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Did UEFA’s financial fair play harm competition in European football leagues?

Author

Listed:
  • Stephan Birkhäuser

    (Technical University of Munich)

  • Christoph Kaserer

    (TUM School of Management, Technical University of Munich)

  • Daniel Urban

    (TUM School of Management, Technical University of Munich)

Abstract

When introducing UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) it was argued that as a beneficial side effect competition in European football leagues should become more equilibrated and perceived as being fairer. Based on a hand-collected dataset on league results, player market values as well as investor payments of more than 300 European football clubs, we scrutinize the impact of FFP on the competitive landscape in major European football leagues. By applying a fixed-effect panel regression difference-in-differences approach, we find results that are consistent with the view that FFP might have further amplified the competitive imbalance. This might be caused by the fact that FFP raises some barriers against the entrance of new investors. Moreover, we present evidence that FFP supports the former season’s winner in terms of budget shares in the upcoming season. Overall, our results support the view that FFP turns European football leagues less equilibrated and even tends to freeze current hierarchies.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephan Birkhäuser & Christoph Kaserer & Daniel Urban, 2019. "Did UEFA’s financial fair play harm competition in European football leagues?," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 113-145, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:rvmgts:v:13:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s11846-017-0246-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11846-017-0246-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alberto Calahorro-López & Melinda Ratkai & Julio Vena-Oya, 2022. "The Financial/Accounting Impact of FFP on Participating in European Competitions: An Analysis of the Spanish League," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-19, September.
    2. Garcia-del-Barrio, Pedro & Agnese, Pablo, 2021. "Does Compliance with Financial Fair Play Rules Improve the Football Clubs' Sport Performance and Their Chances to Reach UEFA Competitions?," IZA Discussion Papers 14474, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Pedro Garcia‐del‐Barrio & Pablo Agnese, 2023. "To comply or not to comply? How a UEFA wage‐to‐revenue requirement might affect the sport and managerial performance of soccer clubs," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(2), pages 767-786, March.
    4. Fabio Wagner & Holger Preuss & Thomas Könecke, 2021. "A Central Element of Europe’s Football Ecosystem: Competitive Intensity in the “Big Five”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-20, March.

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