Chelsea's Bruce Buck laments FFP regulations

Bruce Buck has spoken out against FFP regulations, suggesting that inequality is not neccesarily a bad thing in football, while arguing that with such strict rules in place, other teams will not be able to rise to the top of their respective domestic leagues like Chelsea. 

The Chelsea chairman said it was unfair to lump top clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City in with the 'great unwashed' by enforcing such stringent regulations upon their spending activity. 

During the 'Leaders of Sports Business' summit held at Stamford Bridge this week, Buck explained his views on FFP regulations in rather extensive fashion, stating: "'I personally believe that for the development of football, marquee clubs and marquee players are important. I am not, as a general proposition, in favour of dumbing down the large clubs in order to make all clubs the great unwashed. They've done that in the U.S. over the last 20 years and I think it's been to the detriment, particularly of baseball." 

The American continued: "MLS (Major League Soccer) started with that model of competitive balance...and I just don't think it works for the long term."

Buck also voiced his view that, with such strong FFP checks in place, that no other teams will enjoy the rise experienced by both Chelsea and current Premier League champions Manchester City, claiming: "What Chelsea did in 2003, what Man City did five years later, that's virtually impossible to do under financial fair play."

Prior to the purchase of Chelsea by Roman Abramovich in 2003, Chelsea had only won one top division title. They have won five since the Russian billionaire's takeover, not to mention countless other honours, most significantly the Champions League in 2012.

Likewise, Manchester City had not won the league title in 40 years before the 2008 arrival of the Abu Dhabi United group, fronted by owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.  The club have since won three Premier League titles, as well as multiple other domestic trophies since then, and are, at present, the reigning champions of England's top flight. 

With the exception of Leicester City's miracle triumph in 2016 and Blackburn Rovers on 1995, the so called 'top dogs' of the Premier Legaue have dominated the number one spot over the last twenty or so years, and have basically formed a mini-league between themselves at the top end of the division.  However Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck believes that this isnt such a bad thing, commenting: "'I don't think we should assume that because every club is not equal, that therefore it's bad."

 

May 2, 2016

The Financial Fair Play Regulations policy is designed to stop rich owners buying success, with clubs having to break even,or fear being sanctioned with a possibility of being thrown out of european competition if they spend more money than the club itself generates. 

Manchester City and Chelsea have strayed close to the limiting line on various occasions in recent years, which is perhaps why Buck is speaking out so adamantly against the regulations. Nevertheless, FFP looks set to continue regardless of complaints from 'big clubs', as UEFA look to restore parity in an ever inflating and extortionate worldwide transer market.

 

October 10, 2018