With only eight of the 20 Premier League clubs in English hands, FIFA President Sepp Blatter ponders whether Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool will stand the test of time.
‘There’s danger,’ FIFA’s president warned the media at the European Parliament on Monday.
‘These people arrive, buy the clubs but they can leave at any moment. That creates a risk of instability for these teams and the competition as a whole.’
‘Ideally a way should be found for clubs to be financed by local investors.’
‘There should also be a control of these clubs’ finances. But I don’t have a miracle remedy. It’s an important topic for discussion that we should have with UEFA’
‘It’s a logical phenomenon,’ he explained. ‘The Premier League is the most attractive championship. You see English football on television all around the world. there’s an immense market.’
Who owns who?
Roman Abramovich (Chelsea) – Estimated worth: £11.7 billion
Abu Dhabi United Group (Manchester City) – Estimated worth: £444 billion
Randy Lerner (Aston Villa) – Estimated worth: £894 million
Mohamed al-Fayed (Fulham) – Estimated worth: £555m
Steve Gibson (Middlesbrough) – Estimated worth: £112 million
Dave Whelan (Wigan Athletic) – Estimated worth: £200m
Arsenal’s non-quoted plc (Arsenal) – Estimated worth: Unknown
Malcolm Glazer (Manchester United) – Estimated worth: £1.2 billion
Drumaville Consortium (Sunderland) – Estimated worth: Unknown
Alexandre Gaydamak (Portsmouth) – Estimated worth: Unknown
The Walker Trust (Blackburn) – Estimated worth: £300 million
Paul Duffen (Hull City) – Estimated worth: Unknown
Peter Coates (Stoke City) – Estimated worth: £200m
Joe Lewis (Tottenham Hotspur) – Estimated worth: £2.8 billion
Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson (West Ham) – Estimated worth: £500m
Eddie Davies (Bolton) – Estimated worth: £60 million
Bill Kenwright (Everton) – Estimated worth: £30m
Tom Hicks and George Gillett (Liverpool) – Estimated: worth £1.4 billion
Mike Ashley (Newcastle United) – Estimated worth: £1.4 billion
Jeremy Peace (West Brom) – Estimated worth: £35m
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