Tuesday's Daily: All In
With J Hutcherson
Picking up on yesterday's not so popular point about FIFA being a better option to run world soccer than say club owners, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has a point of his own.
Speaking to the European Parliament on Monday, Blatter used the English Premier League as an object lesson for inappropriate ownership, saying: "Something is wrong here.... You get people turning up with banker's guarantees who are not interested in football and then they lose interest in the clubs and leave. What happens to the clubs then?"
Though some will dismiss this as gamesmanship in the broader struggle between club owners and international soccer, it's a solid point. The highest levels of European soccer have almost always been built on individuals or organizations not just interested in turning a profit.
Unfortunately for Blatter's point, some of the new money in the English Premier League isn't necessarily there for a potential payout. Chelsea spends, Manchester City will spend, and Aston Villa is being held up as an example for what ownership should be like across the league.
Now one could reasonably argue that incredibly wealthy ownership willing too spend changes the game for everybody. Then again, the same 'England for the English' logic while pointing somewhat desperately at the state of the National Team was in play long before the new wealth entered the EPL.
Quality of ownership and potential ownership is not a recent issue. Calls for regulation might sound about right to those feeling distant from the contemporary version of the game, but it's slogan work at best. The problems with the current version of professional sports extend well past who is willing to find a club.
To put it another way, where would this leave a league like the Premier League? For every anorak enthusiast who simply wants their club back at the local level they prefer, the elite of English soccer are normally associated with the elite of Europe. That's an economic league as much as a sports league at this point, and barring an influx of local ownership money not likely to go hand-in-hand.
Few clubs are naive enough to think that the fans would be happy with a return to the good old days minus the ability to compete for titles home and away. They're right. Again, it's the kind of conversation that sounds good minus the actual reality.
European soccer didn't wake up one morning to find its elite flush with cash courtesy of nontraditional ownership. Pretending like it did and responding accordingly only provokes the kind of confrontation the existing power structure has been looking to avoid. Rich owners versus a bureaucracy that has shown as much willingness as anybody in pro soccer to turn a healthy profit.
On TV
CONCACAF Champions League: Cruz Azul - Marathon at 8pm on TeleFutura and Houston - San Francisco at 10pm on Galavision and Fox Soccer Channel. All Times Eastern
The Wonderful World of Soccer Media: Europe
New World Cup bidding system in the making -- from The Associated Press' Raf Casert: "We've noted the president's comments as well as his previous remarks," U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said.
Uefa Cup draw -- from BBC Sport: "If you look at the teams there are 40 good sides in the UEFA Cup, it is a tough competition to come through."
Club takeovers under scrutiny -- from The Guardian's Matt Scott: But Lord Triesman is keen for football to lead a debate that led MPs yesterday to attack the influence in English football of "billionaires who have made their fortunes through corruption, dishonesty and extortion".
taly's Serie A nudges towards breakaway -- from Reuters' "The day has arrived."
Capello calls for end to booing -- from The Independent's Sam Wallace: "With 90,000 supporters at home, there is great expectancy."
Fabio Capello takes hard line with Premier League club managers -- from The Times' Matt Hughes: As president of the League Managers Association, Capello is keen to have a good relationship with those in charge of clubs, but he will not be bullied by them.
Tottenham Hotspur board anxious about Juande Ramos' lack of leadership -- from The Telegraph's Oliver Brown: Ramos, though, has already been accused of losing the dressing room with his detached attitude.
The Wonderful World of Soccer Media: Americas
U.S. Team Gladly Returns to RFK -- from The Washington Post's Steven Goff: While glossy, new soccer stadiums sprouted in suburbs around the country, the sport had lost its gritty, urban stage.
Red Bulls' goal: Rise above this fall -- from The Newark Star-Ledger's Frank Giase: In the 13-year history of the franchise, the Red Bulls have had a winning record in the months of September and October just three times.
Losses at Home Raise the Heat on the Red Bulls -- from The New York Times' Jack Bell: Asked if the club could have dug itself a bigger hole, Osorio said: “I don’t think so."
Butterflies will land between new nets -- from The Salt Lake Tribune's Michael C. Lewis: "It could be difficult," coach Jason Kreis said.
Sounders have form to follow for inaugural season -- from The Seattle Times' José Miguel Romero: In short, if MLS can succeed in greater Denver, it seems certain to work in the urban environs of Seattle.
Comments, questions, solutions to problems that have yet to present themselves. Please, tell me all about it.
