Business owners across the capital today warned that next month’s World Cup in Brazil will hit their profits.
England boss Roy Hodgson may not even have picked his final squad but already senior business managers are preparing for a drop in productivity. Overall, 63% of small and medium-sized companies responding to a survey said they expected the tournament to have a negative impact.
Mike Randall, chief executive of Close Brothers Asset Finance, which conducted the research, said: “Many of the matches will be televised late at night in the UK and, as a result, some fans may be tempted to take unauthorised absences.
“The relaxed licensing laws for England games will allow bars to stay open later and this will have an impact felt by small businesses.”
