I've just checked and I am all out of sympathy.

I do agree that they have acted woefully for years and years now. But there’s a reason why they have. They have been, and I think always will be to an extent, protected by the authorities. They simply cannot afford for either club to fail. Bizarre.

That said, part of me does wonder if the tide is very slowly turning. I still don’t think though that they will be punished in any way the same as any other club there.

I think their only hope is to combine into a super club with Real Madrid. The two clubs are great friends behind the scenes and the close friendship between the Catalans with the Spanish will ensure a bright future and working partnership for the ages.

No sympathy, it also highlights how fair the PL tv deal is

So even the poorest club in the EFL is actually wealthier than Real and Barca?

Agree no sympathy. Leeds suffered from similar mismanagement and took the consequences. I don't see why Barca cant.

The downfall has been so drastic. From lucking out with local players for years and youth players as soon as they went into the market and started signing big (only the last 5-10 years) they’ve had a nightmare. Ridiculous mismangement how recent this all is. They can’t blame decades of poor planning. They literally just started spending ridiculous funds with no after thought.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

I struggle to have any sympathy tbh. The revenues that both Barca and RM have are enormous (even with the impact of C19) - they've simply failed to control their costs.

What I would say is that I don't think it does European competition any favours if it's essentially EPL clubs plus PSG and Bayern with a realistic chance of success. Personally I'd like to see strong Spanish and Italian teams competing, that's when European football is at it's most exciting imo.

comment by GTWI4T- some people deserve to get trolled (U6008)
posted 2 minutes ago
Madrid will still sign Mbappe next summer.
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Only if PSG are willing to accept 5,000 bottles of San Miguel

Josep Maria Bartomeu - the disastrous situation he engineered at Barcelona, a thread:

https://mobile.twitter.com/EiFSoccer/status/1423666597881860097

Read this. Eye watering amount of money.

I still remember the days when the likes of Valencia and deportivo la Coruna were competing in the CL, sometimes at Barca's expense, and the competition was no less weak in those years.

Aimar

Spurs have a bigger debt than Barcelona.

Also Chelsea's debt is far worse but they cover it up through money laundering. One of these days someone has to pay their debt. Can't just keep cheating forever.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

It really is a shame

I think we may be entering a long period of English CL dominance

comment by Kroenke_out (U21076)
posted 22 minutes ago
I still remember the days when the likes of Valencia and deportivo la Coruna were competing in the CL, sometimes at Barca's expense, and the competition was no less weak in those years.
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Yep I remember Celta Vigo and Deportivo as well. Didnt Celta have those two Russians Mostovoi and Valeri Karpin who were banging them in for them ?

comment by Ruiney (U1005)
posted 54 seconds ago
I think we may be entering a long period of English CL dominance
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Not sure there will be a long period of CL full stop.

comment by HB Fash (U21935)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Ruiney (U1005)
posted 54 seconds ago
I think we may be entering a long period of English CL dominance
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Not sure there will be a long period of CL full stop.
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I do not think the rest of Europe could survive without the CL money. Without it teams like Barca and Madrid would be further in debt.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Football will be fine. It will just get bought over by Qatar and Saudi Arabia and all matches will be played there. There is nothing to worry about.

comment by Paul McGinn (U1734)
posted 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
Spurs have a bigger debt than Barcelona.
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That's because they bought a 150 bedroom house and can't afford the mortgage because they haven't got a proper job

comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Paul McGinn (U1734)
posted 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
Spurs have a bigger debt than Barcelona.
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That's because they bought a 150 bedroom house and can't afford the mortgage because they haven't got a proper job
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Typical isn't it? I know loads of clubs like that. Always buying flashy things they can't afford. Next they will be getting a white Mercedes A Class on credit even though they work in a beauty salon. They will soon have to move back in with their parents again at Wembley.