finance warning to Scottish football clubs

3rd May 2010

Scottish football clubs could feel the heat under European Commission debt proposals, according to a leading sports law specialist.

Leading national law firm HBJ Gateley Wareing has said the EC could force clubs to reduce the levels of debt they currently hold. In Scotland, Rangers FC has debts of about £25m and Scottish football overall has debts of more than £100m.

The firm said one reason that clubs were feeling the financial strain was ever greater transfer fees. Under the 300-page EU rulebook, which came into force in December last year, the European Commission gained a greater say in the area of sport.

The commissioner, Androulla Vassiliou, plans to publish a communication outlining a new EU framework for co-operation in sport later this year. She has said the commission could try to reduce the currently high levels of debt carried by some European football clubs, especially in the UK and Spain.

Dispute resolution partner Simon Catto said: "These are challenging times for many football clubs, and concerns are being raised by some bodies over the role of UEFA and potential interference by the European Commission on the debt levels experienced by many football clubs."