Durhamfootman wrote:I'd argue that the point of FFP is to keep European football a closed shop where the traditional big clubs (you know who they are because they tried to form a breakaway closed shop league to protect their revenue streams) don't have to worry about upstart clubs acquired by wealthy owners buying their way into the football money making pie, Man City stylee
It will surely surprise no-one that it was first discussed a year after Man City was bought by Qatar and introduced just a couple of years later
Totally. The way they decided to fight against wanton overspending and football clubs bankrupting themselves happened to consolidate the power in the top teams, that is absolutely true. But to begin with, it was very much a necessary measure to fight what was becoming an epidemic of football clubs going under. I think Portsmouth's situation was what really made it clear changes needed to be made - I think a lot of people, including the government, were horrified when the mismanagement and over spending of that club was laid bare for all to see.
Italy was the worst... they had something ridiculous like 150 professional clubs enter administration at one point.