Premier League Clubs denied true Financial Fair Play due to key vote

NUFC The Mag argues that Premier League clubs missed a vital opportunity to achieve genuine financial fairness by rejecting top-to-bottom anchoring (TBA). In a November 2025 vote, the TBA proposal failed after receiving only seven votes in favor, with 12 against and one abstention. The rejected system would have restricted squad spending for every club to five times the central income received by the lowest-ranked club in the division.

Instead, clubs adopted the Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) model by a narrow 14-6 margin. The writer criticizes the SCR system, which permits clubs to spend 85% of their revenue on squad costs, arguing it protects the league's established wealthy elite and prevents other clubs from competing financially.