French look to put the boot in
Sport has always been subject to government intervention. And why shouldn't it be? Sport is part of society and we are a society ruled by laws.
True, unlike France or Italy, or for that matter the USA, the British government's role in sport is probably the least controlling of the developed countries, but this is not to say it never interferes.
Take English football, for instance. Under normal laws of insolvency, all creditors are treated equally. But with football, certain creditors enjoy privileged status. For example, not only is an insolvent club required to pay its players all they are owed - note only players, not other club employees - it must also settle its debts with other clubs. If these conditions are not met, then the insolvent club cannot continue to compete.
English football also possesses its own immigration laws. Now few subjects in recent decades have generated as much heat in this country as immigration - and a lot has been made recently of the much-trumpeted points system the government is introducing - but football has long had a points system that governs the number of non-European Union footballers that come to play in England.
There is nothing, of course, that can be done about EU players wanting to come here and play, but non-EU ones must receive sufficient points from a Home Office committee to be able to ply their trade in this country. Under current rules and regulations, any non-EU footballer wishing to play here must come from a country ranked at least 70th in the Fifa rankings and must have played in 75% of his national team's matches over the last two years. An appeal is possible, but the club attempting to sign the player has to justify that he would add something to the English game.
Under such a points system, no English club would have been able to sign Ronaldo as a 17-year-old back in 1994, although he had no problems going to Holland. When he went to PSV Eindhoven, he was very promising but hardly the Brazilian star he became.
It's also worth noting the composition of the Home Office committee that decides whether a non-EU footballer has totted up enough points to play in England. It boasts representatives of the Professional Footballers' Association, the Football Association and either the Premier League or the Football League, depending on the club making the application. Can you imagine such a system applying to plumbers, with the relevant union having the right to decide which non-EU workers had enough points to come here? Come to think of it, this might work a treat.
The British government makes such exemptions because football, and to an extent sport, is considered special. If further evidence was required, take the issue of football stadia. Since the Taylor Report, millions have been invested in upgrading grounds. Indeed, immediately after the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, when 96 people were crushed to death during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, each Football League club could receive up to £2m. This money, funded by government reducing the betting tax on pools, benefitted even Manchester United.
But this government intervention is, if you like, a muddled and very British way of doing things. It certainly does not threaten the way sports are run. No wonder sports organisations in this country have reacted so violently to French government proposals for a EU-wide regulation of sport. Although aimed at football, it would affect many other sports, including rugby and cricket. And in keeping with how the French approach regulation generally, it would be much more far-reaching and draconian than any existing British government intervention.
The Premier League sees it as an attempt to destabilise a hugely successful British creation. There are some Premier League clubs who even believe this is a French conspiracy to bring the English, now so very dominant in European club competition, down.
Other sports like cricket and rugby, which have huge worldwide constituencies beyond Europe, see it as, at best, irrelevant and, at worst, dangerous. Yet the very nature of modern sport, and the fact that it is now part of the economic cycle, means some sort of intervention is necessary.
There is clearly need to address the debt issue in football and also the lack of transparency. The challenge is to devise regulations that ensure sports organisations have enough freedom to manage their affairs while not damaging those round them. Not only that, when things go wrong, there should be regulatory powers that can put matters right swiftly. It is not an easy balance to strike.
The fuss over the French proposal suggests it may be a long time before European football finds a solution which satisfies everyone. It is tempting to find a 'one-size-fits-all' remedy, but that could create more problems than it solves.
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~23~RS~)
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Although the article does state valid points, its attack on it being a France v England thing is purely to cause a debate on this forum and incite participation.
I find it astonishing that the BBC has failed in his duty as reporting to mention UEFA's stance on this lead by a frenchman which has been criticised in England more often than Ross and Brand.
so i ask you BBC what has the frenchman who is head over UEFA said about this?
As a matter of fact, whislt you are it why dont you explain to us why in England football clubs are exempt form same tax laws as other businesses? not very fair is it?
And why dont you tell us what the benefit of financial regulations is in football? so how many clubs in France or Germany have gone into administration in last ten to fifteen years?
Football clubs will be affected by recession, its impossible not too. However due to their riches it will be a while before we see it at the highest level. but it will be affected and as other businesses that have suffered due to their debts, they will be no different from what i understand.
This article reminds me of me doing my homework in a rush at lunchtime just so i could have something to give to my teacher
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Good points, and informative insolvency rules...
Of course, it'll never happen, but the West Ham - Tevez affair is a case which rather supports the French argument, certainly with regard to transparency.
But the funniest "rule" is illegal "tapping up"! If I want so-and-so to join my company, I go and ask him, whoever he works for.
Freedom of association.
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Good points, and informative insolvency rules...
Of course, it'll never happen, but the West Ham - Tevez affair is a case which rather supports the French argument, certainly with regard to transparency.
But the funniest "rule" is illegal "tapping up"! If I want so-&-so to join my company, I go and ask him, whoever he works for.
Freedom of association.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
With respect, this is another pretty useless article by Mr. Bose. It doesn't even discuss the proposals but provides a link to a Times article written by Martin Samuel last week (and an excellent article it is).
Come on, you can do better.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
At risk of pointing out the obvious to anyone reading the public's response to this blog...check out how many times the moderators have to step in...
Que this not being published.......
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If the immigrants are good enough to work in your county/country/continent, they are good enough to play for them as well.
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Yet another blog from Mr Bose that doesnt actually say anything.
Mr Sitonthefence posts better blogs than this.
If you have nothing to say, then say it to yourself please.
1 country of all the EU is not going to force an abandonment of all other countries regulations. Its just bitterness that France doesnt turn over or attract such revenues.
Does that make an article - no.............stop it please.......
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The Premier League is also more competitive than the French League aswell.
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The English Premier league is now and has always been one of the strongest leagues in the World financially, closely followed by the Spanish league and then the Italian league. In the history of the game the French league has never even come close to challenge and still would trail the Germans. So it beggars believe why the governing bodies are so dominated by the French with Sebb Blatter and now Michel Platini in charge.
For me this another attempt by them to twist the game in there favor to enable them to compete. They did it in the 80's when they expelled all English football teams from Europe for five years which you have to say is unbelievable, especially with the corruption violence and trouble we have seen elsewhere in Europe and the punishment these other countries receive.
More concerning still is the way Atlético Madrid has been punished for the trouble caused at the CL game with Marseille. When all the video evidence shows that the Marseille fans were causing lots of trouble and there were hard core hooligans at work during this game. What more evidence do we need to see that the French are twisting things in there favour? It is time that they were ousted out of the governing of World Football until such time as they have league strong enough to compete with the rest of the world and Uefa should be run by the English, Italians, Germans and Spanish who basically are the heart of European football.
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'This blog is my regular take on the sports stories and issues behind the headlines'.
Except it isn't - this blog is just regurgetated news that can be widely found from various sources 3 days beforehand, or basic information that anyone can read about on Wikipedia. There is no 'take' here at all.
Don't just repeat what people know already Mihir; try to make a point or something, otherwise this isn't a 'blog' at all
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This is a good blog today and I'm glad somebody has pointed out the rather ridiculous immigration points system for footballers.
Why does someone have to be from the top 70 nations? If someone is a very good North Korean why can't he have the opportunity to come to the Premiership? Imagine the good some exposure like that could do the whole country.
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Well if it is an attack on us brit, it won't work! We don't let these playerrd in withut hitting certain critera, as mentioned. If we were like Holland, wouln't we be completely dominante in the game?
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
and the ebglish league may be the heart of football, club level ONLY, but it is run by foreigners so having english people in charge of UEFA is laughable. they cant even run their own league
top 4 teams, managed by foreigners, owned by foriegners, and its a trait that is becoming more and more apparent in the whole league.
and the reason why the french have influence in uefa may be because we created FIFA, UEFA, and the CL.
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and platini is against the idea, so for all those who cant wait to stop blaming other countries and playing the victim card, perhaps you should expand your source of information from english media to world media.
furthermore, thsi was nothing to do with sports. it was just going to affect sports along the way. but its purpose wasnt aimed at football. finally the frnech league is offically fourth best in europe. and we had more players in alst years CL than any other country i believe.
and blatter is swiss not french. and they get elected to their posts. most here have no idea.
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and the reason why english clubs got banned in the 80s had nothing with the french.
stop blaming others and take responsibility for your own actions.
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people like BBR vavavoom irritate me beyong belief.
DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE.
if i write any further... its going to occupy me for a fair few heft minutes... so im not gonna bother.
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people like BBR vavavoom irritate me beyond belief.
DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE.
if i write any further... its going to occupy me for a fair few hefty minutes... so im not gonna bother.
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re: comments 18,19,21 from Zizou
ok so you guys created fifa, uefa et al? if you want to play it that way. WE created football, so can we have it back please? its far too much a coincidence that platini, Gaillard et al are only trying to introduce these kind of draconian measures AFTER english clubs become dominant. every month or so there seems to be some sort of initiative, which would hinder english clubs in some way, usually at the suggestion of one of these two idiots. think of all the crowd trouble we see consistantly in Europe, in places like Roma, Madrid, Athens, Marseille... the list goes on. why do clubs from these nations never get 5 year european bans? why after all the trouble at At Madrid this season (and last season V Tottenham), did they have a punishment revoked, just coz some liverpool fans started crying. at the end of the day, Madrid got off lightly having to play their home game to an empty stadium. imagine what would happen if you see what goes on, on the continent in England.... another 5 year ban thats what. the french are legendary in all forms of government for sticking their nose in at all turns. beaurocratic and with a love for red tape. dont let these jealous meddlers spoil the english game. the most competitive, interesting and fast paced version of the game on the planet.
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I must admit the article is not very good, and the title, if eye catching, very poor.
The French have nothing to do with the state the englich football is.
OK our league is entertaining, top quality footballers (not necessarily english!) and competitive teams.
However the state the football clubs are in is out of this world... debts , debts and debts !!!
Look at Liverpool, however well they are doing they are £350m in debt, and now they want to borrow money for a stadium.
I don't know how long football can make up their own rules, but the bubble is going to burst.....sadly!!
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football is far too culturally important, for legislation that is not specifically designed for the sport to be passed. it would be ridiculous for general EU laws to apply. i know u guys on the continent want Britain to tow the european line, but we are different, and that is why we had an empire, and didnt let the germans into our capital within 3 weeks. im not being nationalistic, jingoistic or racist. im just saying that just because the powers that be in Geneva, Brussels (or wherever) feel it is their duty to tinker with our winning formula, doesnt mean that we should change the way we handle things just for the sake of uniformity. one size does NOT fit all (apart from magic gloves)
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As this is a BBC blog I was under the impression that meant the British Broadcasting Corporation, so when Mr Bose talks about immigration and company law does this apply only to ENGLAND as he says or the UK as a whole?
In terms of football the four home nations are independent and perhaps this current Anglo-French spat is a timely reminder of the dangers of Team GB's participation in London 2012 even if it is only English players who take part.
There is a danger of the English FA sleepwalking into a single UK team in future world cups and Euros, so you have been warned!
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Just to repeat what others have said but most of the xenophobes haven't bothered to note, Platini (the evil Frog) is AGAINST this plan and supporting the status quo.
What he also wants is more English players in English teams and the clubs building up less debt.
I am struggling to work out how that makes him the bogeyman in this???!!!
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its all very well saying we want more english players playing in english teams, but the fact is the premier league would be rubbish. just imagine all those international players taken out of the league, all we'd have left would be the kick and run we see in the championship. all those players that are playing for plymouth now would be premiership players. i dont see how that would benefit the league or the england team in any way.
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thsi is the problem with this article
it doesnt provide all the facts.
Platini is against this idea, and so is UEFA. this idea had nothing to do with football, its was a finacial manouvre absed on current conditions and as businesses football was bound to be affected.
but congrats to those who have managed to make their points without the need of stereotypical comments like others.
@ifyou'rewondering
i agree with your points. my first response to this article was that the author had one intention. to create a debate. so he didnt provide all the facts and to make it a French v Engalnd thing. and it worked. now we have people here blaming the frnech for english clubs being banned in the 80s. people calling the french frogs. is that correct in your opinion?
Platini is against this idea. there is now an artcile on BBc about that too. and you cant blame him for how UEFA was before him? he can only influence from when he was in charge. you dont know he may not have agreed with spanish clubs debt ten yrs ago but couldnt do much about it.
NONE of my points were inccorect. and none were insulting or stereotypes against england or anywhere else.
so perhaps deeperer can elaborate on his flimsy response
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mihir
constructively - you appear with old news, give it a decent headline and then add nothing new. Please do something, anything , to elucidate your 'take' or as the man said cr*p or get off the b*g.
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The French may look to put the boot in but don't do it with a Wellington boot cos it's the Roaste Boeuf who wear those and they were worn at the Battle of Waterloo. Headless Platini running around trying his best to do something for the sake of doing something, to empower his position with a new law, to justify his wages, art for arts sake. Credit, easy target, but is it? If a club goes to the wall, it goes to the wall, if it does not then it still exists for football. Maybe he should cap footballers wages, those that kiss the badge but do their best to bankrupt it. Can you stop market forces ? What justification ? Platini is out of his depth, he is a footballer not a city accountant or a strategic executive with a wealth of business acumen. He wants to stop this so called credit cheating, what about those players that accumulate yellow cards to thwart goals and points lost at the drop of a hat, are any players genuinely afraid of a yellow card, are they? 6 league points saved for two bookings. If Platini wants to stop cheating then what about the blatant professional bookings. Triple the ban ! Platini's priorities are well meant but confused and hopeless, a nationalist agenda 6 plus 5, in a multi cultural European society are wrong, the damage to race relations in the UK and Europe will be severe, Nationalist fervour will only increase. OUT OF HIS DEPTH: PLATINI
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BBR Va Va Voom, my reference to Platini as a frog was supposed to be ironic...
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Mihir, if I may, I think the real story here is more to do with sports like cricket and rugby, as you say. I would be more interested to hear their reactions in more depth - how would a European regulatory body affect the England team's withdrawl from India, for example? Would you be able to even guess at what their attitude to that would be, and how they would be looked upon by the Indian authorities?
Incidentally, anyone who uses this as an excuse to have another pop at Platini clearly doesn't read things properly, so I won't bother replying to them!
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