Friday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Chelsea and Manchester City in European ban risk
How will Man City 'play fair' financially?
Two of English football's top-four clubs could be excluded from European competition in future as they fail Uefa rules that are about to be introduced.
The Financial Fair Play Regulations do not come into force until 1 June and will not really bite until 2013.
However, a study of recent accounts by BBC Sport shows Chelsea and Manchester City would fall well short of the rules if they were being applied today.
City were £110m in the red while Chelsea showed a deficit of over £50m.
Uefa's rules allow clubs to run up losses of £65m over the first five years.
Financial fair play has been introduced by European football's governing body Uefa to try and level the playing field between clubs funded by the super rich and those less fortunate.
In simple terms, teams cannot spend more than they generate from the football side of their business.
Uefa will have the power to ban any side that repeatedly flouts the rules from European competition.
The guidelines aim to measure a club's football business. Any revenue earned from side businesses such as property, hotels or media are excluded. So too are any costs not directly associated with the football club - such as huge interest payments like the ones incurred by Manchester United's owners the Glazer family.
United made a pre-tax loss of £79m in 2010 but, by Uefa's measure, actually returned a positive break-even result of £42m.
Arsenal would also easily meet the guidelines, posting a surplus of £55m. With no single wealthy owner at the Emirates Stadium, they pride themselves on running a sustainable football business.
Football finance expert Andy Green, who writes the blog andersred, carried out the analysis of the clubs' accounts. He believes Chelsea and Manchester City in particular have a mountain to climb to meet the guidelines.
"For Chelsea, I think if they can get a bigger ground they can probably get there," he told BBC sports editor David Bond.
"For City, they've got a long way to go. They need to get into the Champions League, stay there year after year, probably put their ticket prices up and really turn around their commercial side - in fact they need to make it one of the best in the world - to even have a chance of meeting these rules."
Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino said he was optimistic that English clubs would be able to comply with the rules though.
"I don't think it will be difficult for the English clubs to comply because they are very well managed and very well aware of what is coming," he told BBC Sport.
"There is sufficient time in order to implement the regulations. The English clubs are among those generating the highest revenues in Europe.
"The basic rule is the break-even rule that says you cannot spend more than you generate, so if you generate more than the others you have an advantage. So I am not worried at all about the English.
"I'm sure the managers of the English clubs are thinking about this, because they know the regulations are coming into force.
"They know what these rules mean and how we will implement them. I am sure that tomorrow they will put their finances in order so they are able to break even.
"Our president spoke to Manchester City's owners over a year ago when we started with this process and they were very happy with it."
VIDEO: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13000543.stm

OTHER BOLLOX
Bayern Munich have lined up Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan as their number one target during the summer and are willing to pay £12m for his signature. talksport

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has ruled out a £10m summer move for Ipswich striker Connor Wickham. the Sun

Manchester United's attempts to lure Palermo midfielder Armin Bacinovic have hit a snag after the players' agent refuted claims the player was interested in a summer move. bettor.com

Newcastle United are preparing a £19.2m swoop for Anderlecht's 17-year-old striker Romelu Lukaku, but Spurs are also keen with Peter Crouch's future unclear at White Hart Lane. Metro

Liverpool face a battle to sign Aly Cissokho after the French defender revealed he was happy to stay at Lyon. talksport

Lille are ready to sell winger Eden Hazard to Arsenal or Chelsea but want the 20-year-old Belgian star to be loaned straight back to them. talksport

Everton boss David Moyes is plotting a surprise move for Nottingham Forest's midfield enforcer Guy Moussi. Daily Mirror

Wolves boss Mick ­McCarthy wants to sign Reading's Republic of Ireland forward Shane Long - and pair him with compatriot Kevin Doyle. Daily Mirror

West Brom boss Roy Hodgson admits the club face a battle hanging on to star striker Peter ­Odemwingie this summer. Daily Mirror

Derby midfielder Stephen Pearson is set for a lucrative £300,000 switch to Turkish giants Bursaspor. Daily Mirror

Manchester United are considering offering injury-plagued midfielder Owen Hargreaves the chance to remain at the club beyond the end of the season. (Daily Telegraph)

Santos have rejected a £30m bid for striker Neymar from Chelsea. Inside Futbol

Manchester United have been warned against pursuing Borussia Dortmund's exciting young midfield prospect Mario Goetze. Inside Futbol

Ryan Giggs says Manchester United were "bamboozled" by Wayne Rooney's ban but claims it will serve only to make them stronger. Daily Mirror

Referees have revolted against the Football Association for using Lee Mason to write a report so Manchester United's Wayne Rooney could be charged for swearing. Daily Mirror

A top police officer has warned striker Wayne Rooney he was lucky not to get locked up for his shocking F-word rant at West Ham. Daily Star

Arsenal Supporters' Trust have expressed their "considerable disappointment" over the Gunners' recent results, but will reserve final judgement on the squad until the end of the season. Daily Mail

Sunderland have revealed they are being sued by one of their own fans who was knocked unconscious by a wayward strike from forward Djibril Cisse while watching the Black Cats train. Metro

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has said that anyone who comes knocking on his door to try and sign winger Matt Jarvis will get a custard pie in the face. Daily Mail

Brazilian forward Neymar - who is a target for Chelsea - was sent off for Santos when putting on a mask of his own face during a goal celebration. The Independent

[lovecity8utd]

So the BBC formed a view on City's financial position based on the opinion of a scum fan. Article could easily have been entitled 'City an dChelsea will be fine with fair play rules' if it were based on the officials statement at the end of the article.

[ant london]

Chelsea and Manchester City in European ban risk
How will Man City 'play fair' financially?
Two of English football's top-four clubs could be excluded from European competition in future as they fail Uefa rules that are about to be introduced.
The Financial Fair Play Regulations do not come into force until 1 June and will not really bite until 2013.
However, a study of recent accounts by BBC Sport shows Chelsea and Manchester City would fall well short of the rules if they were being applied today.
City were £110m in the red while Chelsea showed a deficit of over £50m.
Uefa's rules allow clubs to run up losses of £65m over the first five years.
Financial fair play has been introduced by European football's governing body Uefa to try and level the playing field between clubs funded by the super rich and those less fortunate.
In simple terms, teams cannot spend more than they generate from the football side of their business.
Uefa will have the power to ban any side that repeatedly flouts the rules from European competition.
The guidelines aim to measure a club's football business. Any revenue earned from side businesses such as property, hotels or media are excluded. So too are any costs not directly associated with the football club - such as huge interest payments like the ones incurred by Manchester United's owners the Glazer family.
United made a pre-tax loss of £79m in 2010 but, by Uefa's measure, actually returned a positive break-even result of £42m.
Arsenal would also easily meet the guidelines, posting a surplus of £55m. With no single wealthy owner at the Emirates Stadium, they pride themselves on running a sustainable football business.
Football finance expert Andy Green, who writes the blog andersred, carried out the analysis of the clubs' accounts. He believes Chelsea and Manchester City in particular have a mountain to climb to meet the guidelines.
"For Chelsea, I think if they can get a bigger ground they can probably get there," he told BBC sports editor David Bond.
"For City, they've got a long way to go. They need to get into the Champions League, stay there year after year, probably put their ticket prices up and really turn around their commercial side - in fact they need to make it one of the best in the world - to even have a chance of meeting these rules."

Brilliant.

So the BBC have consulted this guy.....who is a massive mune.....to opine on whether City and Chelsea can meet the FFP conditions. No vested interest whatsoever in this prick telling people that both their main rivals will "struggle" is there. Cocks

Not saying he doesn't professionally know what he's talking about but fuck me, not half a biased optic to look at this through

About me
Until this season (2010/11) I was for many years a Manchester United season ticket holder. I still go to away games and may go to a few matches at Old Trafford, but cannot bring myself to give the Glazers £1,000+ a season. Professionally I am a fund manager in the City of London with 15 years experience of investment analysis. I am also an advisor (on financial matters) to the Manchester United Supporters Trust, although I am not an elected official of MUST and do not speak for them.

http://andersred.blogspot.com/p/about-t ... ut-me.html

[Beefymcfc]

This paragraph shows how very wrong the system is. Teams like United could lose millions every year pushing them further into debt yet they'd still be allowed as the the interest wouldn't be taken into account, the same interest that could force them into administration (in most teams cases).

The guidelines aim to measure a club's football business. Any revenue earned from side businesses such as property, hotels or media are excluded. So too are any costs not directly associated with the football club - such as huge interest payments like the ones incurred by Manchester United's owners the Glazer family.

Legitimate business profits would not be allowed?

[Dameerto]

i was under the impression they WOULD be allowed.

[avoidconfusion]

i was under the impression they WOULD be allowed.

I am fairly sure that this is the case.

[lets all have a disco]

I'm sure they will.

If it's all part of the clubs infrastructure.

[Slim]

There is a limit on the amount contributed to the club through 3rd party interests.