There have been rumblings that the Premier League clubs have reached an agreement to implement new cost-control regulations.
Everton and Nottingham Forest were recently docked points due to the existence of the present Profit and Sustainability Rules, formerly called Financial Fair Play, which permit losses of £105 million over a three-year cycle.
Many clubs, however, have had to stay still in the transfer markets as of late in order to avoid going over the cap, which critics say limits their ambition.
The league seems prepared to move forward with a squad-cost ratio structure, despite other alternatives being considered by fans and experts, including a salary cap and a luxury tax.
Because of this, clubs can spend as much as 85% of their earnings on salary, agents, and transfers. In a similar vein, UEFA has mandated that clubs competing in European competitions spend no more than 70% of their revenue.
Two votes were taken by the twenty clubs in the Premier League about the new regulations during Thursday’s shareholder meeting, with one club reaching a unanimous decision (Sky Sports). Now that everything is in general in agreement, the league will try to get its rules included into the document at its annual meeting in the summer.
The squad-cost ratio has its detractors who believe it will do little more than maintain the status quo, with the top teams continuing to reap the financial benefits. Some teams, especially those associated with affluent states, have raised concerns about the possibility of artificially inflating their revenue streams through sponsorship deals with companies owned by their owners.
For the 2024–25 season, the Profit and Sustainability Rules are likely to stay in place. This might be seen as a stepping stone to implementing the squad-cost ratio.
The new rules will also include the possibility of point deductions.
A new Independent Football Regulator is being considered by the government, who may have the authority to impose their own regulations on the sustainable management of football clubs, even as the Premier League delves into its own internal debate on its financial standards.
Also at Thursday’s league meeting, the usage of semi-automated offsides will be in place beginning with the 2019 season.
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