Uefa boss Michael Platini is determined to level up the playing field in football by introducing restrictions on spending. He wants to revamp the rules to exclude clubs that failed to meet certain financial requirements from participating in lucrative European competitions. Platini denied that he was targeting Premiership clubs, arguing that many clubs across Europe were in a similar financial position, Nevertheless, the Premiership would be disproportionately affected.
Uefa boss Michael Platini is determined to level up the playing field in football by introducing restrictions on spending. He wants to revamp the rules to exclude clubs that failed to meet certain financial requirements from participating in lucrative European competitions. Platini denied that he was targeting Premiership clubs, arguing that many clubs across Europe were in a similar financial position, Nevertheless, the Premiership would be disproportionately affected. Under a plan put forward by the European Club Association, clubs would be allowed to spend no more than a certain percentage – yet to be decided but thought to be between 50 and 70 per cent – of turnover on wages and transfers. For example, if the limit were set at 60 per cent, a club with a turnover of £50m and a wage bill of £25m could then spend only a further £5m net on transfers. Given that most Premiership clubs have wage bills well in excess of two thirds of turnover, they would be bound to take a big hit. However, unlike a proposal floated by Uefa general secretary David Taylor, the current plan does not include a provision about clubs carrying excessive debt. Long-term capital borrowing would not figure in the calculations.
Paradoxically the rule change could strengthen the relative position of the current top four clubs. Because they have large turnovers they would be effectively able to outspend the opposition. They would not be threatened by the risk of a Sheikh Mansour coming in and bankrolling an upstart. However, despite his insistence that he wants to give every club a chance to win, it is people like the Sheikh and Roman Abramovich who seem to be Platini’s real targets. He described manchester City’s bid for Kaka as ridiculous and said that clubs should invest in their academy and grow their own players rather than ‘waiting for an Arab sheikh to bring in €150m.’ It is thought that any rule change that was agreed would be phased in to give clubs time to adjust.