UEFA benchmarking report: 16% increase in clubs' equity in 2012 due to financial fair play rules

The total reported assets of European top division clubs were €23.2bn at the end of the 2011-12 season (or 2012 for championships played in the calendar year), according to the Sixth Club Licensing Benchmarking Report, published by UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) on 17/04/2014.

This amount represents an increase of €1.4bn (+6.4%) compared to the financial year 2011 (€21.8bn). This growth is primarily driven by the increase in fixed assets (+9%), which increased from €6.6bn in 2011 to €7.2bn in 2012. Fixed assets (31% of total assets) and player assets (23%), together constitute the majority (54%) of the assets of European clubs.

Debts amounted to €19.3bn in 2012, an increase of €1bn (+5.5%), compared to the previous financial year (€18.3bn). The 19% decrease in borrowing from shareholders and related parties (€2.6bn in 2011 and down to €2.1bn a year later) was offset by the 23.5% increase in borrowing from financial institutions (€5.1bn increasing to €6.3bn). Long-term debt was 53% of clubs' total debts. Debt represented 83.2% of clubs' assets in 2012, versus 84.9% a…