Top clubs consider salary cap

Europe's most powerful clubs are keen to curb costs

 Can salary cap save football?
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Europe's most powerful clubs have announced plans for a salary cap and transfer pact in order to solve football's current cash crisis.

The so-called G14 group of clubs is aiming to introduce a code of conduct to combat the ever-increasing wage demands and transfer fees that are threatening many clubs' survival.

G14 general manager Thomas Kurth told BBC Radio Five Live: "The first idea is that the amount available for expenditure will be limited.

We are aware that there are (financial) problems in Italian and French football

G14 spokesman Thomas Kurth

"That means a certain percentage only of the money available should be spent on salaries.

"The first thing is that we have agreed on the principle; we are now looking at the details.

 PFA disagrees with plan

"This concept should be applicable to those who have financial problems - those who are in the black do not need us to regulate them.

"It's a maximum percentage of the money available which should be spent on players' costs.

"At this stage Manchester United are far underneath this limit."

  The G14 clubs

England: Liverpool, Manchester United

Italy: AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus

Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid

France: Marseille, Paris St Germain

Germany: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund

Holland: Ajax, PSV Eindhoven

Portugal: Porto

Kurth claimed the group had been forced into action following serious cash-flow problems that have hit a number of clubs across Europe.

He added: "At the moment we are aware that there are problems in Italian and French football.

"And I think those who have a highly negative balance will be the first to welcome such a scheme.

"We will have to see what the reaction is once we have worked out the recommendations.

"We have received agreement on the principle, we are now working out proposals for the end of August and then we will see what the reaction is."

Uefa, European football's governing body, welcomed the proposals.

"We understand why clubs have to look at this option," Uefa spokesman Mike Lee said.

Juventus are one of the big-spending G14 clubs

"While Uefa cannot legislate on this we do support moves to tackle the spiralling costs within football."

Regulations to impose salary-capping cannot be legally enforced in football.

But if employers decide on a upper salary limit that employees agree to, the salary cap would be enforceable.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter said he believed clubs should control their own spending.

Speaking in Glasgow ahead of the Champions League final he said: "I think this is a matter for clubs, football organisations, to decide and study.

"In my opinion, I think football should not intervene with economics."

But Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of England's Professional Footballers' Association, is not as positive about such a move.

Taylor said: "I'll believe it when I see it.

"It does not have the authority of Uefa and Fifa.

"This is just the rich clubs agreeing to have some agreement among themselves.

"But it will be virtually impossible to implement across so many different countries - it would be hard enough in one country.

"The very clubs that put forward this sort of agreement are usually the first ones to break it."