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Media & Entertainment Law

: Sports Biz

Will It Be An All American Champions League Final?

By Mark

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Manchester United defeated Barcelona 1-0 today at Old Trafford securing its place in the Champions League final in Moscow on May 21. With the victory an all England final is assured. Man U's opponent will be determined in tomorrow's semifinal between Chelsea and Liverpool.

A win by Liverpool at Chelsea's home ground at Stamford Bridge will result in the unprecedented event of a Champions League final between two clubs owned by Americans. European soccer's most prestigious club tournament would be contested between clubs owned by Americans. I can't imagine what will do to psyches all across Europe. There were practically riots in Manchester when the Glazers bought Manchester United. Fans picketed Old Trafford and protested the purchase. It has taken winning to bring them around.

Liverpool's ownership is a mess. Tom Hicks and George Gillett bought the club a year ago and the partnership has been dysfunctional practically from the start. Gillett, the owner of the Montreal Canadiens, has attempted to sell his 50% interest to Dubai International, the vehicle of Sheik Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, only to be blocked at every turn by Hicks. However, to date, Hicks has not exercised his right to buy Gillett out. Despite the problems in the owner's suite, the team keeps winning.

Chelsea doesn't have ownership problems - Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is the free spending owner - its problems this year have been around playing time and coaching issues. When Jose Morinho left early in the season and was replaced by Avram Grant, an Israeli unaccustomed to the rigors of the Premier League and the Champions League, the doubters were out in force. Taking the Blues into the semifinals as well as back into the Premiership race has silenced the critics - for now.

As always, the Champions League and English clubs provide a wealth of good storylines. The addition of Americans only makes the stories more upsetting to all the Britons reading the daily tabs.

Full post as published by Sports Biz on April 29, 2008 (boomark / email).