Les clubs européens de football mis en danger par les USA.
Publié : 13 juin 2005 2:30
Source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 084950.stm#
NFL owners 'eye European clubs'
More NFL owners may follow Malcolm Glazer's lead and look into buying European football clubs.
Glazer has completed a £790m takeover of Manchester United and Clark Hunt, whose family own NFL team Kansas City Chiefs, says others could do the same.
"We're seeing a globalisation of sport so it will be logical if you see some of our other owners buying in Europe.
"As we move forward it's something we will look at. There's definitely a chance," he told BBC Radio Five Live.
The Hunt family also own three Major League Soccer clubs in the United States and Clark said they would see how the Glazers got on before making a move.
"We will follow the story with interest - we follow the sport in Europe - and we will keep our eyes on how things are going over there," the Chiefs chairman explained.
Meanwhile, Hunt insists that United fans should give the Glazer family a chance and not be too alarmed about their plans for the club.
There has been outrage over reports that the Glazers are planning to increase ticket prices by 54% over the next five years.
But Hunt, who knows the family through their NFL connections because the Glazers also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, says that the supporters need to be patient.
"One unfortunate aspect of professional sport is the need to raise ticket prices," he added.
"It's not great for fans but it's a reality if you want to keep teams competitive.
"I know it must be difficult having one of your national treasures owned by a group of Americans.
"But the Glazers are very good business people and will be very focused on continuing to be very successful on the field - much like they have been with the Buccaneers.
"They realise that part of being successful from a business standpoint is having a winning team."
But Shareholders United spokesman Oliver Houston remains suspicious about the Glazers' motives.
"Malcolm Glazer has such huge loans and the interest on those loans needs to be paid back very quickly," he told BBC Radio Five Live.
"The only reason ticket prices are being raised is not to invest in the team, not make it a better product but simply to pay off his debt and his loans.
"Everyone thinks his business plan will fail."
NFL owners 'eye European clubs'
More NFL owners may follow Malcolm Glazer's lead and look into buying European football clubs.
Glazer has completed a £790m takeover of Manchester United and Clark Hunt, whose family own NFL team Kansas City Chiefs, says others could do the same.
"We're seeing a globalisation of sport so it will be logical if you see some of our other owners buying in Europe.
"As we move forward it's something we will look at. There's definitely a chance," he told BBC Radio Five Live.
The Hunt family also own three Major League Soccer clubs in the United States and Clark said they would see how the Glazers got on before making a move.
"We will follow the story with interest - we follow the sport in Europe - and we will keep our eyes on how things are going over there," the Chiefs chairman explained.
Meanwhile, Hunt insists that United fans should give the Glazer family a chance and not be too alarmed about their plans for the club.
There has been outrage over reports that the Glazers are planning to increase ticket prices by 54% over the next five years.
But Hunt, who knows the family through their NFL connections because the Glazers also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, says that the supporters need to be patient.
"One unfortunate aspect of professional sport is the need to raise ticket prices," he added.
"It's not great for fans but it's a reality if you want to keep teams competitive.
"I know it must be difficult having one of your national treasures owned by a group of Americans.
"But the Glazers are very good business people and will be very focused on continuing to be very successful on the field - much like they have been with the Buccaneers.
"They realise that part of being successful from a business standpoint is having a winning team."
But Shareholders United spokesman Oliver Houston remains suspicious about the Glazers' motives.
"Malcolm Glazer has such huge loans and the interest on those loans needs to be paid back very quickly," he told BBC Radio Five Live.
"The only reason ticket prices are being raised is not to invest in the team, not make it a better product but simply to pay off his debt and his loans.
"Everyone thinks his business plan will fail."
