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European Leagues

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Is football a public good?

Submitted by WG on Thu, 23/05/2013 - 15:50

Is football a 'public good'?  That is the rather surprising claim made by the chief executive of the Bundesliga in an interview with The Guardian's David Conn.  

Beckham's celebrity appeal

Submitted by WG on Fri, 17/05/2013 - 08:44

Whether David Beckham was a good or a great footballer has been debated on Radio 5 this morning, but he was certainly the greatest footballing celebrity of his generation. Having played at two of the greatest clubs in the world, Manchester United and Real Madrid, he then went to the ultimate celebrity destination, Los Angeles, and topped it off with a stay in the home of cosmopolitan chic, Paris.

Top Greek football club AEK Athens is casualty of crisis

Submitted by WG on Thu, 16/05/2013 - 06:55

The economic crisis has hit Greek football hard. Austerity has reduced the disposable income of fans, often drastically, and businesses have also been in difficulty. AEK Athens has become a major casualty of the Eurozone crisis.

They are preparing to declare bankruptcy and seek relegation to the third division. AEK were relegated from the Super League for the first time in their 89-year history in the season just ended. They are in serious financial difficulties and reported to owe 170 million euros in taxes. Angela Merkel, herself a football fan, will be pleased to hear that.

Is the German model that superior?

Submitted by WG on Tue, 07/05/2013 - 09:24

The latest conventional wisdom is that the German football model represented by the Bundesliga has established itself as a better one than that of the Premiership.

The first piece of evidence cited for this view is the all-German final in the Champions League and the relatively poor performance of Premiership clubs in the competition.  Methodologically, this is not a sound argument.   It's what is called an individualistic fallacy, generalising from an individual case.

Legal challenge launched against financial fair play

Submitted by WG on Mon, 06/05/2013 - 14:53

The long anticipated legal challenge against Uefa's financial fair play rules has been launched, not by a club, but by an agent who is being represented by Jean-Louis Dupont, the lawyer who secured the Bosman ruling that revolutionised European football.

Belgian player agent Mr Daniel Striani is complaining that the Uefa rules infringe fundamental principles of EU law. In particular, the complaint challenges the restrictions imposed by the 'break even' rule which is central to the financial fair play rules.

Sky Deutschland hits pay dirt

Submitted by WG on Sun, 05/05/2013 - 09:45

Its cheap tickets are the toast of the supporters' movement, and lazy commentators are predicting that it will knock the Premiership off its perch, but the Bundesliga is also boosting the profits of Sky Deutschland. Last year they extended their Bundesliga match rights until the 2016-17 season and it's already looking like a good buy.

The challenge facing Italian football

Submitted by WG on Thu, 02/05/2013 - 16:12

Whichever one thinks is now the best football league in Europe, it is generally accepted that Serie A lags behind La Liga, the Bundesliga and the Premier League.   In an interview with the Financial Times, Andrea Agnelli, the 37-year old president of Juventus said, 'Italian football, as much as Italy, needs structural reforms.   In football, you need a concerted effort: violence, stadiums, trademark protections.'

Real Madrid overtakes Manchester United in rich list

Submitted by WG on Fri, 19/04/2013 - 06:16

Business magazine Forbes has been compiling its football rich list since 2004 and for the first time Real Madrid have knocked Manchester United off their perch at the top of the list. It is not that United have stopped growing, simply that Real have grown even faster.

Forbes value the Spanish giant at $3.3bn with Manchester United just behind on $3.17bn. Barcelona are in third place. It is evident that the two leading Spanish clubs are impervious to the troubles of the country's economy.

Everton's dilemma illustrates a broader problem

Submitted by WG on Sun, 07/04/2013 - 16:42

Everton's 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane is a creditable result and must give them renewed hope as they face a tough end of the season with Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea still to play away from home.

Everton face a dilemma.   Everton manager David Moyes believes that earning a place in next season's Europa League would enhance his side's prospects of keeping their best players and make them a more attractive proposition for potential transfer targets.

The contrasting challenges of Serie A and Serie B

Submitted by WG on Fri, 05/04/2013 - 12:20

There are some signs of improvement in the finances of Italian Serie A clubs with the overall level of club debt down, although it remains substantial.   It is thought that Uefa's financial fair play rules are having an impact on the financial discipline shown by clubs.