Money, Greed, and Power: The English Premier League and the Death of Football

Before I begin, I must state that English football is not alone. Almost every league from the MLS to the SPL, from La Liga to Serie A is dominated by money. The Premier League however just seems to represent what has happened to modern day football.

It is true that football has transformed in the last few decades; the standard of football, stadia and youth development projects are impressive. And yet it can be argued that the sport has lost its soul.

Players changing hands for millions upon millions of pounds, wages higher still, agent fees, sponsorship deals, image rights and this is before a ball is even kicked.

Success is founded upon good infrastructure. A sound financial strategy leads to economic power which can lead to sporting success. However in the English game, a pattern has emerged, which highlights exactly why too many football teams today have built their house on sand.

Leeds United should have shown the world what happens when money is thrown at a situation. It does not work. One Semi-Final place in the Champions League is impressive but League One is not. Was it worth it? No.

The collapse of Leeds highlighted very clearly that clubs that live beyond their means have to over-succeed to survive. One bad campaign and the debts begin to mount, the interest cannot be paid and soon the club faces ruin.

Real Madrid, Man Utd, Liverpool, Barcelona, Chelsea—five of the top clubs in the world and yet mortgaged to the point of bankruptcy. Should any of these clubs have a bad season it can lead to serious economic problems. Liverpool in itself is beginning to unravel as we speak.

Poor investment leads to a loss of hard capital. No money, no players. And without key personnel—no success. No Champions League, less money, poorer players, poor finishes, no Europe.

Portsmouth is the new Leeds—the bright lights of the FA Cup and Europe are gone, and League One is a real possibility.

Investors coming into any club should have the cash available when they purchase, otherwise the club should not accept. Clubs that are built on strong foundations should not be sold risking all, simply out of the fantasy that they might become successful.

Chelsea for all their millions have not achieved what they should have done. Real Madrid under Perez has been a disaster. Go further and wider, Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Hearts, LA Galaxy, Darlington—all teams that have taken a financial gamble with little to no reward.

It is hard to support a team nowadays when it's all about the money. What is the culture of English football? It's arguable that it does not exist, instead replaced by some form of globalisation.

Football teams built on sand will collapse. The influence of money can never produce results. Only long term economic planning can do that. Billionaires and their vanity will not produce the required effect and clubs with proud traditions will fall one by one.

So far only the smaller teams have suffered, but soon, very soon, the economic boom of football will be over.