Has European football sold its soul?
The four champions league finalists are Manchester City, Paris San Germain, Chelsea and Real Madrid.
The first two clubs are literally owned by Gulf states with awful human rights records. Chelsea, the original oligarch team, are the possession of a corrupt Russian billionaire friend of Putin.
That leaves Real Madrid, the plucky underdog once described as the 'best embassy Spain ever had.' This was when Spain was run by Franco's dictatorship.
Unless you have massive money, you cant compete at the highest level and some of that money comes from some seriously dodgy places.
Next season, there will be more Champions League games as the groups are expanded. Which means more predictability and less drama. Crucially it means more guaranteed income for the biggest clubs.
The first two clubs are literally owned by Gulf states with awful human rights records. Chelsea, the original oligarch team, are the possession of a corrupt Russian billionaire friend of Putin.
That leaves Real Madrid, the plucky underdog once described as the 'best embassy Spain ever had.' This was when Spain was run by Franco's dictatorship.
Unless you have massive money, you cant compete at the highest level and some of that money comes from some seriously dodgy places.
Next season, there will be more Champions League games as the groups are expanded. Which means more predictability and less drama. Crucially it means more guaranteed income for the biggest clubs.
41-45, M
