Football: English Premier League Legal Bills Rise!
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
It has been reported that the English Premier League (EPL), the most successful and lucrative football league in the World, incurred legal bills last season amounting to £45 million!
The EPL had budgeted for only £8 million.
The EPL has been engaged in a number of investigations, disciplinary arbitration procedures and appeals. These cases have involved Manchester City, Everton, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Leicester City Football Clubs.
These high legal costs are paid out of central funds and are the result of the need to enforce rules, as well as an increase in the number of cases.
Defending these costs, the Chief Executive of the EPL, Richard Masters, has stated:
“Part of any sporting competition is a commitment to uphold the rules.”
And he added that:
“While it does create difficulties, there is no happy alternative to enforcing rules.”
Success always comes at a cost!
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
