The 'state sponsored' mantra is all too easy to churn out. However:
1) What precisely is the problem with state sponsorship / ownership?
Is is the potential political motivation behind it? - if so, then aren't large businesses such as VW also politically motivated?
Is it the sheer wealth levels? - if so, then aren't the likes of Amazon more wealthy than many nations. What restrictions should apply to them?
2) Is it because we (Western world, or EU) have fundamental human rights issues with some other parts of the world?
If that's the case, then sure, we get it, but we as nations are still conducting trillions worth of business with those regions and FIFA have given them a world cup - which isn't sending any kind of exclusionary message at all.
3) Is it because we don't want some wealthy entities starting to control our much loved game?
If that's the case, we didn't seem to object when Sky put a tonne of money into the game and then started to dictate different kick off times to suit their own ends and pay for it all.
4) Is it because it's upsetting the previously predictable 'elite' clubs who helped create 'the product' but now feel aggrieved the product has outgrown them.
Nah, couldn't be that, could it.
