Rosell for long-term investment

Middle Eastern investors are welcome at European clubs, provided their presence is long-term, respectful of rules and not to the detriment of surrounding teams, said Barcelona chairman Sandro Rosell at the sixth Dubai International Sports Conference yesterday. The debate was over Uefa's proposed financial fair play regulations, which will only continue to license and include clubs in the future based on their ability to stay within certain guidelines of sustainability. Margins of "acceptable deviation" beyond breaking even would be capped at €45 million (Dh215.93 million) losses reduced over time to €30 million. But Manchester City recently posted annual losses for 2010 of over €230 million. Initially intended as a model for regional clubs to aspire to, discussion quickly swayed to the growing number of European clubs funded by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) backers, such as Malaga, Racing Santander, Getafe, Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City. Rules Uefa secretary-general Gianni Infantino had earlier revealed, when discussing new rules aimed at clubs having to break even and repay their debts, that 56 per cent of Europe's 700 teams made an annual loss despite combined revenue streams increasing to €12-13 billion. He also revealed that 64 per cent of each club's revenue is, on average, spent on wages and transfer fees. He said the new guidelines set for 2013 implementation weren't designed to hold clubs back but ensure the long-term health of the game. Rosell said: "It's crucial we implement these financial fairplay rules throughout clubs. A club not paying another club shouldn't play against them and win — that's not fair. We see players, agents and federations get richer every year but the clubs get poorer." The Barcelona chief also said that some differentiation had to be made in the rules for clubs run as associations with elected heads, like Barcelona, and clubs run as a company with outright authority like Chelsea. "Abramovich can put £739 million into Chelsea, but that's not fair for an association that can't increase its capital whenever it wants." Asked then about Middle Eastern investment, Rosell said: "It's more than welcome, so long as owners and sponsors know the rules and limitations of European football. "Someone buying a club and putting a lot of their own money in before leaving after just a few years won't help football, it will harm it. "If an owner spends without limit over five to ten years then they will become the best club in the world. But by this happening what happens to the other clubs? They feel pressure to keep level and increase their expenses. "I say ‘yes' to Middle Eastern investment, but with transparent rules not to put pressure on the other clubs. With investors who have long-term not short-term plans. We welcome it provided it follows the rules of Uefa."