Since 2012, 21 of the 28 Belgian professional clubs have been taken over. “Due to a lack of regulation and over-subsidization,” says sports economist Wim Lagae.
All these takeovers have only made our clubs richer owners and our football has become internationalized. For example, 21 of the 28 professional clubs are now in foreign hands. For the good listener: clubs like Westerlo, OHL or Union write a nice story. But there is also the American malaise of KV Oostende or the takeover of Standard by the criticized 777 Partners.
Sports economist Wim Lagae from KU Leuven, who examined all 16 Jupiler Pro League teams and 9 Flemish 1B teams for the Nieuwsblad, says this is the fault of bad policy. “The Pro League and the competent authorities have not handled this professionally enough for far too long. Now it is a bit of a Wild West here due to a lack of regulation and over-subsidization.”
But according to CEO Lorin Parys of the Pro League, their hands are largely tied. “Of course we prefer owners who invest in the long term, but there is no sector where you as a shareholder are obliged to keep your shares for ten years. The Belgian competition authority does not allow us to protect our market too much.”
At the moment, it is sufficient for the Licensing Commission to provide a ‘proof of fund’, proof that the owner is financially able to cover one season. “That’s not the problem,” says Parys. “Injudicious management of those funds, that’s what it’s all about. We are trying to change that with Football First.” With this plan, the Pro League imposes stricter licensing conditions and obliges its clubs to follow football management training.
