Podcast: Financial Fair Play in Football

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In SportingLinks’ first podcast, Linklaters’ finance and dispute resolution experts and Thomas Horton of 3 Hare Court discuss the financial fair play regulations of UEFA club competitions and the English Football League. We take a look at how these regulations apply to clubs, recent changes to such regulations, their impact on how football clubs finance themselves and what the future holds.

The Panel

• Mark Warren (Moderator) – Linklaters, Managing Associate, Banking, Amsterdam
• Jason Shardlow-Wrest – Linklaters, Managing Associate, Dispute Resolution, London
• Kalin Ivanov – Linklaters, Associate, Banking, Frankfurt
• Thomas Horton – 3 Hare Court Chambers, Barrister, founder of the website Football Law

Content

UEFA – Financial Fair Play Regulations

• How does FFP work?
• What is the FFP enforcement process and what trends have we seen in enforcement?
• What does the future hold for FFP?
• What adjustments have been made to FFP for Covid-19?

EFL Championship – Profitability And Sustainability Rules (P&S)

• How does P&S work?
• What is the P&S enforcement process?
• What has been the impact of P&S on EFL football?

Considerations in Loan and Sponsorship Agreements and Transfers

• How are related party transactions treated under financial fair play regulations?
• What factors are there to consider in relation to loans and other external financing?
• How are player purchases and player sales treated differently under accounting rules?

EFL League 1 and EFL League 2 – Salary Cap

• How does the Salary Cap work?
• What is the Salary Cap enforcement process?
• What could be the impact of the Salary Cap on EFL football going forwards?
• What has been the initial response to the Salary Cap being introduced in the EFL?

Running Order

• Introduction (00:00-01:37)
• UEFA – Financial Fair Play Regulations (01:38-18:10)
• EFL Championship – Profitability And Sustainability Rules (P&S) (18:11-31:48)
• Considerations in Loan and Sponsorship Agreements and Transfers (31:49-42:03)
• EFL League 1 and EFL League 2 – Salary Cap (42:04-1:02:08)

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