The 2011/12 football season is revolutionary in more ways than one. Not only are we seeing the rise of the next great Manchester United team under the stewardship of Sir Alex Ferguson, and not only is Joey “Nietzche” Barton now the captain of QPR, but this season represents the first in which football clubs finances come under the scrutiny of the much talked about UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations (FFPR).

As you’d expect, FFPR is a subject that has thus far caused much discussion, controversy and confusion. Based on my jaunts to the pub and yonder, many good folk appear to understand what the general rules are (that, financially, clubs have to break-even), but beyond that their knowledge has been clouded by ignorant reporting and wishful thinking. Many City fans would have you believe that because of United’s Glazer induced debt, we have no chance of complying with FFPR, and many United fans would have you believe that, due to mass transfer expenditure by the Lottery Winners (City) in recent years, the Gorton Globetrotters too have little chance of complying with said regulation.

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When Sir Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes to the Manchester United side which faced Schalke in the second leg of the Champions League semi final last month there was not a single word of complaint from UEFA – and with good reason. On the other hand we are now seeing warnings from the Premier League that “The FA are watching to see what­ team Ferguson puts out against Blackpool on Sunday. If they make­ major changes from the team that played­ Blackburn last weekend, they will face penalties just like Blackpool­ and Wolves did in the last couple of seasons.” Why? Clubs should be able to field any team they want, in any Premier fixture they want – with one proviso. If a player is named in the squad required by the FA, there surely cannot be any valid argument for them to be used.

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And so news has emerged that, as of next season, season ticket prices at Man United will be increasing by £1 a game, with the rationale behind this decision being attributed to the rise in VAT earlier in the year from 17.5% to 20%. On the other side of the coin though, the Glazer’s (or someone at United who is employed by the Glazer’s) have listened to suggestions from fans by capping junior ticket prices at £20.

To be honest, it could have been worse. Considering that, over the last six years, ticket prices have increased by an average of 5.8% P/A, ‘tis but a drop in the ocean. But let’s not get lulled into a false sense of security here because, as evidenced by the ticket prices for the Champions League final, the common fan is still being treated with complete and utter contempt by those running the clubs and authorities within football. Read the full story

French radio stations have vowed to boycott the Manchester United v Marseille Champions League clash next month over the “exorbitant” transmission fees being demanded by the English Premier League giants. Radio France chief of sport Jacques Vendroux said United had demanded 26,000 euros from each French radio station wishing to cover the second leg of their last 16 clash at Old Trafford. He told AFP that the demand was the “most exorbitant sum” he had ever heard of, was all the more bizarre because English radio stations were able to cover the first leg in Marseille on Wednesday for free when the sides played out a scoreless draw. As a result, he said Radio France and its two sister stations France Info and Radio Bleu Provence, would be joined by RTL, Europe 1 and RMC in boycotting the match on March 15.

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French radio stations have vowed to boycott the Manchester United v Marseille Champions League clash next month over the “exorbitant” transmission fees being demanded by the English Premier League giants. Radio France chief of sport Jacques Vendroux said United had demanded 26,000 euros from each French radio station wishing to cover the second leg of their last 16 clash at Old Trafford. He told AFP that the demand was the “most exorbitant sum” he had ever heard of, was all the more bizarre because English radio stations were able to cover the first leg in Marseille on Wednesday for free when the sides played out a scoreless draw. As a result, he said Radio France and its two sister stations France Info and Radio Bleu Provence, would be joined by RTL, Europe 1 and RMC in boycotting the match on March 15.

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Chelsea’s home game against Manchester United originally set down for December 18 last year was snowed off. It was then rescheduled for March 1 BUT that may need to be postponed again until May depending on results in the FA Cup. That’s five full months after its original date, five months in which a suitable date could not be found. Yet Wednesday February 9 would have been perfectly acceptable for all concerned EXCEPT that England was set down to play a game in Denmark which is nothing more than a friendly, exhibition, training match, call it what you will, but certainly a totally meaningless one (and looking at the latest online betting odds, they’re favourites to win). WHY?

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