Clubs in the UK Premier League posted an all-time high aggregate pre-tax loss of around £1 billion in the 2019/20 season due to the pandemic.

The combined revenues of the 20 teams in the elite declined for the first time in history by 13% to £4.5 billion, according to findings by Deloitte.

Matches played behind closed doors, a delay to the season being completed and rebates to broadcasters all impacted Clubs’ income, City AM reports.

According to Head of the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, Dan Jones: “The decrease in revenue in the 2019-20 season is, unsurprisingly, down to the global economic and social disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and will continue to have a heavy impact on the 2020-21 season’s financial results.

“The absence of fans, postponement of matches and rebates to broadcasters had a significant impact on the revenue clubs have been able to generate.”

The collective matchday revenue from Premier league clubs – stemming from fans attending and spending during matches – declined 13%.

Fans returned to Premier League grounds for the final two rounds of matches at the end of the 2020-21 campaign when up to 10,000 were permitted to attend, BBC reports.

In addition, broadcast revenue, which was impacted by repayments made to Sky and BT for schedule disruption fell 24%.

Less than one in four top-flight clubs registered a pre-tax profit.

Jones went on to add: “The full financial impact of the pandemic on the Premier League will depend on the timing of the return of fans to stadia in significant numbers and the ability of clubs to maintain and develop their commercial relationships, in particular at a time when many other industries are suffering. 

“Matchday operations are a cornerstone of a club’s business model and fans’ absence will be more fully reflected in the financial results of the 2020-21 financial year, covering a larger period of the pandemic.”

He continued: “Nonetheless, and with the recent announcement of a renewal of the Premier League’s domestic broadcast rights on similar terms to those currently in place, once fans are able to return in full, hopefully during the 2021-22 season, Premier League clubs have the potential to again return to record revenue levels.”