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PARIS (AP) — European soccer leaders were urged to protect soccer from the risk of owners taking control of multiple clubs, in a speech by France’s sports minister on Thursday.
Amélie Oudéa-Castéra warned the UEFA annual congress of a scenario where “a small number of investors would have control over European football.”
UEFA has longstanding rules monitoring multi-club owners in its competitions, and its in-house researchers warned last year of integrity risks to games on the field and in the player transfer market with about 200 clubs globally in the growing trend. Fans have been concerned their team can be used as a feeder for parent clubs.
“These are threats to our sporting principles and we need to be vigilant to such threats,” Oudéa-Castéra said.
Fans of French club Strasbourg have protested at games in recent weeks against their club’s American owners who have a new much bigger investment in English club Chelsea.
