Is timeshare ownership in football a model that has run its course?

Timeshare ownership is when a single investor owns several football clubs in different leagues.

This model has become established in Europe over the last ten years with groups like City Football Group or Red Bull.

But today, the question is divisive: engine of growth or danger to sporting fairness?

A rapidly expanding model

Manchester City, Girona, Troyes, Melbourne City… all united under the banner of the City Football Group.

Red Bull Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg dominate Germany and Austria.

These examples are no longer isolated: more than 180 clubs are said to be affected in Europe.

Objective: to create synergies between clubs, facilitate training, streamline transfers and maximize overall profitability.

For investors, it's a way to secure their assets. For clubs, it's a promise of resources and infrastructure.

The profits shown

Pooling of resources: sharing of data, training methods, scouting.

Career opportunities: young players can progress to different clubs within the same network.

International visibility: associated brands benefit from global exposure.

In theory, timeshare offers a structured and professional framework.
But behind these advantages lie serious concerns…

The excesses and concerns

Risk of conflicts of interest: what happens if two clubs with the same owner meet in the Champions League?

Pressure on fairness: independent clubs struggle with significantly fewer resources. Threatened identity: some supporters fear their club will become a mere “subsidiary” of a large group.

Timeshare ownership is no longer just an investment tool, it is reshaping the global football ecosystem… sometimes at the expense of its essence.

The French case: towards regulation?

In France, members of parliament have recently proposed banning timeshare ownership to protect the integrity of competitions.

Their argument: to preserve sporting fairness and prevent football from becoming a market dominated by a few financial giants.

Others, on the contrary, believe that banning this model would weaken the attractiveness of Ligue 1, which is already struggling against the major European leagues.

The debate is on: should we regulate to protect the game… or adapt to the globalization of football?

Conclusion / Open Question

Timeshare ownership is both an economic opportunity and a sporting threat.

It raises a fundamental question: do we want football run like a multinational corporation, or do we want to preserve the soul of independent clubs?

And you, do you think that timeshare threatens football… or that it is an opportunity for its development?