But the question of regulation of football clubs is still there.
I think that even the English may be receptive to this line of argument, right now: given that we need government, let's let the countries that take government seriously in charge... In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
The UK turned out not to be so receptive to this, in fact their minister used it to score some points on his side, as the (rather typical) Times writeup shows.
Premier League claims victory, but fight goes on | Premier League - Times Online
It was not quite Agincourt, but 500 miles away across France in Biarritz, Great Britain and her allies repulsed a French assault on the independence of the national game -- for now. The southwestern coastal town hosted an informal summit of EU sports ministers at which France, in the shape of Bernard Laporte, the Sports Minister, wanted to establish the principle of pan-European financial licensing for sports. A draft of the conclusions drawn up by the French, who hold the EU's rotating presidency, included support from the 27 ministers for "European control of club management". But after two days of wrangling, this phrase and an entire section referring to a possible European "self-regulatory system" were expunged from the final summit declaration. For the Premier League, which feared that the meeting could mark the beginning of a move towards a European super-regulator, the outcome will come as a relief and it was heralded as a triumph by Gerry Sutcliffe, the Sports Minister, who objected to Laporte's open hostility towards the success of English football clubs.
It was not quite Agincourt, but 500 miles away across France in Biarritz, Great Britain and her allies repulsed a French assault on the independence of the national game -- for now.
The southwestern coastal town hosted an informal summit of EU sports ministers at which France, in the shape of Bernard Laporte, the Sports Minister, wanted to establish the principle of pan-European financial licensing for sports.
A draft of the conclusions drawn up by the French, who hold the EU's rotating presidency, included support from the 27 ministers for "European control of club management". But after two days of wrangling, this phrase and an entire section referring to a possible European "self-regulatory system" were expunged from the final summit declaration.
For the Premier League, which feared that the meeting could mark the beginning of a move towards a European super-regulator, the outcome will come as a relief and it was heralded as a triumph by Gerry Sutcliffe, the Sports Minister, who objected to Laporte's open hostility towards the success of English football clubs.
