By Andrew Warshaw in Manchester
March 3 – Former UEFA general secretary David Taylor (pictured) has attacked football’s spiralling debt and says measures must be implemented to stop the situation getting out of control.
Taylor recently moved across to head up head up the new marketing and commercial arm of Europe’s governing body, UEFA Events SA, but is just as forthright as he used to be about the biggest danger facing European football.
UEFA’s strict new financial fair play rules, due to be implemented in three years’ time, will force clubs to rein in spending and break even or face serious penalties.
In an exclusive interview with insideworldfootball after an appearance at the Soccerex conference in Manchester, Taylor said the rules could not come quick enough.
“We can’t go on like this, it’s a dangerous situation,” he
“It gives us no pleasure to see some of the difficulties being experienced, especially those faced by English clubs.
“We have to do something but it has to be with the support of the clubs.
“We must make sure what we do is meaningful and not just window-dressing.
“Germany is a good model.
“At the beginning of every year clubs have to prove that they are financial solvent in order to get a licence.
“We can legislate only for our competitions but we are going to make sure those who enter meet certain standards.”
Taylor’s new role came as part of a shake-up at the increasingly francophone administration at UEFA but he refuses to admit it is a demotion from his high-profile previous job as number two to Michel Platini.
He argues UEFA has become so vast an entity that there was a dire need for a separate business arm.
”I volunteered for the position,” says Taylor who has a strong business background.
“It’s no secret that committee work is not my favourite task.
“I think I’m very lucky to be handed the challenge of a new start-up.”
“The scale of the business side of UEFA has become huge and was taking up about half of the employees.
“Lots of sporting organisations like the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and NFL (National Football League) have separate business departments.
“By entrusting this to me, the organisation is in safe hands.
“The whole purpose is to release more funds for investment in football.”
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