In recent years, football has seen a big change as billionaires and large companies have started buying some of the most famous clubs in the world. This has brought more money and opportunities to the sport, but it has also caused problems like inequality between clubs and concerns about the sport’s traditions. While billionaire owners have helped football grow in many ways, they’ve also changed how the game feels for fans.
The trend of billionaires buying football clubs began to grow in the late 20th century. One of the first big examples was Silvio Berlusconi buying AC Milan in 1986, bringing in a lot of money to make the club more successful. A key moment came in 2003 when Roman Abramovich, a Russian billionaire, bought Chelsea FC. He spent huge amounts on star players and transformed the club into one of the best in Europe.
After that, many other billionaires followed. In 2008, Sheikh Mansour from Abu Dhabi bought Manchester City and turned it into a world-class team. More recently, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund purchased Newcastle United in 2021. Wealthy American owners like the Glazer family (Manchester United) and Stan Kroenke (Arsenal) also became major players in European football, bringing the business style of American sports to the game.
Billionaire owners have brought a lot of money into football, helping their clubs buy top players and improve their facilities. Manchester City, for example, has spent over a billion pounds on players under Sheikh Mansour. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), owned by Qatar Sports Investments, signed some of the world’s biggest stars like Lionel Messi and Neymar. These investments have made these clubs incredibly successful and globally popular.
The money has also been used to build better stadiums and training centers, creating better conditions for players and fans. Clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City now have some of the best facilities in the world, boosting their reputations and helping local communities.
However, this kind of spending has created big differences between clubs. Rich clubs with billionaire owners can afford the best players, while smaller clubs struggle to compete. This has made football less fair, as only a few teams have the resources to win the biggest competitions. It has also raised questions about how sustainable this level of spending is, especially for clubs that rely heavily on their wealthy owners.
While billionaire owners have brought success to many clubs, not all fans are happy. Football clubs are often seen as part of their local communities, representing the pride and history of their cities. When foreign billionaires or corporations take over, some fans feel the club is losing its identity and becoming more of a business than a team.
This tension was clear during the 2021 European Super League controversy. Billionaire-owned clubs wanted to create a new tournament focused on making more money, but fans across Europe strongly protested. Many felt this idea ignored the traditions of football and the importance of fair competition.
Another concern is “sportswashing,” where wealthy owners use football to improve their public image. For example, owners from countries with poor human rights records, like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have been accused of using their football investments to distract from criticisms of their governments. This raises ethical questions about where the money in football is coming from.
As football becomes more global, the involvement of billionaires is likely to increase. Football clubs are seen as valuable investments because of their worldwide popularity. However, organizations like UEFA and FIFA need to make sure this money doesn’t harm the sport. Rules like Financial Fair Play (FFP) are meant to stop clubs from spending too much and going into debt, but these rules are not always enforced properly.
In summary, billionaire ownership has changed football in both good and bad ways. It has brought more money, better players, and greater visibility to the game, but it has also caused inequality and cultural challenges. Finding a balance between the benefits of investment and preserving football’s traditions will be key to keeping the sport exciting and fair for everyone.

Source:
https://medium.com/@efagwufortune2.0/the-influence-of-money-in-modern-football-ups-and-downs-727b492aed86
https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/research-projects/mediamarketsfootball-in-contemporary-europe/the-money/