Club regulations inadequate says FA chief

LONDON, England (AP) -- The chairman of the English Football Association fears that the rules governing club ownership are inadequate, he said on Friday.

Football needs owners who are concerned with the long-term interests of their clubs says Lord Triesman

"Football has a tier of regulation beyond company law or stock market regulation," Lord Triesman wrote in a column for the Daily Telegraph.

"However, observing the pace and direction of change and its impact on competitiveness, I am not sure that the existing framework is adequate."

Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Manchester City and Fulham are all under foreign ownership, but Triesman denied this was the root of the problem.

"(We) cannot discriminate on the basis of nationality," Triesman said. "Many foreign owners, managers and players have made a huge contribution to our game, but some have not. And that is also true of some British owners, managers and players.

"The distinction is between those who invest and respect the values of clubs, and those who are just shopping. It is hard to believe that an owner who thinks it is all right to buy a 'world first XI has grasped this fundamental point."

On Thursday, British culture secretary Andy Burnham urged the FA to tighten regulations over who can buy clubs and said the continuing dominance of the so-called big four -- Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United -- was not in the game's long-term interests.

Triesman agreed.

"We want those who run our clubs to do so in the long-term interests of their financial health and sporting success rather than immediate return on investment," he said.

"Most of us, even the most partisan, want genuine footballing competition where success cannot simply be bought."

Triesman said owners need to respect the game's traditions.

"Whether English or foreign, (they) have to cherish the history and culture of clubs and their unique place in their communities," he said.

"It was always this iconic bond that makes English football passionate and attractive. It isn't easy to be objective about a game that derives its magic from the passion it inspires, but we have to be."

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/football/09/12/england.owners.ap/index.html