Club debts could lead to European ban

[Leyton388]

The Sunday Times 17/1

Club debts could lead to European ban
Leading English sides could be excluded from the Champions League if a Uefa proposal to limit overspending is successful

LIVERPOOL and Manchester United would be banned from the Champions League if Michel Platini’s “Financial Fair Play” criteria for European club competitions were introduced, according to senior sources within Uefa. Manchester City and Chelsea would also be at risk, despite their owners having paid off their debts recently.
......

THE BIG DEBTORS

£727m Manchester United
£609m Real Madrid* (Real claim only £296m)
£436m Barcelona*
£386m Internazionale*
£348m AC Milan*
£297.7m Arsenal
£240m approx Liverpool
£147m Juventus*
£136m Roma*
£96m Bayern Munich*
£0 Chelsea, after £340m write-off, announced Dec 2009
£0 Man City, after £305m debt-to-equity write-off, announced Jan 2010

This is in the paper this morning. I tell you what i would love to see how much tv and sponsorship money UEFA gets if those clubs were banned from the CL. As under the proposed ruling they would all be banned from Europe.

If this come into force i can just see these clubs starting a super league which would spell the end of uefas precious CL. IMO no one other than Platini would vote for this as the consequences for uefa are pretty big.

[Darkon]

If they go through with it, then it would probably be over a number of years, so clubs can have the time to adjust to it.

Otherwise it would def. end up in a superleague type outside UEFA control

That said, I honestly think it would be a good thing for football overall if clubs had the same regulations to follow by in the financial part to level the playing field. The problem with this type of regulation is that it will do nothing essentially, because the big clubs will still have the biggest sponsors, more gate receipts, merchandise sales etc. etc.

If the want "fair financial play" they have to look in to limiting the spendings of each club on wages, signing on fees etc. I know the idea is that it will affect it indirectly, but I just don't see that happening from that.

[redstaralex]

it's all bollocks, no way way this get through

[Exiled_red]

I can't see it happening, it would put alot of restrictions on clubs relating to new grounds etc

Plus as pointed out above preventing all these big clubs (either now or later) from playing in Europe will just bring a European Super League closer.

[fah-q]

I think the rule is justified but it should have a lower limit of (pulls figure from the air) £726m. Anything below is acceptable.

[lickedlollipop]

it's all bollocks, no way way this get through

I can't see it happening, it would put alot of restrictions on clubs relating to new grounds etc

Plus as pointed out above preventing all these big clubs (either now or later) from playing in Europe will just bring a European Super League closer.

[el matador]

Platini would somehow find a way of getting rid of all the english clubs but keeping real madrid, barcelona and the italian clubs.

It makes you wonder how such a great player became such a tosspot.

[The Glove]

He is French mate, they hate the English.


Surely the rule would only apply to teams whose debt increases tho? While most teams are in debt, if its coming down then it'd be wrong to punish them right?

[Norbs]

I think the rule is justified but it should have a lower limit of (pulls figure from the air) £726m. Anything below is acceptable.

An in addition the manager of said clubs should be beheaded

[el matador]

He is French mate, they hate the English.


Surely the rule would only apply to teams whose debt increases tho? While most teams are in debt, if its coming down then it'd be wrong to punish them right?

can you imagine a champions league without man u, chelsea, liverpool, real madrid, barcelona, inter, ac and juventus.

The final would be porton v lyon every year. There would be more interest in the europa which gives me more heart for this seasons campaign.

Michel tu est un vin buvant clochard qui pu de merde. (really poor grammar but wtf)

[Mattshark]

I think the rule is justified but it should have a lower limit of (pulls figure from the air) £726m. Anything below is acceptable.

[Kenneth]

I think the rule is justified but it should have a lower limit of (pulls figure from the air) £726m. Anything below is acceptable.

Nah, it's bollocks. They call it financial fair play and penalise clubs that are running like perferly normal businesses, raising private finance, yet ignore clubs that are just billionaire toys. How is that supposed to be fair? It does the opposite of what it should be doing and favours clubs who spend without any relation to their income.

[Craig_H]

I'd love to see Uefa try to have a CL without those clubs. It'd be **** and the sponsors would run a mile.

[Tatterdemalion]

Nah, it's bollocks. They call it financial fair play and penalise clubs that are running like perferly normal businesses, raising private finance, yet ignore clubs that are just billionaire toys. How is that supposed to be fair? It does the opposite of what it should be doing and favours clubs who spend without any relation to their income.

Is correct, but Platini won't see it that way because he's an air-head.