10 May 2009

English clubs face credit crisis risk - Blatter

12:19 pm on 10 May 2009

The FIFA president Sepp Blatter says debt-laden English Premier League football clubs could be hardest hit by the global credit crunch.

Blatter says investors have no more money and the English game has amassed debts of around three billion pounds at all levels, with nearly a third of that owed by the top four clubs Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Several other teams have struggled to find sponsors this season and Blatter says football will be touched by the crisis with sponsorship affected before broadcasting contracts.

He says the credit crunch won't impact viewer numbers and spectators nor preparations for next year's World Cup in South Africa.