Barca, Chelsea, United & Arsenal

[T.R.O.L.I.]

The tactic will be to not allow clubs to enter European competitions unless their debts are realistic and sustainable, but the PL, the big clubs and UEFA are furiously brief ling journalists across the continent to get their arguments prior to the big battle that's coming over the next few years.

What would constitute a "realistic and sustainable debt"? Man Utd are seriously in debt (if what is said about the Glazers is true) but they are able to service that debt with ticket sales, merchandise sales and sponsorship.

[Dirk Gently]

The tactic will be to not allow clubs to enter European competitions unless their debts are realistic and sustainable, but the PL, the big clubs and UEFA are furiously brief ling journalists across the continent to get their arguments prior to the big battle that's coming over the next few years.

What would constitute a "realistic and sustainable debt"? Man Utd are seriously in debt (if what is said about the Glazers is true) but they are able to service that debt with ticket sales, merchandise sales and sponsorship.

That's arguable - Manchester Utd's interest payments this season are £81M.

But I was a bit lazy when I used the phrase "realistic and sustainable debt" - their rules would have to be carefully drafted to define what debt was and wasn't allowed and how much (as a proportion of income). I suspect they'd almost certainly prohibit equity debt used to purchase a club (Man Utd) and "sugar-daddy debt" (Chelsea) but allow "stadium building" debt (Arsenal).

[Alivey]

who wouldn't want more countries in the latter stages of the champions league? isn't that the competition is suppose to be about.. europe. if you want to watch a bunch of english clubs play eahc other.. why not.. i dunno.. watch the fa cup, league cup, premire league..

Which is what Platini is getting at but (using this season as an example) can you really see Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus, possibly Bayern Munich etc voting for a reduction of the Champions League to just the Champions of each country? The resultant massive loss in revenue both on and off the pitch to me says that would never happen. So, my original question of is there anything else Platini (or UEFA) can realisitically do or is the format of the CL here to stay (and possibly grow)?

I would perfer the competition myself to feature just the champions, maybe the cup winners, or 2nd place at a stretch. With Lennart Johansson in charge, he let clubs run riot and let the game grow into a finanical mess. Obviously it isn't just English clubs that took advantage of this and previously other countries were the big spenders, but currently there really is no one who can compete with the finanical clout of the big 4? Plantini can't really do much because he is in a position because the clubs will easily just tell UEFA to piss off if they try to reduce the income they make and run off and make a McLeague of the World. Even if the owners take on all the debts the clubs incur, they are still operating on a thin line. Personally I would be glad to see all clubs that were finanically irresponsible to be destroyed.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

Personally I would be glad to see all clubs that were finanically irresponsible to be destroyed.

Unfortunately, until a "big club" goes to the wall financially I can't see anyone in football actually giving two shits about financial responsibility - look at how many clubs in England have gone into administration recently - Luton, Rotherham, Bournemouth, Darlington, Southampton, Stockport...

[Row Z Royal]

3 fairly clear-cut penalties for Chelsea not given this evening.

1) Alves drags Malouda INSIDE the area and a free kick is given OUTSIDE the area.

2) Abidal trips through-on-goal Drogba and nothing doing. The ball was getting away from Drogba, but still a penalty.

3) Blatent hand ball by Pique inside the box.


Can anyone explain why these weren't given as they looked clear to me?

[Alivey]

they are chelsea and they ruin football

[Deathy]

C'mon Barca

All English final again is great though, but I can't bare the thought of Chelsea winning the cup

[Deathy]

GET IN!!!

[Deathy]

[Dirk Gently]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

[Deathy]

LOL

[T.R.O.L.I.]

[Silver Fox]

Mega mega LOLz

ANdy Gray's gutted!

[Alivey]

barca is ruining football

[Deathy]

How sweeeeeeeeeeet is that!!!

[Dirk Gently]

[Deathy]

Petr Cech hasn't made a save all game he says... LOLz. He still hasn't

[Row Z Royal]

Man Utd-Barca final was definitely the pick, but I feel for the Chelsea players.

They worked so hard tonight and a miss-kick by the 9th-minute hero sets up the Barca goal.

Still, a minute to go...

[Deathy]

LOLz at HANDBALLLLLLLL Not given!

[LUX]

my thoughts are turning to Everton in the Cup already. Well played Barca.