ARSENAL owner Stan Kroenke’s offer to pay the UEFA fine out of pocket could leave the club with LESS money this summer.
Kroenke, along with his fellow American owners in Liverpool and Manchester United, promised to pay the initial £ 1.44million European Super League fine – plus five percent of the club’s next European cash revenue – from his personal resources.
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Stan Kroenke promised to meet the Fin in person – but it could affect the Gunners’ transfer kittenPhoto credit: Getty
However, finance specialists cautioned that such payments would be viewed as “owner financing” in financial fair play calculations.
One expert explained: “If Kroenke pays from his own resources, it is considered an owner’s expense.
“That means that Arsenal’s next income will be reduced and affect the amount they are allowed to spend on players.
“While Arsenal fans may welcome his decision now, they may not be as impressed when they find that as a direct result they have to spend less on players.”
The Premier League Big Six agreed to a multi-million pound fine from Uefa as a condition for returning to European football.
Uefa bosses confirmed that they had agreed “reintegration measures” with the nine clubs – including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, City and United – that repudiated their attempts to lead the rebel runaway.
As a condition of the deal, the nine – signed by AC Milan, Inter and Atletico Madrid – will receive a £ 13m slap payment to be made for youth and grassroots football, including in the UK.
But all nine who Uefa said they “admitted to their mistake” also agreed to give up five percent of the money they would have received from Uefa for their next European campaign.
And they agreed they would face massive fines of £ 87m if they joined a future runaway, or £ 43.5m if they just signed up to such a new league.
ARTETA SPENDING PLEA
Any dent in Arsenal’s war chest will deal a blow to pressured manager Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard has said the club will have to spend a lot of money to catch their rivals after a disastrous season in which they are ninth in the table and outside Europe.
Arteta said: “Time is catching up.
“It’s a trend, it has been happening for years.
“If the spacing and margins get too big with the rest, it’s almost impossible to do.
“I think we’re still on time and have put some very strong pillars and foundations in place over the past few months to do what we need to do.
“We are in the right place for this – and we have to do it.
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Arsenal fans want Kroenke to be gonePhoto credit: EPA
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They were furious about the plans to join the breakaway European Super LeaguePhoto credit: Getty
“The squad has to be changed. By December there were already a lot of changes that haven’t been made in years, but it shows us where we have been.
“Things have to change and the owners are going to secure it.”
When asked if that meant Arsenal would have a sizeable budget this summer, Arteta nodded.
However, it remains to be seen whether the American Kroenke will raise a large bundle of money and whether Arteta will be trusted to spend it.
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Mikel Arteta admits his job is under threat after Arsenal are eliminated from the Europa League
