While Everton and Man City are under pressure and Liverpool looks on, the Premier League may decide to alter the FFP.
Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, are gearing up for a two-day meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday to address potential revisions to existing financial regulations.
These regulations, known as profitability and sustainability rules (PSRs), have faced
scrutiny due to numerous clubs being charged with breaches.
Among the notable cases, Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Manchester
City have been charged with various breaches over the past year.
Manchester City’s case stands out as the most complex, facing 115 charges
related to historical allegations of systematic cheating spanning from 2008 to 2018.
Both Forest and Everton have surpassed the £105 million loss threshold over a three-year period.
Everton faced a 10-point deduction in November for their transgressions and are currently appealing against the sanctions.
Premier League clubs will engage in discussions regarding the PSRs, with
a proposal to align with UEFA’s cost control measures.
This comes amid growing debates about English football governance, including calls for the introduction of an independent regulator.
The controversy surrounding Everton’s punishment stems from their relatively minor
breach (£20 million over the threshold), which, when adjusted for inflation and rising player wages, would now
be substantially higher at £228 million. This has fueled calls for reform.
While no votes on the rules are expected during the meeting, reports suggest that changes
could be implemented as early as the summer.
The proposed changes would bring English football more in line with UEFA’s approach
of limiting clubs’ spending on wages and transfers as a percentage of their revenue, currently set at 90 percent.
UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) regulations aim to curtail reckless spending, gradually reducing the allowed percentage over the coming years to a final mark of 70 percent by 2025/26.
However, the Premier League intends to adopt a slightly less stringent
approach, allowing flexibility for teams outside European competitions to spend at a different level.
This aims to maintain opportunities for clubs outside the traditional top six to achieve higher positions.
The proposed regulations aim to address overspending and minimize the risk of clubs encountering financial difficulties.
Additionally, the Premier League may introduce “real-time” monitoring of financial accounts, requiring clubs to submit their accounts for the previous season by the end of December for timely processing and decision-making.
While Liverpool will be indirectly affected by these potential changes, each club faces unique circumstances.
Arsenal is nearing the PSR threshold, impacting its activity in recent transfer windows.
Chelsea has been active in player sales but has also faced financial challenges while potentially missing out on European competitions.
As discussions progress and potential changes are considered, the future
of financial regulations in English football remains uncertain.
However, Liverpool, having been well-managed by FSG, stands in a robust position.
Proper implementation of the rules would benefit Liverpool, as rivals would be compelled
to adhere to them more strictly than before.
Read more news on sporttoday.co.uk
Leave a Reply