04/25/24
May 27, 2010
UEFA sets rules to curb soccer clubs’ spending: Just in time for the World Cup, Platini pushes through what is essentially a salary cap for European clubs. Within a few years, if these rules do come into effect, the mega-million Euros transfer fees will pass into history. No more borrowing $310 million to buy the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Xabi Alonso in one Summer.
posted by billsaysthis to soccer at 04:29 PM - 4 comments
It looks like an attempt to control debt, a bit like the way Bundesliga clubs are regulated. This is obviously a good idea, and I wish UEFA luck.
It also looks like they have conceded that as a football association, they don't have control over private companies or each countries' financial legislation/regulations, which is why the sanctions to be applied relate to things like banning clubs from entering the Champions League, which they do control.
Given what has happened before, how long until a club takes UEFA to court? Also, noting how in other places clubs try and get around things like salary caps, how transparent will be each club's accounts? I don't envy the financial investigators' jobs, and the fact that every country in Europe will have different standards and systems of financial reporting.
posted by owlhouse at 05:51 PM on May 27, 2010
I heard about this on BBC news this morning, and I thought one of the ideas to get around a "salary cap" (which is easy to get around) was to limit the roster sizes. Granted, as owlhouse pointed out, these types of things have to be enacted by the different leagues.
posted by scully at 06:01 PM on May 27, 2010
how long until a club takes UEFA to court?
Though it feels as if the former G14/18 members aren't anywhere near the position they were back in the mid-2000s, where there was talk of dictating terms to UEFA. There's dissent from fans towards leveraged buyouts, and disquiet in national associations about how the arrival of billionaires at the top creates a climate for more Portsmouth-style situations.
posted by etagloh at 02:38 PM on May 28, 2010
I haven't read the details, but I like the idea.