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Blatter calls for tighter controls over football ownership

07/10/2008

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has called on the European Union to introduce stricter rules over the purchase and ownership of football clubs.

In comments made to the European parliament, the chief of world football's governing body expressed concern over the growing trend of billionaire businessman from across the world investing in leading European clubs.

The last few years has seen a massive upturn in the number of Premier League teams being bought out by powerful oligarchs.

The trend appeared to start with Russian Roman Abramovich's multi-million pound takeover of Chelsea in 2003.

Since then, several other top-flight clubs have been bought out by similarly wealthy individuals - including American magnates Randy Lerner (Aston Villa), Malcolm Glazer (Manchester United) and George Gillett and Tom Hicks (Liverpool); Abu Dhabi royal family member Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Manchester City); and former West Ham United owner Eggert Magnusson.

But Blatter is worried by the ease with which these mega-rich men can apparently pick up and drop clubs at will, saying it could cause financial uncertainty within football.

"Something has to be done about these billionaire owners," Blatter said.

"These days you can buy a club as easily as you buy a football jersey. There is something wrong and that's why I ask the European Union to act.

"This is not just about England where the problem is acute. This will spread across Europe."

Blatter called for rules to be enforced that are similar to those currently in existence Switzerland, where those looking to make major property or business investments are subject to intense scrutiny.

"There are national laws in Switzerland, for example, when you buy property or make an investment, you must prove yourself," the Fifa chief explained.

"You have to prove your link with the area.

"We must ask ourselves about what motivates these owners and are they really interested in the game or just making money?

"There must be better control of football's finances especially in the difficult climate we are facing.

"I urge Uefa to work with the EU to tighten up the rules, otherwise there will be big financial difficulties in the future."