Re: 50+1

bluer than blues

55

The Devlin Disguise

Wyndcliff

Interestingly, Barcelona and Real Madrid are both fan-owned. They are both hugely burdened by debt....

Which contradicts the article, which says 50+1 is a barrier to clubs leveraging themselves with debt, as they have to borrow against 'organic' growth (i.e. within their means).

Which in turn is holding them back as businesses and sporting entities, especially when you consider the fanbases some of those clubs have.

It may be holding them back as businesses but not as sporting entities. Football is not a business, or at least not 'simply' a business. The appreciation for the sporting aspect of football alongside the community importance has been lost, as evidenced by ESL.

The truth is the football can live on without money. Our highest attendance was 67,341 in 1939. Man Utd's record attendance - 81,692 - was in 1948; Man City's - 84,569 - was in 1934. Clearly there was a lot less money in football and yet people still went en mass.

The other financial argument that is oft made is the quality of players but the likes of Pele, Garrincha etc were playing in a time of far fewer riches. Fans will always want football and good players will always play football. Money needs football but football does not need money.