Manchester United say the coronavirus pandemic has cost them an initial £28m - and expect the final figure to be far higher.
United revealed their third-quarter results to 31 March on Thursday.
Chief
financial officer Cliff Baty said they are set to hand back £20m in TV
revenue to broadcasters even if the Premier League season is completed. United lost an additional £8m over the final three weeks of March, when they had three matches postponed.
A total of 11 United matches have been postponed because of the pandemic. Speaking
in a conference call after the latest financial results were released,
Baty explained that Premier League television broadcasters would get
£20m back from the club because of changes in dates and kick-off times
resulting from the pandemic.
With games called off - including
matches in the Europa League and FA Cup - Baty said that sponsorship
revenues had "contracted", and that retail sales had been "impacted"
with the club store at Old Trafford still closed.
He added that match day revenues were "significantly impacted", with an acceptance
games will be played behind closed doors for the foreseeable future.
Postponement of Tottenham game 'cost £4m'
United
have refused to put a figure on what the anticipated overall financial
cost of the pandemic will be ultimately - but executive vice-chairman Ed
Woodward said the major burden would fall in the current quarter, which
runs to 30 June.
"Our third-quarter results reflect a partial
impact that the pandemic has had on the club but the greater impact will
be in the current quarter and likely beyond," said Woodward.
Revenues for the quarter fell by 18.7% to £123.7m. The club's debt rose by £124.4m to £429.1m.
Baty said the postponement of the Premier League trip to Tottenham on 15 March cost United £4m alone.
"These are unprecedented times and we must recognize that this crisis will not disappear overnight," said Woodward.
"However,
our club is built on a solid foundation. We remain firmly optimistic
about the long-term prospects for the club once we have worked our way
through what is undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary and testing
periods in the 142-year history of Manchester United."
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