A group of financial institutions is fighting to play a leading role in the €7bn pandemic relief fund being set up by Uefa, football’s European governing body, with shortlisted lenders racing to meet the deadline for proposals to provide finance for the region’s clubs.
Banks Goldman Sachs and Macquarie and private equity firm Apollo are among those competing to take part in a new club-funding programme created by Uefa, according to several people with knowledge of the process, a key step towards establishing the fund.
The cash will be distributed to top teams that participate in its competitions such as the Champions League, European football’s most prestigious club contest.