Henry calls on UEFA to act against clubs ignoring FFP rules

[tlw content]

John W. Henry has called on UEFA to do something about the clubs he claims are ‘ignoring Financial Fair Play’ regulations.

 

Speaking to the BBC, the Reds’ Principal Owner said; “The biggest challenge for us has been the ignoring of Financial Fair Play. It makes it very difficult to compete, but by the same token there are many clubs who can't compete at Liverpool's level. So I guess I shouldn't complain that vociferously.

 

”It's challenging, it makes it difficult” he continued. “There are only four Champions League spots, we have at least two teams that seem to have unlimited budgets, so it's challenging."

 

Liverpool’s match day revenue is dwarfed by the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal, and although the expansion of Anfield will help to close that gap when it eventually happens, Henry insists that is not the biggest financial barrier for Liverpool to overcome, it’s the loopholes that other teams are finding in UEFA's FFP regulations.

 

"The stadium was never going to solve the problems that Liverpool was facing economically," Henry explained. "Financial Fair Play is a much bigger solution to the problems Liverpool and other clubs are trying to compete against. That's a much larger issue.

 

"We really don't have Financial Fair Play, or at least people are not abiding by it. If UEFA does something about it and people have to comply, even then the rules are somewhat suspect. I'd love to think that UEFA can do and will do what needs to be done, but we'll see."

 

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[Guest LFD]

Wenger has also come out today saying they need strong punishments.  He's right.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27252552

[Bobby Hundreds]

Fuck all will happen. They will just fine them and line their own pockets.

[Kevin D]

[Saintslfc13]

FFP is as most of us expected.

[CardinalX]

Some might say the owners who are  ready to spend most might be worthy champions because they are ready to offer what it takes to win.

 

Myself I'm not so sure.

[Dante]

Rich people in doing what they want shocker.

 

'Twas always thus, and always thus will be.

 

 

[stringvest]

Henry sound there like he's not going to spend more than we earn. Which is fine, but it will put us at a disadvantage over those that will.

[Newport]

They aren't ignoring the rules, they are deliberately working around them and UEFA are letting them do it. Everyone knew this would happen.

[Pureblood]

Ah, there we are. It has been a while since they mentioned FFP. I was worried they'd forgotten about it but nice to know it's still numero uno in their list of excuses. Anyone would think the transfer window is about to open.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

That's some bullshit right there.

[No2]

Ah, there we are. It has been a while since they mentioned FFP. I was worried they'd forgotten about it but nice to know it's still numero uno in their list of excuses. Anyone would think the transfer window is about to open.

Or that at the time of interview the first decisions about ffp where to be announced?

[Pureblood]

Or that at the time of interview the first decisions about ffp where to be announced?

Perhaps. Either way they sure love talking about FFP. Usually in January and the summer months.

[Pureblood]

So what he's saying is that instead of building a new ground and getting our own act sorted, we should rely on the ultimate paper tiger to stop the naughty rich clubs spoiling everything. I can see Platini's silhouette riding in from the distance to save us all.

[Einch]

So...City potentially looking at £50M fine and a reduced squad. I wonder if the £50M, or whatever total is finally set, will be taken into account as football costs and have a knock on to the next reporting period?

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

So...City potentially looking at £50M fine and a reduced squad. I wonder if the £50M, or whatever total is finally set, will be taken into account as football costs and have a knock on to the next reporting period?

Nope.

[Einch]

Nope.

 

Damn. Was hoping it would.

[Dundalis]

How do we track? I know some portion of our debt is down as infrastructure, anyone got a firmer grip on the finances?

[Gym Beglin]

Henry sound there like he's not going to spend more than we earn. Which is fine, but it will put us at a disadvantage over those that will.

I'd rather we led by example and did things the right way, than suck the devil's cock to the detriment of the sport worldwide.

Like Omar said, "You've got to have a code".

[Einch]

We might be in trouble here as well. Although I think the fact we did not spend in January might be down to having worked out what we needed to do to hit the benchmark levels for loss.

[Trevorjc]

Be interesting to know where the 50m will go.  Hopefully to grassroots or junior football but i kind of doubt it.

[Barzini]

Be interesting to know where the 50m will go.  Hopefully to grassroots or junior football but i kind of doubt it.

[SlugTrail]

I'd rather we led by example and did things the right way, than suck the devil's cock to the detriment of the sport worldwide.

Like Omar said, "You've got to have a code".

Having a code isn't always a good thing we had one and he was a bit of a cunt.

[Frankenhooker]

We might be in trouble here as well. Although I think the fact we did not spend in January might be down to having worked out what we needed to do to hit the benchmark levels for loss.

We're not as our accounts don't come under scrutiny as we aren't in European competition, we don't need to submit anything until next year. We can also write some of the losses off against ground development which would bring us in line also FSG are likely to convert the money they're owed to equity.

 

We'll be fine.

[Gym Beglin]

It'll be interesting for us this time next year when our accounts are looked at.

 

If we want to strenghthen, then I think we'll have to sell Suarez to achieve it and stay compliant.

 

From this year as well, there is a cap of £105m on loss over three years in the PL, and ban hammers will come out in Dec 2016.

http://www.financialfairplay.co.uk/financial-fair-play-explained.php

 

We made a loss of £50m to May 2013, but my understanding is that the first of the three years will begin from the following May. Bear in mind that we are due to get an additional £30m income from Champions League qualification next year, and based on last year's estimates on PL placement payments, we stand to get between £5m-£10m in addition to last year.

 

And then bear in mind the Anfield redevelopment, and the timing of that, it all seems quite cosy. I expect a lot more Dunkin Donut announcements in the coming months.

 

But, the big investment in the next 4-5 years for this team could be covered, to a big extent, by the sale of Suarez, Johnson, Agger, Aspas, Lucas, Coates, Jones, Assaidi, Reina, (unknowns: Coady, Wisdom, McLAughlin, Robinson, Kelly, Adorjan, and let's be honest, that lot would rake in about £130m at a conservative estimate. That's a medium term plan of champions, if spent wisely.

 

Remaining squad (homegrown players denoted with asterisk):

 

Mignolet

Enrique

Toure

Alberto

Gerrard*

Coutinho

Henderson*

Sturridge*

Sakho

Allen*

Sterling*

Skrtel

Flanno*

Smith*

Rossiter*

Illori

Borini

Ibe*

 

That's 18 players there, 9 homegrowns, and then we've got £130m in player sales and £30m CL money to fill in the remaining 7 slots. Leave wages aside for the minute, we haven't even mentioned money from the owners, or matchday income, or sponsorship deals, or merchandising.

 

In another 12 months, we'll have Chirivella, Wilson, Ojo, Brannagan, Canos on the fringes.

 

In the meantime, spend like fuck.