Category: European football

The Curse of Money Destroys Football

Commentary “One can buy anything with money, except morality” is a well-known quote of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a Genevan 18th century philosopher. This quote is very apposite to describe the crazed world of European football (or soccer), where money dictates the outcomes of the national leagues’ competitions and the Champions League in a race for permanent sporting…


The Distortion of Football Competitions: A Story of Dubious Investments

Commentary Football fans palpably celebrated when Newcastle United announced that Saudia Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) had purchased the club for a staggering £305 million ($419.7 million). The Premier League had approved the deal after receiving legally binding guarantees that the new Saudi Arabian owner would not control the club. Newcastle United is a club…


Distortions in the World Game: A Story of Dubious Investments

Commentary Football fans palpably celebrated when Newcastle United announced that Saudia Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) had purchased the club for a staggering £305 million ($419.7 million). The Premier League had approved the deal after receiving legally binding guarantees that the new Saudi Arabian owner would not control the club. Newcastle United is a club…