40-the-worlds-most-valuable-sports-brands-2013-2/">which Forbes has ranked the most valuable in all of sports</a>. The company already has a partial sponsorship of the home stadium of Seattle Sounders, a soccer team that plays on "<a href="http://www.soundersfc.com/team/facilities.aspx">the XBox Pitch at CenturyLink Field</a>."</p>
<p>Though selling naming rights to <keyword id="389124" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="stadiums">stadiums</keyword> came into fashion in the U.S. in the mid-90s with Colorado's Coors Field and Chicago's United Center, the trend was slow to being taken up in European soccer. Though all major soccer teams have a sponsor on their uniforms, no team currently in La Liga, Spain's top soccer league, plays in a stadium named in part for a company.</p>

Report: Bill Gates Is Trying To Convince Real Madrid To Rename Its Stadium 'Microsoft Bernabeu'

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>© AFP/File Roman Kruchinin</span></p><p class="caption">Rafael Marquez has been captain of the Mexican national football team a record four times in the World Cup.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-sanctions-raul-flores-hernandez-and-rafael-marquez-2017-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced sanctions</a> against 22 individuals and 42 businesses in Mexico on Wednesday, alleging the people and firms were part of the network of an alleged drug-cartel operative.</p><p>The US government called it the largest single action it has taken against a Mexican criminal organization, but the most striking part of the announcement for many in Mexico was the inclusion of a legendary soccer star.</p><p>Rafael Alavarez Marquez, known as Rafa Marquez, is considered one of Mexico's most accomplished and celebrated soccer players.</p><p>He debuted in Mexico's premier league in 1996 with Atlas de Guadalajara in Jalisco state, moving to AS Monaco of France's Ligue 1 three years later. In 2003, the defender went to Barcelona, where he earned <a href="http://www.sinembargo.mx/09-08-2017/3281687" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$6.5 million</a> a year and helped take the club to four La Liga and two Champions League victories.</p><p>He left Barcelona in 2010, and after stints in the US, Mexico, and Italy he returned to Atlas, the club where the 38-year-old from Michoacan began his career. <span>"Having Rafael Marquez on the team is amazing," Atlas defender Facundo Erpen <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-football-marquez-mexico-hero-accused-of-cartel-ties-2017-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a>.</span></p><p>He has been a member of Mexico's national team since 1997 and a captain since 2002, scoring <a href="https://apnews.com/4eac63ec42f34d589948082cd7aae5b3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">13 goals</a> in 158 appearances. He has also played in four World Cups and hoped to lead the team to a fifth next year - a goal that is now in serious doubt.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)</span></p><p class="caption">Mexico's Rafael Marquez celebrates after scoring the first goal for his team during a group A World Cup soccer match between Croatia and Mexico at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, June 23, 2014. Mexico won 3-1.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Once his career as a player was over, he was set to take on a high-profile role in Mexico soccer, Tom Marshall, a Guadalajara-based Mexican soccer expert, told Vice News. The accusations against him came as a "<a href="https://news.vice.com/story/mexicos-biggest-soccer-legend-accused-by-u-s-of-laundering-drug-money" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">massive shock</a>," Marshall said.</p><p>"This is really bad, because he is a role model for children," Fernando, a young man in a Barcelona shirt, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-football-marquez-mexico-hero-accused-of-cartel-ties-2017-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told AFP</a>. Mexico City shoeshine man Mario Rodriguez <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-football-marquez-mexico-hero-accused-of-cartel-ties-2017-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a> the allegation was "absurd, nonsense."</p><p>"In his best version, he has been a incomparable footballer, maybe the best that Mexico has produced," <a href="http://www.letraslibres.com/espana-mexico/cultura/la-caida-rafa-marquez" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">writes</a> Leon Krauze, a journalist and author who has chronicled the world of Mexican soccer.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0144.aspx">US Treasury/Office of Foreign Assets Control</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The accusations leveled against him involve his alleged role as a front man for an organization led by Raul Flores Hernandez, a "<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-sanctions-raul-flores-hernandez-and-rafael-marquez-2017-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">smooth as butter</a>" operator who has allegedly worked with the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels as a money launderer over the last 30 years.</p><p>Flores Hernandez was <a href="https://elpais.com/internacional/2017/08/09/mexico/1502298983_022900.html?id_externo_rsoc=TW_CM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">arrested</a> in the US in 2001 on marijuana charges, serving two months of a 10-month sentence.</p><p>In 2010, the Mexican government offered <a href="http://www.animalpolitico.com/2017/08/raul-flores-hernandez-narcotraficante-rafa-marquez-julion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">5 million pesos</a> in exchange for information leading to his capture in relation to organized-crime charges. He was arrested in 2013 but was released in 2015.</p><p>Mexican authorities again arrested him on July 20, holding him south of Mexico City until August 10, when he was transferred to Altiplano maximum-security prison west of the capital.</p><p>The businesses linked to Flores Hernandez included a soccer team - which <a href="http://www.animalpolitico.com/2017/08/raul-flores-hernandez-narcotraficante-rafa-marquez-julion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">listed him</a> as its president in 2008 and appears to have helped US investigators <a href="http://www.cancha.com/aplicacioneslibre/articulo/default.aspx?id=1183211&amp;md5=368e8977887d4f595d6b2778bc8c48c1&amp;ta=0dfdbac11765226904c16cb9ad1b2efe&amp;lcmd5=7b390c4951f3e50cae897de54c2e3dd3&amp;v=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">link him</a> to Marquez - as well as a casino, bars, and restaurants.</p><p>Nine of the 42 companies were linked to Marquez, almost all of them in Guadalajara, which has become <a href="https://news.vice.com/article/the-city-of-guadalajara-is-the-money-laundering-capital-of-mexico" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a hub for money laundering</a> in Mexico. They included a soccer school, health and fitness centers, and his Rafa Marquez Foundation, officially called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FundacionRafaMarquez/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Futbol y Corazón, AC.</a></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="Rafael Marquez Foundation" title_caption="The banner image from the Rafael Marquez Foundation Facebook page." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/598cec41cb9701af0b8b471b-960/rafael marquez foundation.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FundacionRafaMarquez/">Rafael Marquez Foundation</a></span></p><p class="caption">The banner image from the Rafael Marquez Foundation Facebook page.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The foundation was started in 2005, and, <a href="http://www.animalpolitico.com/2017/08/pgr-asegura-2-empresas-la-presunta-red-lavado-rafael-marquez-senaladas-eu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">according</a> to Mexican news site Animal Politico, it is currently run by his mother, Rosa Alicia Alvarez, who is also a federal legislator from the Ecologist Green Party.</p><p>The foundation <a href="http://www.sinembargo.mx/09-08-2017/3281687" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">seeks</a> "to promote the integral development of girls and boys 3 to 16 years old in different marginalized communities in the country, with the end of helping to improve their quality of life, promoting the equality of opportunities and the reduction of social vices like alcoholism, drug addiction, child prostitution and abuse." It has three centers in Jalisco and Michoacan.</p><p>The foundation has <a href="http://www.animalpolitico.com/2017/08/pgr-asegura-2-empresas-la-presunta-red-lavado-rafael-marquez-senaladas-eu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">received</a> funding from the Mexican federal government as well as from Jalisco and Michoacan state governments, in addition to donations <a href="http://www.sinembargo.mx/09-08-2017/3281687" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">from abroad</a>.</p><p>The federal Public Education Secretariat has given it <a href="http://www.animalpolitico.com/2017/08/pgr-asegura-2-empresas-la-presunta-red-lavado-rafael-marquez-senaladas-eu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">millions of pesos</a> for youth education and sports programs in Jalisco. In 2013, the federal Social Development Secretariat <a href="https://elpais.com/internacional/2017/08/10/mexico/1502330161_641661.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">gave the organization</a> just under 5 million pesos to aid 350 children in poverty. In November that year, the Jalisco state government donated 1.8 million pesos for food, education, and consultant services.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Henry Romero</span></p><p class="caption">Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, right, applauds next to national soccer team captain Rafael Marquez during a ceremony attended by Mexico's soccer players and coaches at the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City, May 27, 2014, prior to the country's participation in the World Cup in Brazil.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>According to Spanish newspaper El País, the foundation's donations <a href="https://elpais.com/internacional/2017/08/10/mexico/1502330161_641661.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">increased</a> nearly fourfold between 2010 and 2015, rising from 4.6 million pesos to 23.3 million. The amount exceeded what similar organizations saw and came despite a 2013 Mexican federal <keyword id="6355470" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="law">law</keyword> meant to put more scrutiny on nonprofit donations by requiring donors of gifts over a certain value be named.</p><p>"There are many organizations from very high-quality educational institutions that have told me that after the new law many [donors] no longer want to donate to them because they have to be identified," Angelica Ortiz Dorantes, a specialist in asset-laundering prevention, <a href="https://elpais.com/internacional/2017/08/10/mexico/1502330161_641661.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told</a> El País.</p><p>The foundation's last annual report, issued for 2014, tallied total income at 21,899,510 pesos - 19.4 million of which was in cash. The same document reported total outlays of 21,094,198 pesos. In 2015, <a href="http://www.sinembargo.mx/09-08-2017/3281687" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">according</a> to Sin Embargo, the Peña Nieto administration waived for the foundation a debt of over 100,000 pesos related to an unpaid fine.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>© AFP/File FRANCK FIFE</span></p><p class="caption">Mexico captain and star defender Rafael Marquez was placed on a US blacklist for allegedly acting as a "front man" for a Guadalajara drug cartel.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Marquez is the highest-profile figure to be designated under the Kingpin Act, which was introduced during the Clinton administration.</p><p>But Animal Politico <a href="http://www.animalpolitico.com/2017/08/pgr-asegura-2-empresas-la-presunta-red-lavado-rafael-marquez-senaladas-eu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">identified</a> other players and coaches linked to businesses on the US government's black list. Among them is Pavel Pardo, a national-team member from Guadalajara.</p><p>While <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-sanctions-raul-flores-hernandez-and-rafael-marquez-2017-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">it's not surprising</a> someone like Flores Hernandez would've been drawn to a soccer star like Marquez, the depth and breadth of Flores Hernandez's involvement in criminal activity make it hard to imagine the footballer would not have been aware of his dealings, Mike Vigil, former chief of international operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration, <a href="https://apnews.com/4eac63ec42f34d589948082cd7aae5b3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told</a> the Associated Press.</p><p>But OFAC designations are administrative, not judicial, penalties. Marquez's assets have not been seized, just frozen, and he does not currently face criminal charges. Diego Petersen, a columnist for El Informador newspaper in Guadalajara, <a href="https://news.vice.com/story/mexicos-biggest-soccer-legend-accused-by-u-s-of-laundering-drug-money" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">told Vice News</a> that judgment should be held until all the facts were known.</p><p>"In Mexico money launderers present themselves as successful entrepreneurs," he said. "They meet with politicians and they're celebrated by the business class. It's possible he could have done business without them without realizing it was dirty money."</p><p>"The inclusion of someone on the lists ... of the government of the United States is not synonymous with culpability," Mexican security analyst Alejandro Hope <a href="http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/entrada-de-opinion/articulo/alejandro-hope/nacion/2017/08/10/el-capo-desconocido-siete-apuntes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">notes</a>. "The accusations of US agencies are not the revealed truth: the gringos also are wrong and also lie."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="US Treasury/Office of Foreign Assets Control" title_caption="Companies linked to Rafael Marquez that US authorities believe are linked to the Flores Hernandez criminal organization." class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/598da86acb97012b008b4aa3-960/screen shot 2017-08-11 at 85031 am.png"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span>US Treasury/Office of Foreign Assets Control</span></p><p class="caption">Companies linked to Rafael Marquez that US authorities believe are linked to the Flores Hernandez criminal organization.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>OFAC designees <a href="https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/petitions.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">can petition</a> to be removed from the list, but it is a protracted process. Should US authorities still decline, Marquez could go before a civil judge, but then the evidence and arguments would be public record, <a href="http://www.milenio.com/firmas/carlos_puig/jodido-futuro-rafa_marquez-lista_de_ofac-milenio_18_1009879008.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">according</a> to Mexican journalist Carlos Puig.</p><p>Speaking to the press on Wednesday night, Marquez <a href="http://www.espnfc.com/mexican-liga-mx/story/3175961/mexicos-rafael-marquez-among-22-sanctioned-for-drug-trafficking-ties" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a>, <span>"I've never participated in any of these organizations that have been mentioned in these reports." He added that he considered it his duty to assist authorities and the US and Mexican governments and asked for respect for his family.</span></p><p><span>"This is my most difficult game," he <a href="https://news.vice.com/story/mexicos-biggest-soccer-legend-accused-by-u-s-of-laundering-drug-money" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a>. "I'll try to clear all this up as soon as I can."</span></p><p>The Mexican Football Federation released a measured statement on Thursday, speaking highly of Marquez and <a href="http://www.femexfut.org.mx/#/Noticia/17769" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">saying</a>: "We are confident that Rafael Marquez will clarify the situation before the proper authorities, which we will support to be done in a fast and effective way."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>(AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz)</span></p><p class="caption">Rafael Marquez Alvarez arrives for a press conference to deny accusations of ties to drug trafficking, at Atlas Football Club in Guadalajara, August 9, 2017.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Marquez did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, and his club, Atlas de Guadalajara, has <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-atlas-hopes-marquez-can-rejoin-team-after-us-allegations-2017-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a> it hopes for a resolution that allows him to rejoin the team but that he will be off the field until then.</p><p>"We are confident that Rafael Marquez will have the guarantees of due process in order to confront the recent accusations," the team <a href="https://twitter.com/atlasfc/status/895740261933961217/photo/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a> in a statement.</p><p>But the team has proposed <a href="http://www.cancha.com/aplicacioneslibre/articulo/default.aspx?id=1183211&amp;md5=368e8977887d4f595d6b2778bc8c48c1&amp;ta=0dfdbac11765226904c16cb9ad1b2efe&amp;lcmd5=7b390c4951f3e50cae897de54c2e3dd3&amp;v=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">terminating</a> its relationship with Marquez, as it has no way to pay him since Mexico's finance ministry, in accordance with the US action, has frozen his accounts in Mexico. Nike and Gillette have also <a href="http://www.cancha.com/aplicacioneslibre/articulo/default.aspx?id=1183211&amp;md5=368e8977887d4f595d6b2778bc8c48c1&amp;ta=0dfdbac11765226904c16cb9ad1b2efe&amp;lcmd5=7b390c4951f3e50cae897de54c2e3dd3&amp;v=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">canceled</a> their sponsorships of Marquez in accordance with the sanctions.</p><p>Marquez has not been convicted of anything and faces no charges, and Mexico's Justice Ministry <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-us-links-mexico-football-captain-marquez-to-drug-cartel-2017-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a> he voluntary presented himself to authorities. OFAC designations are reviewed by US government agencies but not by a judge and <a href="http://www.milenio.com/firmas/carlos_puig/jodido-futuro-rafa_marquez-lista_de_ofac-milenio_18_1009879008.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">are not subject</a> to the high evidentiary standards of a criminal court case.</p><p>But for many, his inclusion is nonetheless a blemish.</p><p>"Marquez was the silent proof that in Mexico there are ways to resist the siren song of dirty money," Krauze <a href="http://www.letraslibres.com/espana-mexico/cultura/la-caida-rafa-marquez" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">writes</a>. The path he embodied is "closed now with crashing, unmistakable confirmation, for millions of Mexican youths, that nobody can escape the serpentine bite of the narco life."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/drone-footage-rio-olympic-maracana-stadium-ghost-town-brazil-fifa-soccer-2017-1">Watch drone footage of Rio's Olympic stadium that's now become a ghost town</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

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