Books : “L’argent du football. Vol 1 : L’Europe” by Luc Arrondel

In his latest book written with Richard Duhautois (Economist, researcher at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM)), Luc Arrondel deciphers the current economic situation of football in Europe.

Published on 01/13/2023 10:48

L’argent du football. Vol 1 : L’Europe

Find the page dedicated to the book on the “Rue d’Ulm” website and the Cepremap collection.

Abstract

While the COVID-19 pandemic has had important consequences on the football economy, the rich (economic) news of this sport goes far beyond the health crisis. At the European level, the announcement of the (aborted) creation of the Super League in April 2021 caused a small earthquake and aroused the ire of the fans. The sluggishness of the transfer market over the last two seasons has put clubs whose economic model is based on trading players in difficulty. The financial problems of some large European clubs have prompted UEFA to review the financial fair play with the introduction of a «salary cap». The arrival of the Saudi sovereign fund in Newcastle in October 2021 has shaken Premier League clubs and the entry of investment funds into football, not only in clubs but also at the level of leagues, questions. On the French side, the period was marked by the defection of the broadcaster Mediapro, but football could rejoice in the transfer of Lionel Messi to PSG in the summer of 2021. The hypothesis supported in this book is that football is entering a new era: hypermodernity. We give the arguments and tools. In particular, the themes of inequality and growth, as well as those in society, are central to looking at the future of football, including the emergence of the European Super League.