Roman Abramovich and the rest of the big spenders must
cut back, says UEFA finance guru
Hey big spender: Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman
Abramovich
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been accused of
causing financial turmoil by paying huge salaries and splashing out
on massive transfer deals.
The charge comes from Jean-Luc Dehaene, the 69-year-old former
Belgium prime minister appointed by UEFA to put the brakes on
spending by Europe's top clubs.
'Rich people like Roman Abramovich have turned everything upside
down, both financially and from a sporting point of view,' he said
yesterday after taking over as chairman of UEFA's new club
financial control panel.
'Our idea is that they should not invest more money in their
clubs than what is spent on youth work and the stadiums. Their
capital should no longer be used to drive up transfer fees and
wages beyond the present level, which is abnormal.
'We will check the financial books of the top European clubs. If
they aren't in order we can impose sanctions from 2013 which can
include banning them from the Champions League.
'But I have no illusions. This measure will not iron out the
financial and sporting differences between the big and small
football-playing countries. That is not the aim.
'But some more fair play in the financial arena as well would be
welcome. I say this as somebody who loves football.'
UEFA say 50 per cent of Europe's top clubs are losing money
despite booming TV rights and sponsorships.
Warning: Jean-Luc Dehaene
A league table of the 10 most indebted European clubs,
published in Belgium yesterday, claims half of them are
English.
Michel Platini, UEFA's president, wants clubs to break even by
2012 because he fears that the spiral of ever-higher transfer fees
and salaries cannot be maintained. 'The basic principle is not to
spend above what we earn and that has not been the principle for a
number of years now,' he said.
Dehaene, nicknamed the Belgian plumber for his skill at handling
tough jobs, will head a panel of eight lawyers and managers who
will have the power to inspect the financial records of major clubs
and report the findings to UEFA.