LEAGUE-AL PROBLEMS

TAKING THE BAR TO WRITE BLOGS

Spent the last 39 minutes reading a few articles from non-legal experts to turn myself into an actual legal expert… and I can safely say, I’ve made it.

Just kidding.

The Premier League had another tough go at holding a club accountable for breaking the rules, this time over fair market value. I don’t want to get too bogged down in the details. I can navigate club finances and discuss the business of football, but when it comes to sports law, I’m completely out of my depth.

Topline: the Premier League has lost ground in certain areas and will now have to amend some rules, which need to be ratified by 14 clubs. This will be tricky, considering the range of ownership groups and their differing interests.

They might also have to adjust rulings on interest-free loans from club owners that don’t reflect fair market value. You can tell certain clubs have leaked information to generate headlines like *“ARSENAL COULD FALL FOUL OF PSR RULES”*, which I doubt, primarily because we pay interest on those loans, and those deals were made during the era of cheap money. I’m also unsure whether the Premier League can reshape rules on FMV loans and retroactively penalise clubs.