Football's Magic Money Tree

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Fri Jun 28, 2019 1:06 pm

Taking loans out against future income is nothing new - even in modern football were season tickets, transfer fees and tv income are all used as collateral - it does carry a cost, but not one that many seem to bother about. There is always the business argument that that the money can be made to work harder and for greater reward than if you had it sat in the bank, but as I regularly argue football is not like other businesses, we are currently in a time of enormous outgoings (wages, transfer fees, out of season infrastructure upgrades and maintenance) with little incoming for many. @KieranMaguirre has been reporting what seems like a lot of payday lending (that is what it is effectively, albeit with better rates of interest) which makes me glad that we have an unusually strong cash position for a club our size and therefore do not currently (we have done it in the recent past) have to borrow to the same degree.

It happens even at clubs that exist purely at the largesse of their owners

Brighton
https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 4081943552" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Leicester
https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 3201333254" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Middlesbrough
https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 1436512257" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

EDIT - even Man City

https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 9403225089" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Fri Jun 28, 2019 3:24 pm

A chart that clearly underlines the financial mess at AC Milan - no wonder that the owner ended up defaulting on a loan, and lost the club as that the security on the loan

https://twitter.com/Football_BM/status/ ... 7456303104" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Fri Jun 28, 2019 3:26 pm

PSG have been signing quite a few new sponsorship deals recently, but this is a big one

https://twitter.com/Lu_Class_/status/11 ... 7349104641" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Fri Jun 28, 2019 3:42 pm

With Juventus apparently winning the race for De Ligt net wages no one else is prepared to match and apparently very keen on Pogba returning, you wonder how it is possible - on top of Ronaldo joining last season. Well the Italian senate has made it easier, Italy now has it's version of the now revoked "Beckham Law" in Spain, whereby tax rules for foreign "athletes" are made exceptionally favourable.

https://twitter.com/malvestefano/status ... 8903563264" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Expect Italian football to enjoy a bit of a resurgence

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Fri Jun 28, 2019 7:23 pm

It has been suspected that the Aston Villa owners would sell and lease back Villa Park to help manage FFP, ever since Derby announced that Mel Morris had bought Pride Park to lease back to the club. The club have now confirmed that this happened 5 weeks ago - from OffthePitch.com

New filing reveals that Aston Villa sold stadium to owners 5 weeks ago - by Mark Bisson - 28 June 2019 2:34 PM

- The filings explains why Villa has been so confident about not breaching the FFP rules.
- Villa Park sold for £56.7 million to NSWE Stadium Limited.
- More than three weeks after stadium ownership changed hands, CEO Christian Purslow didn't make any mention of the sale at a fans consultation group meeting.

Updated (15:25) Aston Villa have sold Villa Park to their NSWE Stadium Limited in an apparent bid to avoid breaching the EFL’s financial fair play rules.

A filing at the Land Registry on June 6, which has not been made public by Villa, states that ownership of the ground transferred from the club to NSWE Stadium Limited on May 21st for £56.7 million.

The company was set up by Villa’s owners some time ago as Recon Football Limited.

will only appear in Villa’s accounts next year
But in May its name was changed to NSWE Stadium Limited, suggested the club’s new owners, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, were preparing for a possible sale and leaseback of the stadium.

NSWE Stadium Limited is outside of the club’s group of companies.

Villa's accounts
How much the stadium has been sold above the book value for and how much the club spends leasing it back will only appear in Villa’s accounts next year.

The filing surfaced as Aston Villa’s plans to regenerate the area around Villa Park, including plans for a museum or hotel, were unveiled by the Birmingham Mail.

Villa CEO Christian Purslow failed to declare the stadium sale plan at the June 11th Fans Consultation Group meeting.

He was asked if Villa had any plans to sell and lease back Villa Park, similar to what Derby County did with Pride Park, a move which helped the East Midlands club post pre-tax profits of £14.6 million in their 2017/18 accounts and avoid FFP sanctions.

Cheating FFP rules
In the minutes to the Fans Consultation Group meeting, Villa responded: “The club and our owners have no intention whatsoever of selling the stadium to a third party.”

Derby County’s stadium was on the club’s books for £41 million but sold for £80 million to another company owned by club chairman Mel Morris. It was then leased back to the club for around £40 million.

Without going into any detail, Purslow also told fans at the meeting that the club’s battle to escape a possible points deduction or hefty fine for cheating FFP rules was over.

“Mr Purslow informed the meeting the EFL Finance Department has confirmed that, subject to the final audit of our accounts, Aston Villa’s 2018-19 accounts are compliant with the EFL’s Profitability and Sustainability Regulations,” the minutes of the meeting stated.

Declined to respond
In March, Villa chiefs admitted they faced “significant challenges” to avoid being punished by the EFL for cheating the FFP system.

League rules allow for clubs to post losses of up to £39 million over a three-year period. Villa can lose up to £61 million, as their 2016/17 year in the Premier League is factored in.

With financial figures for the club’s first two years in the Championship showing losses amounting to £50.6 million, the sale and lease back of the stadium was seen as one option to avoid EFL sanctions.

The EFL declined to respond when asked if their finance department had, as Purslow claimed, told Villa that, subject to the final audit of their accounts, the club is compliant with its profitability and sustainability regulations.

A spokesman told offthepitch.com the league wouldn’t comment on an individual club’s financial submissions or reveal when they have passed profit and sustainability tests.

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Fri Jun 28, 2019 8:20 pm

CAF and it's president Ahmad Ahmad have been in the news quite a bit recently
post #1338 http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1337" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
post #1442 http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1441" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
post #1445 http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1444" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
post #1448 http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1447" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Gianni Infantino who recently claimed that FIFA was free of corruption and regarded highly for it's integrity had a large part to play in Ahmad's rise to power, In the first of a series of articles following an 8 month investigation Philippe Auclair and Pål Ødegård look at the CAF and their President.

http://josimarfootball.com/infantinos-a ... YA.twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:05 am

@AndyhHolt explains his financial approach to building Accy as a club , business and community asset, while pointing out the downside borrowing to fund the playing side. Also the reasons he makes loans from his business (which is relevant to post #1516 (http://uptheclarets.com/messageboard/vi ... start=1515" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) - it is very insightful for the average fan

https://twitter.com/AndyhHolt/status/11 ... 0141519872" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:09 am

That post from @AndyhHolt was inspired by a question from a Notts County supporter after it emerged yesterday that county have not paid players this month

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/eastmidl ... ay-reports" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/fo ... go-3029135" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

they join a long list of clubs, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Blackpool, Macclesfield, Reading, Morecambe etc. who have failed to pay their wages on time in the last 12 months

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:22 am

In a more positive outlook for the game the number of club owners that are putting money into their clubs via new share issues is on the increase, something Venkys do at Rovers regularly, also a practice of Championship sugar daddies most notably Villa.

Plymouth £3m
https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 9275695104" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wrexham £100k
https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 8956126209" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fulham £30m - not known if it is a loan conversion yet
https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 7989874690" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Plymouth (again) £161k loan conversion
https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 9085573122" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hibs £77k
https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 7448724482" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ebbsfleet £923k
https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 2280242176" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

edlass · Post by **edlass** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 3:29 pm

Chester Perry wrote:That post from @AndyhHolt was inspired by a question from a Notts County supporter after it emerged yesterday that county have not paid players this month

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/eastmidl ... ay-reports" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/fo ... go-3029135" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

they join a long list of clubs, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Blackpool, Macclesfield, Reading, Morecambe etc. who have failed to pay their wages on time in the last 12 months

Just Co incidence that most of those are North west/Lancashire?

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:43 pm

@KieranMaguire gives a rundown of gross transfer in Premier League spend of all 49 clubs who have been part of it as of today - we are 26th on the all time list - bit weird that each chart has the highest spenders at the bottom - come on Kieran sort it out

https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 3369624576" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Paul Waine · Post by **Paul Waine** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:48 pm

Chester Perry wrote:With Juventus apparently winning the race for De Ligt net wages no one else is prepared to match and apparently very keen on Pogba returning, you wonder how it is possible - on top of Ronaldo joining last season. Well the Italian senate has made it easier, Italy now has it's version of the now revoked "Beckham Law" in Spain, whereby tax rules for foreign "athletes" are made exceptionally favourable.

https://twitter.com/malvestefano/status ... 8903563264" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Expect Italian football to enjoy a bit of a resurgence

and maybe these favourable tax rules will help attract attention of Dwight McNeil and similar - or at least their agents.

Great job, Chester, with all this football's finances data. Maybe some of us posting on the transfer threads should take a look at all this data - which may put into context our "place in the market...."

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:48 pm

following on from @KieranMaguire's gross spend table of the 49 clubs to have played in the Premier League, he has done the same for net spend - this time we are 30th

https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 0563006470" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:54 am

Intriguing from the Premier League - the FFP rule of only being able to raise wages by £7m year on year from TV monies has been scrapped

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... wages.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I find this strange given the number of clubs that are already paying a dangerous amount of revenue in wages with the proportion increasing annually across the 14 - It does not bode well for a well managed sustainable club such as ourselves - the arms race has been reignited

EDIT - The rules making it easier to spend
● From midnight, a tweak to Premier League Financial Fair Play rules takes effect — increasing the scope for clubs to buy players. Since 2013, clubs have been limited by Short Term Cost Control (STCC) regulations that meant any 12-month increase in player wages of above £7m had to be funded by new commercial deals.
● The Premier League’s next three-year financial window begins tomorrow, with STCC removed - leaving clubs having to merely adhere to existing FFP strictures by which they must limit any losses to £105m over three years. A summer transfer splurge is now possible without having to worry about a short-term revenue uplift to cover it.

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:57 am

@SwissRamble highlights the financial challenges in this transfer window for his beloved Arsenal

https://twitter.com/SwissRamble/status/ ... 9103945728" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 12:38 pm

In post #1516 (http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1515" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) I talked about the practice of clubs borrowing against future income (usually TV in the PL)

we can add Everton to the list https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 8036360192" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Norwich did it just after sealing promotion (see post #1127 http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1126" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 12:45 pm

Eurosport and parent Discovery Network don't really get involved with football in the UK, will this new appointment change things in the future? - I am sure many club owners hope so

http://www.sportspromedia.com/movers-an ... covery-inc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 12:49 pm

Like virtually every other club in the PL 14 Norwich have secured a record shirt sponsorship deal and like virtually everybody in the PL 14 is is a betting company - this time Dafabet - when will this type of sponsorship end? that is what I want to know

https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/2019/july/dafabet/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 1:05 pm

I haven't mentioned Qatar Leeds PSG since http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1296" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1301" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - today le Parisien are suggesting that Leeds will be a little-brother club of PSG - you have got to love that language

https://twitter.com/DM_Harding/status/1 ... 5352822784" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 1:10 pm

Simon Chadwick picked up on something he saw at Glastonbury, reckoned that PSG and Qatar would be pleased and then illustrated why as he linked it to his soft power arguments

https://twitter.com/Prof_Chadwick/statu ... 4040012800" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://twitter.com/Prof_Chadwick/statu ... 7265216512" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 1:12 pm

Roma use the power and reach of football to do good (reflects positively on their brand too)

https://apnews.com/51c87a1584704c9e95b13102e6335d8e" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 2:29 pm

With the employment life of a manger in each post likely to last more than a year it sis surprising just how many clubs employ managers on extended deals covering multiple seasons - Man Utd's 6yr deal for David Moyes was farcical (it has technically just ended), Chelsea have we have seen in this thread have paid out absolute fortunes for managers to no longer to work for them - The Guardian has a look at the upside of a mangers lot

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... ers-market" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:05 pm

FIFA has made some amendments to the registration and transfer of players to come into force on October 1st 2019 - concerning, among other items, the implementation of the Electronic Player Registration System, Electronic Domestic Transfer System, FIFA Connect System.

https://resources.fifa.com/image/upload ... uzaccv1yrz" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:16 pm

I first announced plans by Notts Forest to increase ground capacity in post #570 (http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... &start=569" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) ow just after having to pay their former owner £5.2m (http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1498" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) and paying off Martin O'Neil and naming his successor 11 minutes later they have concluded a land deal to facilitate the project

http://www.sportsmanagement.co.uk/Sport ... nt-/342292" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

though O'Neil's pay off was not that much

https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/fo ... ly-3038877" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:24 pm

Apparently the Chinese Super League is the 6th best attended league in the world (that may be domestic top flight but still a grand claim), in spite of the way that fans are treated - and our lot complain about Turf Moor

https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/art ... n-friendly" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have to say given the amount of money they lavish on foreign players and managers it just shows that football is still really a political proposition rather than a business one in China

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:32 pm

The latest soft power index is out - nothing to do with football - just those countries that like to use it as part of their process of influence - Could be read as:

FIFA World Champions in 1st place
Premier League in 2nd place

China rising rapidly

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/07/ ... oft-power/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

cannot believe after 6 months of yellow vest protests people think Macron is still all that

The Official Soft Power 30 website is here with more info for those who want it

https://softpower30.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:46 pm

Apparently the FA published a amendments to it's rules for dealing with "Intemediaries" (agents mostly) last week

http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-gov ... -and-forms" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

lawinsport.com looks at the implications

https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/artic ... -2019-2020" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:59 pm

Alan Hardy, owner of Notts County announces that the club will be sold before they are due back at the high court on the 10th of this month

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/20 ... te-010719/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 1:10 pm

Following the last post it is now understood that the FA is investigating Notts County over it's finances - you know now the horse has bolted

https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/fo ... ty-3041466" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 1:15 pm

@AndyhHolt makes another plea for proper regulation, oversight and rule enforcement in the pyramid

https://twitter.com/AndyhHolt/status/11 ... 6896522241" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 1:25 pm

He also suggests salary caps as a replacement to FFP along with scrapping Parachute payments - would rather that money goes to the EFL to distribute

https://twitter.com/AndyhHolt/status/11 ... 2114588672" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and explains why

https://twitter.com/AndyhHolt/status/11 ... 4033022976" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and who to

https://twitter.com/AndyhHolt/status/11 ... 7459018752" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

cannot see the PL agreeing to that somehow - certainly not on top of the solidarity payments (it is 3 times as much) though if it did Leagues one and two would have mountains more if the solidarity payment was given just to them - probably a £50m -£30m split or something like

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 1:56 pm

In post #1131 (http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1130" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) I shared the announcement of Audi's huge new deal with Bayern and suggested that Audi had battered BMW's bid in the process - it now seems that all was not as originally painted - Bayern are now seeking Euro 20m from BMW for an alleged breach of trust

http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/baye ... _A.twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

GodIsADeeJay81 · Post by **GodIsADeeJay81** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 2:00 pm

Chester Perry wrote:In post #1131 (http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1130" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) I shared the announcement of Audi's huge new deal with Bayern and suggested that Audi had battered BMW's bid in the process - it now seems that all was not as originally painted - Bayern are now seeking Euro 20m from BMW for an alleged breach of trust

http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/baye ... _A.twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"The deal would have ended Bayern’s longstanding partnership with Audi and seen BMW take on its domestic rival’s 8.33 per cent stake in the club"

Isn't there a conflict of interest? here with VW also owning Wolfsburg?
Seeing as Red Bull weren't allowed to own two clubs from different countries who could be in the Champions league together, how can VAG be allowed to own one club and have shares in another in the same league?

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 2:16 pm

Simon Chadwick and Paul Widdop (with his fancy social network diagrams) look at the UAE siblings Abu Dhabi and Dubai and how they compete for profile using sport investments

https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/ ... o-brothers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

those social network diagrams in bigger image

Abu Dhabi
https://twitter.com/Prof_Chadwick/statu ... 6206695424" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dubai
https://twitter.com/Prof_Chadwick/statu ... 3934639109" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 2:31 pm

For those who don't believe that China doesn't have direct influence and control of the global investments of it's citizens Simon Chadwick has a powerful thread on Wang Jianlin owner and founder of Wanda whose reach and wealth seemed to make him impervious until the Chinese State proved otherwise. He his investing heavily in China again and with state approval seeking to improve Chinese football with the signing of Rafa Benitez for his hometown club

https://twitter.com/Prof_Chadwick/statu ... 0901660674" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 2:51 pm

Bournemouth have submitted revised plans for a new training facility - looks impressive, bigger than ours and certainly expensive

https://www.afcb.co.uk/news/club-news/a ... ng-complex" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-48828242" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 3:05 pm

In play betting is now such a common feature of advertising many don't give it much thought (apart from those of us who want to remove such advertising) - but this kind of gambling relies heavily on live data - much of which is collected and protected by license. There has been a growing problem of such data being stolen or licenses ignored and other non licensed groups collecting data for profit. Here Mark Locke of Genius Sports (a sports data and technology company) looks at the issues

https://egr.global/intel/opinion/how-li ... -industry/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Royboyclaret · Post by **Royboyclaret** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 3:51 pm

Chester Perry wrote:Bournemouth have submitted revised plans for a new training facility - looks impressive, bigger than ours and certainly expensive

https://www.afcb.co.uk/news/club-news/a ... ng-complex" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-48828242" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Impressive indeed covering 57 acres of the former Canford Magna golf site. However way back in 1955 Bob Lord purchased 79 acres of land at Gawthorpe which manager Alan Brown and several of the players turned into a first class training facility. So, considerably bigger than Bournemouth are about to become involved with.

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 3:54 pm

Royboyclaret wrote:Impressive indeed covering 57 acres of the former Canford Magna golf site. However way back in 1955 Bob Lord purchased 79 acres of land at Gawthorpe which manager Alan Brown and several of the players turned into a first class training facility. So, considerably bigger than Bournemouth are about to become involved with.

Roy I was talking about the facilities - more pitches and the building looks to be bigger and that indoor pitch looks full size

Royboyclaret · Post by **Royboyclaret** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 5:09 pm

For anyone who hasn't taken a look at the new facilities I can highly recommend a visit. I'm fortunate to walk the dog on a regular basis on the other side of the river down Grove Lane and the finished article is an absolute credit to all involved at Burnley fc.

Three full sized pitches and two three-quarter size and other smaller pitches. One of the full size replicates the one at Turf Moor as a heated Desso version. The total cost in 2017/18 was £10.5m and represents a wonderful investment for years to come.

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 1:16 am

In post #1127 (http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1123" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) I noted Norwich had borrowed against future TV income to help cover some of the costs of promotion, and I also spoke of the costs of meeting the demands of the Premier League and it's paymasters - for a club that has been out of this environment for some time/or have never been in it the demands can be quite substantial, as it appears Sheffield Utd are finding out - they are not sure they will be ready in time (hardly surprising with the distraction of the court case over the last 6 weeks

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... oject.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 9:46 am

Yesterday we had the news that Macclesfield players were taking the club to court over unpaid wages, part of a Winding up order

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48838303" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

today @KieranMaguirre shows that they recently took another loan - probably to pay off HMRC

https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 3600272384" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

find it difficult to believe players are signing for them when existing players haven't been paid for months, never mind the issue of proving you have funds to cover the oncoming season as per EFL requirements

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 1:02 pm

Well that didn't take long did it, the Premier League looks to take over the Women's Super League - TV audiences have been high at the Women's World Cup - and to be fair many of the Premier League clubs have a presence in the women's super League

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48850853" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 1:11 pm

It appears that the EFL giving Birmingham City a points deduction for failing FFP has started changing the mindset in the boardrooms of the Championship - certainly if the Leeds Director of Football is to be believed

https://offthepitch.com/a/we-have-be-creative" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 1:21 pm

Yet it was only in March this year that Chris Wilder (manager of Sheffield Utd) argues that the punishments need to be stronger as clubs are ignoring the rules

https://offthepitch.com/a/sheffield-uni ... -sanctions" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 3:50 pm

I posted about the terrible abuse in Afghanistan by their FA officials in #1338 (http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1337" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) and about how FIFA charged and banned for life Keramuudin Karim (Afghan FA President) n post #1360 (http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1359" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). But if you read the initial Guardian report it was clear that it was more than one person committing these crimes, now the coach of the women's team, has said that FIFA President Gianni Infantino is personally responsible for not bring others up on charges at FIFA and demanded he resign

https://apnews.com/b2a2727a05f746489f9a62bed36b6353" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

so much for the new FIFA being recognised for it's "Integrity"

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 10:19 pm

In post # 1521 (http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... start=1520" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) I linked Philippe Auclair and Pål Ødegård's 1st part of a months long investigation into CAF and it's President Ahmad Ahmad who was seemingly ushered into his post at the behest of FIFA President Gianni Infantino (there is are also links in that post to the recent arrest in Paris and the request to FIFA to sort out CAF) now we have the 2nd part of an ongoing series - corruption, fraud and the pursuit of personal gain evidently remains at the heart of the FIFA Council despite clams to the contrary

http://josimarfootball.com/new-order/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 10:48 pm

Many of you may have read this review of last night's match between Brazil and Argentina

https://www.theguardian.com/football/bl ... a-football" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

or even this one

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... erica.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It now transpires that the VAR communication signal was continually being interrupted by the Brazilian Presidents security team prior to the game

https://twitter.com/DanEdwardsGoal/stat ... 2020885504" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Always good to have a fresh conspiracy to play with now and gain

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Thu Jul 04, 2019 11:44 am

In what may yet be called the Ajax rule - UEFA considering that all Champs League semi finalists (rather than just the winner) are guaranteed inclusion in the following seasons tournament, also as a way of seriously winding up FIFA and Gianni Infantino, UEFA are in talks with it's South American counterparts to shortcut a World club final with a Champions of Cahmpions between the CL winners and the Copa America winners - from the TIMES

Teams who reach last four could earn qualification for following season - by Sebastián Fest
July 4 2019, 9:00am,

Aleksander Ceferin, the Uefa president, has revealed that the idea of “protecting” teams who reach the latter stages of the Champions League by ensuring they qualify for the following season’s tournament is among the reforms being considered for the competition.

Ceferin, speaking in an interview at Uefa’s headquarters in Nyon, also disclosed that Uefa is in advanced talks with the South Americans for a “champion of champions” match next year between the winner of Euro 2020 and the winner of the Copa America.

Uefa is consulting on reforms of the Champions League, its elite club competition, and the Slovenian lawyer said one of the proposals was to ensure qualification for those clubs such as Ajax who reached the semi-finals but have no guarantee of playing in the group stage next season.

There are other proposals too — the most controversial one being put forward by the European Clubs’ Association is to change the tournament to four groups of eight teams. The Times revealed last month that another proposal is to expand the Champions League from 32 clubs to 40 or 48, in groups of five or six instead of four teams.

It has even been suggested that all semi-finalists should qualify for the following season.

Ceferin said: “We would like to protect teams like Ajax this year, or Monaco and Leicester City before. Ajax played the semi-finals this year and now they will have to sell all their players because they don’t know if they will qualify for the Champions League next year.

“I don’t think we should protect too many clubs, because then it’s too closed, but I think we have to protect some clubs. One idea is that those clubs who succeed at a certain stage of the competition can compete the following year too. But it is a discussion only. We have a meeting on September 11 to debate it with leagues and clubs.”

He also ruled out any possibility of a Super League just involving the top European clubs, saying: “A Super League will never happen while I’m here.”
In relation to the “champion of champions” competition talks with Conmebol, the South American confederation, Ceferin was adamant that Uefa did not need Fifa’s agreement for it to take place.

“We absolutely don’t need any Fifa permission. Why would we need permission for a competition?”, said Ceferin. “This is a decision for the two confederations. Because we are not members of Fifa, we are independent. We are partners, not subordinates”.

Ceferin defended Uefa’s decision to stage the Europa League final in May in Azerbaijan, which came in for much criticism after two English clubs, Arsenal and Chelsea, made it to the final. He said the complaints from England had not gone down well in the rest of Europe.

“We are the governing body of European football and have to develop it everywhere, not just in the big countries,” he added. ”We don’t wait for the last two weeks to decide the finals when we see there are, for example, two English teams.

“Arsenal complained [the most]. That was probably because of the fans. They just complained. There is no alternative, even if they offer something. Every single part of Europe is far for someone. You go with the Europa League [final] to the other parts of Europe to develop football.

“These situations are not received well . . . It’s always good to be productive and respectful. But the FA, I must say that, they now have a very good leadership. Very respectful, they travel around, they try to help the smaller countries.”

Ceferin and the Fifa president Gianni Infantino have been at loggerheads over several issues including a new Club World Cup, a global Nations League, and Fifa’s secretary-general Fatma Samoura being sent to oversee the crisis-hit African football confederation. Ceferin insisted however he has no desire to become Fifa president himself in the future.

“No, Fifa no,” he said. “At Uefa, I don’t know. We have term limits anyway. But you never know, because if you had told me five years ago that I would be Uefa president I would have laughed. You never know what life will bring. I have until 2023 and I have to decide what to do. Right now, I’m enjoying myself, this is a football organisation, not a political organisation.”

Chester Perry · Post by **Chester Perry** » Thu Jul 04, 2019 12:08 pm

These are a useful resource - the Association of Sporting Directors has started a regular Legal newsletter to it's members - provides a useful roundup of legal issues surrounding football

Issue 1 https://associationofsportingdirectors. ... latest.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Issue 2 https://associationofsportingdirectors. ... y-2019.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In what is a relatively new profession (though fast developing and regarded by many as essential - witness the pillorying of Man Utd recently) the ASD provides a valuable resource on the issues that Sporting Directors face - for those wanting to keep up

https://associationofsportingdirectors.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://twitter.com/ASD_SportDir" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;