£558 million outlay by Chelsea in the years transfer windows. Premiership spending is £815m in the January window. (Cost of living crisis?) Chelsea alone have spent more than the Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Series A combined. Where does this leave the rest? Football is about competition between a league of clubs, not just a few. Will we be de facto limited to a European Cup that will consist of just 10 clubs?
Will clubs like Ajax and Benfica become academies for the rich ones? Like globalisation generally I believe it is getting out of hand. I accept that clubs with grounds attracting 60000 week in and week out should have more finance and be able to perform at the top level more regularly. However it seems to be getting ridiculous. Newcastle have hardly entered the race, having spent £183m in the last year, but have the capacity to do so much more. ManU are reportedly up for sale for a few £billion.
But football is a game of some equality. As a team game, it is not always the best team that wins. May the FA Cup live forever! But even here the wealth comes to the top! So the top of football will continue to be dominated by capitalism’s worst aspects. Lower down teams are hoping for crumbs from the Lords Tables. There is no chance now of a Wimbledon or Northampton rising through the ranks to make the Premiership. What player would would refuse £100 grand a week to continue playing for say Plymouth for say £10grand?
Football’s investment in facilities also needs looking at. It is not just a football thing, but a health thing. Boys and girls are playing football more and more