[Football] Paul Barber interviewed by Sky on Saudi spending

[Herr Tubthumper]

Our CEO interviewed by Sky News on Saudi Spending

Is Saudi Arabia a genuine threat to the Premier League's grip on football's transfer market?

Clubs in Saudi Arabia have already spent more than £700m on top talent this summer, and experts warn the Gulf nation will only get more aggressive in future transfer windows.

news.sky.com

Do people think the spending power of the PPI and other Saudi business consortiums are a threat to the EPL/European Leagues or will the vast majority of the World’s top players still be attracted to the top clubs in the PL/Europe?

When you say “threat to the EPL” what do you mean? As a Brighton fan, how will this manifest itself?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

People across the world don't seem interested in following Leagues with the same religion as theirs. But if they decide to, that's fine it wouldn't suddenly ruin football elsewhere. And if some of the best talent in the world want to ply their trade there, that's fine too.

As long as they aren't allowed to bribe their way into European competitions, I don't care.

Very good points. The main proviso is that if a massive market is created, and it is as big as the European (and South American) markets, it will diminish our game. It may not ruin it, but we are in a very privileged position at the moment, because the EPL is now consistently the apex predator, and in England we don't know what it feels like to have a second rate top flight. Any more. The effect of being eclipsed may not be pleasant.

Perhaps the clincher will be your final point. Having Saudi teams in the champions' league would be a big thing. That said.....to qualify the Saudi league would have to come into line with the rest of us - no late slamming shut of the Saudi transfer window. Engagement with FFP (which could be upped in substance in Europe if the cheats who wanted a super league such as Barcelona recognized the threat and, no longer the apex predator clubs, supported moves to shore up their position). Even the compulsory engagement with rainbow armbands, and other things that some consider pointless gestures, are cause for execution out there and it would be a joy to behold the Saudis having to suck up such gestures on pitches in their own country.

Interesting times?

European football needs to drain its own swamp though, before it can act coherently against the Saudi threat. Clowns like that arse in Spain have no place in the game.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

People really need to understand that a huge percentage of the world don't follow teams they follow players so the argument of history isn't as strong as they might think.

Get enough top players in the league for long enough and it will succeed. The Saudi's have bottomless pockets so...

It's only really a worry if you're desperately wedded to the idea of the premier league being the bestest league in the world. If you're not then... ...there will still be a premier league and there will still be the English pyramid and there will still be tens of thousands of fans going to watch the games. We'll still attract good young players and sell them on to richer clubs. They'll just be in Saudi Arabia rather than England.

 

[Perkino]

It will take a huge overhaul to become anywhere near as competitive as the Premier League. Those nearing the end of a career may be tempted but others who want to play at the highest level won't be interested

 

[Zeberdi]

When you say “threat to the EPL” what do you mean? As a Brighton fan, how will this manifest itself?

‘Threat’ as interpreted in the Sky article linked to in first post.

- not sure I understand the second part of your question but for myself speaking as a Brighton fan, we could benefit by selling our top players for even more than the inflated rates that we sold Moises for as key players are targeted by the Saudi league from EPL Big 7 clubs - Just half a dozen Mega rich clubs have dominated the EPL for too long to the detriment of clubs like us. I think it’s inevitable the competitive wages being offered by the Saudis will have an impact on the demand by the Big 7 for players from ‘feeder’ clubs as they lose some established key players to the Saudi carrots - tbh though, I can’t envisage a mass exodus of young talent (or even old talent) from Europe/EPL to Saudi clubs (for various reasons) and at the moment anyway it is not much more than a mega rich semi-retirement destination for a handful of world-class footballers- the ELs are much more than that.

 

[Triggaaar]

Very good points. The main proviso is that if a massive market is created, and it is as big as the European (and South American) markets

Football is far too big all across Europe for that to be possible. Just about every European country loves playing and watching football, and clubs have histories of more than a century.

It will diminish our game. It may not ruin it, but we are in a very privileged position at the moment, because the EPL is now consistently the apex predator, and in England we don't know what it feels like to have a second rate top flight.

Italian clubs used to spend more than us and it didn't matter. Germany, Spain, Italy continue to enjoy their football without being the best league. We don't need to be the best.

 

[GT49er]

I think that’s why they put forward the argument (against their ‘sportwashing’ critics) for why they have been making such a drive towards global sport investment (ie to move away from a fossil fuel-reliant GDP) - it’s not just football they are making silly money investments in but golf, boxing, formula 1 …

Saudi Arabia’s Investments Raise Questions of ‘Sportswashing’

Saudi Arabia has made unprecedented investments in international sports. Critics accuse the kingdom of “sportswashing” its reputation for human rights abuses.

www.cfr.org

Yes, I get that - but they are investing in things that, far from being profitable, cost a hell of a lot to run. Football doesn't have limits on profits, it has limits on the amount of £millions you can lose before being fined more £millions. As many club owners have found, buying a club is only the start of money disappearing at a frightening rate. Running a Formula 1 team costs £millions every season, and so on.

 

[BNthree]

The only threat is their spending helping certain clubs beat FFP rules

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Football is far too big all across Europe for that to be possible. Just about every European country loves playing and watching football, and clubs have histories of more than a century.


Italian clubs used to spend more than us and it didn't matter. Germany, Spain, Italy continue to enjoy their football without being the best league. We don't need to be the best.

Not need. Want. With Brighton at the top

 

[Beach Hut]

20 years to build a brand so no chance, people will get bored of Saudi Arabia

 

[Triggaaar]

20 years to build a brand so no chance people will get bored of Saudi Arabia

Eh? I am already bored of their football.

 

[BNthree]

Eh? I am already bored of their football.

Read their post but imagine a comma between chance and football. Makes sense then.

 

[Beach Hut]

Read their post but imagine a comma between chance and football. Makes sense then.

OP grammatically corrected.

To add, this feels very much like USA first attempt at Soccer with Pele etc, get all the big names in and that fizzled out.

 

[Triggaaar]

Read their post but imagine a comma between chance and football. Makes sense then.

Thank you. Should actually be a full-stop.

 

[Triggaaar]

OP grammatically corrected.

To add, this feels very much like USA first attempt at Soccer with Pele etc, get all the big names in and that fizzled out.

They're putting in far more than the US, in an attempt to get quite a few big names in several teams. It still won't work.

 

[deslynhamsmoustache1]

They are following the Qataris. They heavily invested in PSG to get a feel for elite football and to be taken seriously for their world cup bid. The Saudis, have done the same with Newcastle and will bid and win the right to stage the world cup at some point in the future............Money talks.

 

[The Grockle]

I think there's more chance of the MLS being the next big league to attract worldwide attention. Not Saudi or any other country with no footbsll heritage.

History of clubs plays a part and the players but the cities, derby's, stadiums and heritage help attract the audience as part of the overall package IMO.

Amso Saudi might spend billions and attract big players with lucrative wage deals but for the majority of players they would still choose Man united at 150k per week over Al-whatchamacallit at 300k per week. Money talks but they are still athletes that want to showcase their talent on the biggest stage

 

[dstanman]

Saudis may have the money, but you need the passion of the fans to make a league successful

 

[HillBarnTillIDie]

It may be a long way off - but how will it carry on when the world finally manages to largely do without fossil fue nd nobody wants to buy their oil.

Humans not needing fossil fuel or oil……. Will never ever happen
The world will be destroyed by warring nations or a catastrophic event first.