Football, Fans & Finance

The football business faces many problems. Players' wages and transfer fees continue to grow rapidly, and the gap between the biggest clubs and the rest is getting wider, making league and cup competitions more predictable. Not surprisingly, the fans are becoming increasingly agitated about the future of the game that they love. This volume shows that the demands of fans and those of financial institutions are not irreconcilable. After an initial introduction to the economics and finance of professional team sports, the book analyzes the main sources of revenue for football clubs. The cost structure of clubs is then considered and the sporting and financial performances of individual clubs are investigated. The impact of the stock market on football clubs is explained, and the book concludes with an examination of the competitive balance of football leagues and the international economics of the game.