An analysis by the Financial Fair Play website of the increased ticket price that clubs would need to charge if they were managed on a ‘break even’ basis shows that Premier League fans receive match day subsidies that average at £25 a ticket.
An analysis by the Financial Fair Play website of the increased ticket price that clubs would need to charge if they were managed on a ‘break even’ basis shows that Premier League fans receive match day subsidies that average at £25 a ticket.
Only Arsenal, Manchester United, Spurs and Wolves make enough profit not to subsidise. Not surprisingly, Manchester City tops the subsidy table at £161 per ticket, although the website notes that the loss per ticket is ‘somewhat shocking’. Aston Villa and Bolton fans receive subsidies of £63 and £49 respectively.
Financial Fair Play regulations have been slow to make an impact and clubs have not made changes quickly or deeply enough. The Bosman rule means that clubs often lock their players into four or five year contracts which makes it difficult for clubs to introduce lower wage contracts into their squads.
The website argues that enforcement of Uefa’s rules could have disastrous consequences: transfer fees would fall through the floor (leaving many clubs unable to clear existing debt); and clubs would find themselves locked into unaffordable long-term player contracts.
What also has to be taken into account, however, is the possibility of a legal challenge to Uefa’s rules if it tried to enforce them.