BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP)—FIFA president Sepp Blatter is upset by the wave of foreign ownership in the English Premier League.
“Something is wrong here,” he said Monday at the European Parliament.
Seven Premier League clubs are in the hands of foreign owners: Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Manchester City and Fulham.
A senior British government official has urged the Football Association to tighten regulations over buyers.
Blatter realizes he has limited influence in national legislation.
“I don’t have a remedy,” he said.
Last year, leading soccer officials said such ownership brought a new edge to the league. Blatter says the matter has gotten out of hand.
“It is not only American investors who have come in,” he said. “Arab investors are coming. We have seen one investor from Thailand—he is going back.”
“Now,” he added, “you sell a team like you buy a shirt or whatever.”
Tags: Foreign Owners English Clubs Blatter
