Source: Daily_Mail
Manchester City chairman claims English football is on road to ruin
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak claims football in Britain - and across Europe - is on the road to ruin.[LNB] In an extraordinary attack on the way the game is run, he has insisted that the economic model being used here is unsustainable.[LNB] Money men: Manchester City Chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak (L) and Chief Executive Garry Cook[LNB] Al Mubarak may be in charge of one of the biggest-spending clubs in the world, but he claims radical business reforms are the only way to increase competition and avoid meltdown.[LNB] Worryingly for his lavishly-paid City players, Al Mubarak hinted that he could favour the introduction of a salary cap, such as the one used by sports in the United States. 'I am a fan of the American model,' Al Mubarak told a media summit in Abu Dhabi.[LNB] 'The European model cannot be sustained without new parameters, commercial parameters that allow competition, that allow revenue distribution, and that will allow talent to continue to prosper.'[LNB] Many inside the game will find Al Mubarak's comments more than a little rich. He appears to want spending reined in by new rules and television income distribution altered to loosen the grip of the traditional big clubs. Yet Al Mubarak oversees the running of City for a member of the Abu Dhabi Royal family, who have paid more than £200million on transfers fees since taking over in September 2008.[LNB] Wages at Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan's club have also rocketed to more than £100m a year, with some players on £160,000 a week. That magnitude of outlay led to City paying nearly £13m on agents' fees in just two transfer windows.[LNB] Costly mistake: Record signing Robinho has been loaned to Brazilian club Santos after failing to hold down a first-team place[LNB] City are also at the heart of a £1bn plan to create a world-class sports and leisure complex and elevate the club into the global elite.[LNB] The massive scheme, based on 200 acres of land around City's Eastlands stadium, would include shops, hotels and restaurants as well as a club training base to rival AC Milan's. An extension to the stadium's north stand would boost capacity to 60,000. The scheme would be funded by private investment and Sheik Mansour.[LNB] Al Mubarak has previously defended City's spending approach, claiming the club are simply playing catch-up with teams like Manchester United and Chelsea. But as one figure within the English game described his comments as 'hypocritical', they drew knowing noises at UEFA.[LNB] The European game's governing body are preparing to bring in new rules of 'financial fair play' in the next five years to force clubs towards breaking even by restricting debt and losses. They will apply to the Champions League and Europa League and are aimed at clubs such as City and Chelsea, who until recently were massively indebted to their owners' loans.[LNB] But UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino claims Mansour and Roman Abramovich are pleased that action is being taken.[LNB] 'What they are saying to us is they would be happy if they don't spend their personal fortune on this,' said Infantino.[LNB] 'Our president [Michel Platini] has spoken to the owner of Manchester City, who is fully in agreement with these rules. We feel that if you create a healthy environment this will attract good spenders in football, not the ones who will just force up inflation.'[LNB] City have previously come in for criticism from UEFA. The amounts they were throwing around to strengthen their squad caused disquiet and led to suggestions that they were acting in a way which could destabilise the market. But City, like Chelsea, have recently had their owner's loans converted to shares to help them comply with UEFA's looming new regulations.[LNB] As for the introduction of a salary cap, Platini's special adviser, William Gaillard, said: 'We have never talked about them. But we have a situation which is difficult financially everywhere, not only in football, and I think he [Al Mubarak] is saying what a lot of people are thinking.' [LNB]The Premier League argue that they already distribute income more equitably than their European counterparts. As Portsmouth's financial collapse has unfolded in the wake of attempts to compete with the big-spending sides, the league have also brought in new rules designed to prevent a repeat of the sorry saga at Fratton Park. A new, more restrained financial era appears to be beckoning. [LNB] Shut it Shaun! Mancini tells Wright-Phillips to focus on playing for Man CitySUNDERLAND v Man City: Steve Bruce without suspended captain Lorik Cana Robinho nuts about Brazil: Man City flop calls on Santos to extend his stay[LNB] [LNB]
