FFP will never actually work.

Unfortunately, top level football clubs are now first a business, then a sport. As good an idea as that is, I don't see that ever being enforceable.

As for sponsorships, image rights are not separate, and are not a part of the set wage. It would be a loophole just like the sponsors clubs keep getting.

As soon as the CL allowed four clubs from certain countries to compete in the CL, then the spiralling wages and total domination of the leagues by a few clubs started. Revert back to just the champions, and then there would not be the insurance of always competing in the top competition every year, and therefor wages would have to be paid to suit.

Maybe Sandy, but that would probably cause the CL to become a far inferior competition for the spectator, not to mention the drop in income for all parties involved due to significantly less matches and teams involved - it would become like the club world cup, which is seen as pretty irrelevant in Europe. Besides, it would never happen anyway, for the financial reasons I suggested.

Very true Sandy, but that would inevitably see the increased stature - and prize money - for the Europa League, make it more than the joke it currently is

*Someday

Maybe Sandy, but that would probably cause the CL to become a far inferior competition for the spectator,



My bet is the old european cup format is far more exciting, every game being a knock out and all. As you mentioned, it's the money.

Good point, Greasey, I still find it absurd that the winner of the Europa league doesn't get a place in the Champions League.

Busby, you might be right, maybe what I should have said is that there would be less excitement as for the fans of teams that no longer qualify for Europe. The Champions league in it's current state is reasonably well done as purely from the view of the format or the competition.

*of the competition.

It's already working, Chelsea and City are both making efforts to cut losses and have done that. Clubs will try to find loopholes but doubt it will be allowed to any crazy levels. The reason it will work is because 99% of clubs are desperate for it to happen.

Unfortunately, top level football clubs are now first a business, then a sport. As good an idea as that is, I don't see that ever being enforceable.

As for sponsorships, image rights are not separate, and are not a part of the set wage. It would be a loophole just like the sponsors clubs keep getting.

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NFL is most certainly big business. If the club pay image rights that'd all come out of the staff kitty, external sponsorships would be different admittedly. Just keep it simple - you can pay employees a total of 'X' any more than that they punish you. Over there they actually lower your budget if you're caught cheating. Pretty neat.

8bit.. I hope you're right. I guess any rule in sport will be adhered to by most teams for the good of the game. My only issue with FFP is that it benefits the rich particularly. As a Spurs fan I'm not worried, but as a football fan I can only hope it works for the best.