Sorry to talk about Manchester City and Real Madrid again but their super-spending has only highlighted the polarisation between those swimming in cash and those with barely a penny to their name.
While City parade their latest superstar and flaunt their money spare a thought for Livingston fans. The Scottish League division one club, who have substantial debts – including £30,000 to the local council, have begun the process of being wound up after the club’s owner, Angelo Massone, rejected an offer from the administrator to take the club off his hands. This is just three years after a five year spell in the Scottish Premier League came to an end.
This also comes just a year after another Scottish club, Gretna, folded just a couple of years after playing in Scotland’s top division, a cup final and appearing in Europe.
South of the border Luton town were relegated from the football league last season after they were deducted 20 points after failing to satisfy the Football League's insolvency rules and a further 10 for financial irregularities. Fellow League Two sides Bournemouth and Rotherham were also deducted points for breaking football league rules regarding administration. Leeds United faced a similar penalty two years ago in League One.
The tales of financial woe continue up the divisions. Newcastle United, relegated from the Premier League last season, are in limbo as their owner Mike Ashley looks to sell the club. Faced with increasing debts and extortionate player wages the club desperately needs new investment if they are to halt the slide.
But with no new owner on the horizon Ashley has already had to deny rumours United will soon be put into administration. But if they remain a Championship club paying Premier League wages for much longer and if no buyer is found, that is surely the only outcome.
Financial troubles are not restricted to the lower divisions. The Premier League, the world’s richest division, has its fair share of clubs in financial trouble. Liverpool only this week had to renegotiate a £350 million loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland, which included paying £60 million back to the bank immediately.
The handful of clubs I have just mentioned are merely the tip of the iceberg and the problem stretches across the divisions, taking in big clubs and small clubs. It seems to me that while the demise of Livingston and Gretna, while only really affecting the communities in which they reside and their small but loyal sets of fans, will not resonate across the footballing world, their stories contain lessons that should be learned.
This begs the question then, will it take a Liverpool or Newcastle United to fall before football finally gets its house in order? It seems a safe football bet that it will.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Sent packing!
So Kaizer Chiefs managed to put one over the Manchester City side with a victory yesterday.... This tour by Manchester City has given some serious kudo's to South African football as a follow-up to the achievements in the Confederations Cup. As for Man City, one has to wonder whether Mark Hughes is starting to feel some heat after all of his pre-season spending.
Admittedly Robinho didn't play much part in this tour and he is a game-maker and breaker on his own but there should have been enough fire-power in the City side to take on and beat sides like chiefs and Pirates.
Homeground advantage with the blaring Vuvuzela's probably played a big part and maybe there's a message in that for next year when the World Cup starts - MAKE A HELLUVA LOT NOISE FOR YOUR LOCAL SIDE!
Well done Chiefs and Pirates for sending the foreigners packing with their tails between their legs - a great advert for South African football!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
I wasn't mugged today
Two weeks back, a much publicised article by Louise Taylor appeared in the online version of the Guardian under the title: “Why going to South Africa for the World Cup terrifies me”
She took some airy stats and promptly trashed our country suggesting that either Egypt or Morocco was a better destination for the World Cup to be staged.
I am not going to give the article any credence with a link but I was impressed by was the number of comments from both South Africans and international visitors highlighting why the article was a load of drivel.
Read the rest of my article here and give me your thoughts....
Friday, July 17, 2009
Should Beckham give it all up and return home?
By Tom Mallows
He said he would never go back, but this week David Beckham did an about turn and left the door ajar for a possible return to the Premier League
It is perhaps no surprise his comments have come in the wake of the frosty reception he received upon his return to the L.A Galaxy after his brief sojourn with A.C. Milan.
I have to admit I feel some of the criticism of Becks has been a bit harsh, especially as other players chose to play in Europe during the MLS break – Landon Donovan being one of them. But I can understand American ‘soccer’ fans' frustrations.
The MLS and all of its previous guises has seen European players cross the Atlantic to finish off their career with a nice pay cheque, with little effort in return. That was fine a few years ago, but as football searches for credibility within U.S. sport, fans have become tired of half hearted performances from over-paid European stars.
As far as Beckham is concerned I think things changed when Steve McClaren recalled him to the England squad. Don’t forget when Becks signed his deal with the Galaxy he was out of both the England and Real Madrid sides. A semi-retirement in L.A. looked a decent option then.
But once back in the international fold a fourth World Cup appearance suddenly seemed an option. The passion for playing for his country is one of Beckham’s defining characteristics and it seems a good international football bet that he would do anything to keep on playing for the Three Lions. That includes playing all year round across two continents.
Beckham has publicly assured us that he is committed to his role as an ambassador to the MLS; well of course he is going to say that. But I can't help thinking he regretted moving to the US the day he returned to the England fold and realised he still had something to offer the highest level of football. Fabio Capello has already stated he believes Beckham should return to Europe in order to preserve his England chances, I wouldn’t bet against that happening before the year is out.
He said he would never go back, but this week David Beckham did an about turn and left the door ajar for a possible return to the Premier League
It is perhaps no surprise his comments have come in the wake of the frosty reception he received upon his return to the L.A Galaxy after his brief sojourn with A.C. Milan.
I have to admit I feel some of the criticism of Becks has been a bit harsh, especially as other players chose to play in Europe during the MLS break – Landon Donovan being one of them. But I can understand American ‘soccer’ fans' frustrations.
The MLS and all of its previous guises has seen European players cross the Atlantic to finish off their career with a nice pay cheque, with little effort in return. That was fine a few years ago, but as football searches for credibility within U.S. sport, fans have become tired of half hearted performances from over-paid European stars.
As far as Beckham is concerned I think things changed when Steve McClaren recalled him to the England squad. Don’t forget when Becks signed his deal with the Galaxy he was out of both the England and Real Madrid sides. A semi-retirement in L.A. looked a decent option then.
But once back in the international fold a fourth World Cup appearance suddenly seemed an option. The passion for playing for his country is one of Beckham’s defining characteristics and it seems a good international football bet that he would do anything to keep on playing for the Three Lions. That includes playing all year round across two continents.
Beckham has publicly assured us that he is committed to his role as an ambassador to the MLS; well of course he is going to say that. But I can't help thinking he regretted moving to the US the day he returned to the England fold and realised he still had something to offer the highest level of football. Fabio Capello has already stated he believes Beckham should return to Europe in order to preserve his England chances, I wouldn’t bet against that happening before the year is out.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Apology to Joel Santana
I think I need to make a small and belated apology to Joel Santana....
As one of those South African football fans who had been very disappointed in what he had achieved prior to the Confederations Cup, I had regularly been critical of what he had achieved - particularly with his underperformance in African Cup competition.
Credit where credit is due - even without Benny McCarthy Santana has managed to put together the makings of a promising young side - and one that could make a nice contribution at next years 2010 world cup.
It is still early days but let's say I am far more positive than I was before the Confederations Cup!
Manchester City - the new Middlesbrough?
There is no question about it - Manchester City equipped with a big cheque book from their Middle Eastern investors have reshaped the English (perhaps global?) football landscape.... but the question is - will it just be a flash in the pan?
Manchester City have signed a host of big name players and irritated the hell out of the traditional powerhouses like Manchester United and Liverpool by taking players from under their noses.
HOWEVER - a part of me is reminded of Middlesbrough about 10 years back - these guys went all out and signed a host of big-name stars. They promised a lot but at the end of the day they couldn't get them to fire on all cylinders and a year or two later they were facing relegation.
I think there is too much firepower in this Manchester City to go quite the same way but bundling a big name team together may not bring the results that the new owners (and I guess the fans) are expecting... If you look at the great club teams over history, almost all have been built around a longer term strategy.
Manchester United spent a long time building their squad and bringing through the youngsters and giving them a few years to mature as a team.
Will be interesting to see what Manchester City delivers in 2009....
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Football using dirty money?
By: Tom Mallows
There were some interesting reports in the English press this week suggesting that football has now become the top target for money launderers seeking to wash their dirty cash.
They cited a report from a unit of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, which said "Football clubs are indeed seen by criminals as the perfect vehicles for money laundering," because football is "an obvious candidate to examine money laundering through sport,” due to its global scale.
It believes the massive money that flows in and out of tax havens, huge and irrational transfer payments, inflated agent fees and betting networks can all help criminals wash their cash clean. With the rewards of success and the price of failure so massive the report also says that clubs are less likely to report money laundering for fear of tarnishing their image and losing lucrative corporate sponsors.
The report also mentions an on-going investigation involving a club in Italy where "Proceedings for money laundering, insider trading, extortion, unfair competition and other offences are ongoing."
It is perhaps no surprise given the vast sums of money that are changing hands in football. Only this summer Spanish football giants Real Madrid broke the world transfer record twice, splashing out £56 million on Kaka and then £80 million on Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo.
Now I am not suggesting in any way that those transfer deals are dodgy, but it is an example of how vast sums of money can change hands across vast distances very quickly.
The desperation of clubs to compete may also lead to them forgetting their morals when it comes to the true source of their transfer kitty. Similarly those clubs who over-stretched themselves and face financial oblivion will be less choosy when it comes to picking a new owner who promises riches to bail them out and push on for success.
This was shown at Man City a few years ago when Thakasin Shinawatra took over at Man City, despite been wanted in his own country for corruption and human rights charges. He has since sold up and moved on.
The Premier League may have introduced a ‘fit and proper persons’ test, which will attempt to weed out any unscrupulous prospective owners, but should that go further with a full and proper investigation of football’s finances?
Whenever there is a large amount of cash there will be people looking to make a quick buck and football is no exception. I just hope the powers that be can nip any corruption in the bud as it would be a shame to see such a global sport irreversibly tarnished by crime.
There were some interesting reports in the English press this week suggesting that football has now become the top target for money launderers seeking to wash their dirty cash.
They cited a report from a unit of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, which said "Football clubs are indeed seen by criminals as the perfect vehicles for money laundering," because football is "an obvious candidate to examine money laundering through sport,” due to its global scale.
It believes the massive money that flows in and out of tax havens, huge and irrational transfer payments, inflated agent fees and betting networks can all help criminals wash their cash clean. With the rewards of success and the price of failure so massive the report also says that clubs are less likely to report money laundering for fear of tarnishing their image and losing lucrative corporate sponsors.
The report also mentions an on-going investigation involving a club in Italy where "Proceedings for money laundering, insider trading, extortion, unfair competition and other offences are ongoing."
It is perhaps no surprise given the vast sums of money that are changing hands in football. Only this summer Spanish football giants Real Madrid broke the world transfer record twice, splashing out £56 million on Kaka and then £80 million on Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo.
Now I am not suggesting in any way that those transfer deals are dodgy, but it is an example of how vast sums of money can change hands across vast distances very quickly.
The desperation of clubs to compete may also lead to them forgetting their morals when it comes to the true source of their transfer kitty. Similarly those clubs who over-stretched themselves and face financial oblivion will be less choosy when it comes to picking a new owner who promises riches to bail them out and push on for success.
This was shown at Man City a few years ago when Thakasin Shinawatra took over at Man City, despite been wanted in his own country for corruption and human rights charges. He has since sold up and moved on.
The Premier League may have introduced a ‘fit and proper persons’ test, which will attempt to weed out any unscrupulous prospective owners, but should that go further with a full and proper investigation of football’s finances?
Whenever there is a large amount of cash there will be people looking to make a quick buck and football is no exception. I just hope the powers that be can nip any corruption in the bud as it would be a shame to see such a global sport irreversibly tarnished by crime.
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