Michel Platini has announced plans to relax some aspects of the financial fair play (FFP) regulations with the aim of stimulating competition and growth. The rules have been criticised for making it harder for new entrants to breach the elite cartel of top European clubs.
Michel Platini has announced plans to relax some aspects of the financial fair play (FFP) regulations with the aim of stimulating competition and growth. The rules have been criticised for making it harder for new entrants to breach the elite cartel of top European clubs.
Not all Premier League clubs are happy about the plan to ease the rules, especially Arsenal and Manchester United who were the main driving forces behind their introduction. Arsenal has always hoped that FFP would enable it to benefit on the pitch from its financial prudence. Manchester City, on the other hand, are likely to welcome opportunities for further investment.
A relaxation of the rules would be welcomed by a new breed of wealthy owners in Italy where there has been a growing struggle to keep up with the more marketable English and Spanish clubs. The fortunes of Italian clubs have declined as players, sponsors and television companies have flocked towards England, Germany and Spain.
Any changes are unlikely to go as far as the Premier League’s financial regulations which allow for losses of up to £105m over a three year period.