Sustainability, the only winning formula in football

It was months ago when it happened but it could easily have happened yesterday. I have this conversation fresh in my mind. It was precisely a French guy friend of mine who first told me about new UEFA regulations for club spendings. A new rule designed by the French football myth, Michel Platini, now UEFA president. We were chatting while eating a greasy and tasty Kentucky Fried Chicken in the interval of a night out in London. “This Platini is a genius, mate. He knows that the biggest European Football clubs are living beyond their means and that could collapse the game itself. Everyone is spending and they don´t care about having money cos they can easily be loaned money. He is decided to take action and that will mean a huge change in football as we know it”, related. He was grateful to Platini as he thinks that the new rules will help French clubs to progress and be more competitives as they historically have been wisely conscious with their spendings -which is something to be seen. After that day I see football from a very different perspective.

Basically, these regulations are aimed at “bringing about a situation which curbs the excessive spending and inflated transfer fees and player salaries that have endangered football in recent years”. They call for “greater discipline and more rational financial behaviour from clubs, and encourage clubs to operate more responsibly by not spending more than they earn, while settling their liabilities punctually”, as the content itself states. Clubs with important debts will face bans from the UEFA meaning that they won´t be allowed to play European football until they don´t balance their books. Michel Platini has vowed to be strict with clubs not abiding the new regulations. Without giving names, he implied that he won´t be lenient to European big guns.

The Financial Fair Play rule represent a huge blow to Europe´s most powerful clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Inter Milano, Chelsea, Juventus, Milano et al. They are, season after season, within the list of the big spenders and they will have to look carefully every signing when the new regulations will come into force. Specially concerned should be Sheik Mansour´s Manchester City. The club has been investing huge amounts of money since the Abu Dhabi group took over the Estlands side two years ago. Based on the premise of reaching the Champions League Manchester City has continued their spending spree one more season and that will probably get the club into trouble, facing UEFA axe because of the Financial Fair Play rule. The Sheik Mansour´s method has transformed Manchester City from an unsuccessful but economically healthy club to one equally unsuccessful –so far- where the income is nowhere near to their expenses. This has created an increasing debt that could cost the club a place in European competition next year. It is understood that the club has put its faith in reaching the Champions League as a way of increasing their revenue through TV rights, matchday tickets, merchandising and bonuses from playing this competition. However, Manchester City´s method based in year by year spending spree could be a disease instead of a cure to failure.

UEFA is highly concerned about overseas investors who take over big European clubs and put their money in for signings as loans. UEFA spokesmen have explained several times that the arrival of highly successfull business tycoons might mean happiness just for a while if these people suddenly become sick and tired of the game and decide to withdraw their money leaving the clubs with huge debts, on the verge of bankruptcy and finally dying. Luckily, after years of a happy-go-lucky mentality, there is some sense of responsibility within the head of European football. Clubs have to face reality and fans too. There´s no more room for magicians and charlatans in today´s football. There is just one winning formula in this game: sustainability. So be worry if a group of US, Qatari, Saudi, Thai or Abu Dhabi investors have put their sights on your club. They don´t know about loyalty to club-colours nor the link between a football team and a city. They just see money and profits. Liverpool fans know a thing or two about football and they don´t wont more Americans ruling their club. Perhaps every supporter should follow their example.