The Future of FFP
Following on from the articles about Manchester City and an explanation of Financial Fair Play (FFP) for the layman, we'll look to the future and what it may hold.
In July 2021, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned the decision by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to ban Manchester City from the Champions League for two seasons for violating Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
The CAS ruling stated that UEFA's investigation was based largely on internal emails and other documents that were obtained illegally and that the evidence used in the case was not obtained legally.
That does not mean Manchester City are innocent, as Pep Guardiola claimed, merely the information proving them guilty can not be used in that case as Manchester City refused to give it to UEFA.
Manchester City circumvented the rules and used a legal loophole to escape a justified punishment, that I thought was too lenient anyway.
As a result, the CAS found that UEFA had not provided sufficient evidence to support its allegations that Manchester City had committed serious breaches of the FFP regulations.
The court concluded that UEFA's ban was unjust and ordered it to be lifted, allowing Manchester City to compete in the Champions League for the 2021/22 season.
The case highlights the importance of following due process and adhering to legal and ethical standards in investigations and regulatory decisions, especially in high-stakes cases such as this one.
But it also shows that if a club refuses to cooperate, it can get away with cheating, almost scot-free.
The future of Financial Fair Play (FFP) in Europe and the English Premier League (EPL) will likely continue to evolve as the financial landscape of football changes.
Indeed, that UEFA case proves FFP must, it proves it has to become much stricter and in my view, move toward the French system discussed in my last post, one where a licence is granted to participate in a tournament each year.
There are a few potential developments that could shape the future of FFP:
1. Greater enforcement:
In recent years, some experts have called for stricter enforcement of FFP regulations to ensure that clubs are operating in a sustainable and responsible manner.
This could include increased fines for non-compliance and more frequent monitoring of clubs' financial practices as well as adopting a licensing system.
A system could be adopted whereby clubs that qualify for European football under the current system are invited to take part by UEFA, who would then hold the power not to invite a club for say, refusing to fully comply with a financial or otherwise investigation into them.
2. Relaxation of rules:
On the other hand, some clubs and stakeholders have argued that the current FFP rules are too restrictive and limit clubs' ability to invest in players and facilities. Mind you, only those with self-interest to do so.
There may be pressure to relax the rules in the future, especially if clubs can demonstrate that they are operating in a financially stable manner.
3. Increased emphasis on revenue generation:
In addition to controlling expenses, there may be a greater emphasis in the future on clubs' ability to generate revenue, such as through commercial partnerships and sponsorship deals.
This could help ensure that clubs are not overly reliant on wealthy owners to fund their operations.
However, we have seen Manchester City circumvent this and it's a system open to abuse by the unscrupulous.
4. Integration with other regulations:
In the future, FFP regulations may become more closely integrated with other regulations, such as those related to club ownership, player transfers, and wage bills.
This could help to create a more comprehensive and integrated framework for ensuring the financial stability of clubs.
Ultimately, the future of FFP in Europe and the EPL will depend on a variety of factors, including the financial performance of clubs, changes in the business environment, and the views of key stakeholders.
Fans won't have much say at all, if any.
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