Top EPL Clubs Put Financial Fair Play Demands In Writing; Man City, Chelsea Not On Board

Four of the leading top-flight English clubs "have put into writing their demand" for UEFA's full Financial Fair Play rules to be brought in to the Premier League, according to the PA. A letter from Arsenal, Tottenham, ManU and Liverpool to the league CEO Richard Scudamore "calls for full spending controls -- where clubs must break even -- without wealthy owners being allowed to cover clubs' losses." Man City and Chelsea "are opposing any spending controls being brought in but it is likely the 20 clubs will agree on a compromise at their meeting in February, which will allow a fixed amount of losses to be covered by owners" (PA, 1/14). In London, Owen Gibson wrote 20 clubs, "all with different agendas and different business models, have 20 self-interested views on how the rules should be brought in -- if at all." But in light of the bumper TV deal brought in by the Premier League's execs, "likely to top" £5.5B ($8.8B) once overseas rights are taken into account, and given the top clubs will have to comply with UEFA's rules anyway, "a broad majority view has emerged that a domestic version of FFP is desirable" (GUARDIAN, 1/14).