"Football clubs are community assets, possessing a value, history and meaning which cannot be captured on a balance sheet. They belong to the cities and towns that have sustained them over the decades. For the vast majority of supporters, the sense of identity and matchgoing rituals associated with following their team are worth as much as the occasional trophy or glorious victory."
"European football's governing body, Uefa, this week announced that it will allow a Spanish league fixture between Villarreal and Barcelona to take place closer to Cuba than Catalonia, in Miami's Hard Rock stadium. This will be followed, in February, by the relocation to Australia of an Italian Serie A match between Milan and Como. Global sports promoters, rubbing their hands at the potential profits this precedent could unlock, are cockahoop. Supporters organisations in Spain and Italy are considerably less impressed."
Football clubs function as community assets with value, history and meaning that transcend financial accounting. Supporters derive identity and ritual from local matchgoing, often valuing these experiences as much as trophies. Uefa has permitted a La Liga match between Villarreal and Barcelona to be staged in Miami and a Serie A fixture between Milan and Como to be relocated to Australia. Promoters anticipate large profits from such precedents, while supporters and hometown communities feel disenfranchised. Regularly moving fixtures abroad would erode competitive fairness by disrupting home advantage and weaken local fan culture. Revenue from overseas exhibitions would better support domestic leagues and grassroots investment.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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