Platini reservations over foreign takeovers
UEFA president Michel Platini is planning a series of talks about the wave of foreign takeovers sweeping through football.
Platini, elected as president of the European governing body a fortnight ago, wants to make sure clubs are not falling into the hands of businessmen who just want to make a profit.
Liverpool's takeover by American tycoons George Gillett and Tom Hicks this week means seven Barclays Premiership clubs are now in the hands of foreign owners - Manchester United, Chelsea , Aston Villa, West Ham, Portsmouth and Fulham are the others.
UEFA communications director William Gaillard believes Liverpool's new owners appear to have the interests of the club at heart - but has added there are concerns about the overall trend.
Gaillard told said: 'Michel Platini has doubts whether this is good for football.
'This is why he wants to have consultation with the whole football family - clubs, leagues, players and so on - so we understand a bit better in which direction football is moving.
'The interests of the game should be paramount, and we want to avoid football clubs becoming objects of speculation.
'At this stage we don't have a model to follow; we will develop it with the whole football family.'
Gaillard reasons the commercial opportunities mean a new type of club owner is becoming commonplace.
He added: 'Times have changed. It used to be local captains of industry who owned clubs, or clubs were owned by fans - as they have been in Spain.
'We now have a situation where people are investing in clubs because they see them as a way to make money. In the past, it was a way to spend money.
'If they want to invest in football because they love football, that's fine. But if we have a situation where someone buys a club and sells the stadium for real-estate development, sells all the players, goes home and cashes in that would be terrible.'
Platini, elected as president of the European governing body a fortnight ago, wants to make sure clubs are not falling into the hands of businessmen who just want to make a profit.
Liverpool's takeover by American tycoons George Gillett and Tom Hicks this week means seven Barclays Premiership clubs are now in the hands of foreign owners - Manchester United, Chelsea , Aston Villa, West Ham, Portsmouth and Fulham are the others.
UEFA communications director William Gaillard believes Liverpool's new owners appear to have the interests of the club at heart - but has added there are concerns about the overall trend.
Gaillard told said: 'Michel Platini has doubts whether this is good for football.
'This is why he wants to have consultation with the whole football family - clubs, leagues, players and so on - so we understand a bit better in which direction football is moving.
'The interests of the game should be paramount, and we want to avoid football clubs becoming objects of speculation.
'At this stage we don't have a model to follow; we will develop it with the whole football family.'
Gaillard reasons the commercial opportunities mean a new type of club owner is becoming commonplace.
He added: 'Times have changed. It used to be local captains of industry who owned clubs, or clubs were owned by fans - as they have been in Spain.
'We now have a situation where people are investing in clubs because they see them as a way to make money. In the past, it was a way to spend money.
'If they want to invest in football because they love football, that's fine. But if we have a situation where someone buys a club and sells the stadium for real-estate development, sells all the players, goes home and cashes in that would be terrible.'
posted by MHLAraujo at
04:17
1 Comments:
apologies.
vile "american" ownership is not bad for the premiereship.
in a free market, the best product will succeed. whether american or "foreign".
the premiership will benefit as a whole from a more aggressive and holistic ownership. it is time to regulate player control over the league.
hats off to the foreigners. a drink to you all. liverpool will dominate those I-talians in a sick way.
MOTHERFUCKERS!
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