Football clubs continue to avoid Soccerex events

Soccerex held its second London Forum at the Institute of Directors yesterday. According to Soccer Investor newsletter (6 April), however, there was a scarcity in terms of representatives of football clubs, a problem that also occured at the Soccerex Dubai Conference and Exhibition last November.

"Soccerex claimed attendance was 400 delegates of which there were approximately 25 clubs represented (based on a quick scan of the list) which is around 6% of the list, a proportion which drops significantly if speakers from football clubs are extracted. However, there were some representatives of Leagues and Federations although some of the invitees and guests gaily announced by Soccerex in their many PR releases were not on the final list such as Mohammed bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation, Urs Linsi, general secretary of FIFA and Brian Barwick, CEO of the FA," the newsletter stated.

Students from the University of Liverpool attending the Forum surveyed delegates on a number of issues throughout the day. The survey revealed that; 69% of senior decision makers in football believe that "diving" is not a serious threat to the English Premiership. And 62% of delegates believe live video technology should be used during games to support referee’s decisions.

"These results would have been more interesting, of course, if the delegates had included a larger list of actual direct participants in the sport," the newsletter commented.

See also: Soccerex: failing to interest clubs outside the Gulf (16 Nov 05)