Are points deductions fair?

For

0 votes so far

The use of a points deduction system in football for those clubs who go into administration is a good thing. It’s true. The system makes sure that those who are running football clubs do it responsibly.

Without them there would be nothing to stop the owners running their clubs into the ground and then leaving with the club in tatters. Whilst it may seem a harsh measure but does more good than harm for the beautiful game.

And responsibility is exactly what the FA should be promoting considering the current state of the economy. How is it possible to sit by and watch clubs throw away the vast sums of money that they get, when fans are at home without a job, and not take some action? It would be irresponsible.

Now with the economy in tatters there will no doubt be some clubs, especially in the lower leagues, suffering and I would hope the FA would in some way offer the help they need to survive because the last thing anyone wants to see is clubs disappearing. There has to be some form of punishment for those who fail to run their clubs properly when so many others are trying to become more sustainable.

Many argue that point deductions hurt fans more than clubs, since the demise of clubs directly involves supporters. However, I believe that it actually benefits the fans. If there was no deterrent from mismanaging football clubs then the number of clubs going into administration would increase.

This would hurt the fans. If the owners mismanage the football club, then the money disappears, the players get sold and it is the fans who suffer. But with a point deduction for mismanagement the benefits of mismanaging a club for profit is reduced, making it more likely that the club will be well run, ultimately benefitting the fans.

The deductions incurred by clubs such as Luton, Bournemouth and Leeds for not adhering to FA rules surrounding administration are equally justifiable. It is perfectly plausible to ask for a club, once it has got itself into administration, to follow the guidelines for getting itself out. By bothering to follow instructions these clubs could have saved themselves the loss of more points, and in the case of Luton perhaps even their league status. 

What possible alternatives are there? A fine would not work as the clubs apparently have no money, hence why they are in administration. As far as I can see there is no other method for successfully both punishing and deterring owners from poorly running their clubs. 

Despite the original appearance of unfairness and a system aimed to kick a club when it’s down, the points deduction system actually, when looked at closely, is a good thing that does exactly what it’s supposed to do. It acts as a deterrent from running football clubs poorly and in the long term keeps football as healthy as possible.

- James Green

Against

0 votes so far

Speaking in November last year, Sir Alan Sugar, the businessman-turned-reality-TV boss, said of the ongoing Leeds United saga: “They should be thrown out, down to the fifth division and have to work their way back up, playing on Hackney Marsh.” Many would have shared this view, particularly for a team that spent millions and came very close to footballing stardom.

Yet, is it really fair to deduct points at all from football clubs? Football League bigwigs are keen to enforce this rule, introduced in 2004, which sees 10 points deducted from any team entering administration.

However, some teams have fallen victim to this rule without splashing millions on superstars and after adhering to strict budgets for many years. This week saw Stockport County become the 86th club to fall into administration since 1986. For those that are unaware, there are 92 clubs in the Football League (some of the 86 have fallen out of the Football League since succumbing to administration).

This startling statistic shows that even the most sensible of clubs can suffer from financial collapse. It also seems that this move places financial importance over true football ability.

Take Luton Town, for instance, the team who recently lost their Football League status despite battling bravely against a 30-point deduction imposed after falling into administration. This year they have shown that their on-pitch capability far outweighs their financial acumen.

Victory at Wembley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, a competition for League One and League Two sides, has proven that Luton have the potential to mix with the best of both divisions. Yet they remain rooted to the bottom of League Two, unable to shake off the dreaded title of football’s basement team.

Originally deducted points whilst in League One, Luton now find themselves out of the Football League just three years after a mid-table finish in the Championship. As they drop a division, so their financial problems worsen - leaving clubs in an inescapable downward spiral.

Given the current economic climate, the deduction of points seems to be a harsh and unnecessary punitive measure. In March, the Football League Chairman Lord Mawhinney stated that the full impact of the recession is yet to hit English football, in spite of the numerous clubs being docked points already this season.

Predictions made last year estimated that English clubs owe in the region of £3billion. It has to be asked, therefore, whether teams should be allowed to combat these financial difficulties without the looming threat of a points deduction. Additionally, persistently punishing teams in this way runs the risk of alienating fans in an age where many teams already struggle to fill stadiums.

It seems that what is needed is a degree of transparency with regards to a club’s financial dealings. If clubs begin to publicise such details, fans could no longer complain at being victims of injustice.

At a time when the bigger clubs enjoy the glitz and glamour of the Champions League, big-money TV deals and multi-million pound transfers, it is the lower league sides who mean so much to English football that must be nurtured, and not neutered.

- Craig Wood