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How far can globalisation go in football?

This is the question that is posed in an in depth analysis of City Football Club, the multi-club operation based around Manchester City: Globalisation

The group already has clubs in Australia, Japan, Spain, Uruguay, the UK and the US. Clubs may be added in China and India.

It claims to be 'the first truly global football organisation'. However, the benefits in terms of developing players appear to be marginal. It is difficult to see the operation as constituting a powerful brand. The allegiances of fans are to their own individual clubs and they probably do not give the international operation much thought.

There aren't many imitators, suggesting that Shiekh Manosur's wealth and the desire to create 'soft power' for the Emirates are special factors. The only comparable operation is that of Red Bull which is primarily a means to promote their energy drinks. Barcelona chose not to go down the route of having international sister clubs.

Not mentioned here is the failed attempt of Belgium's Roland Duchatelet to create a network of European clubs. At one time he owned Standard Liege in Belgium as well as clubs in England, Germany, Hungary and Spain. He has recently sold off Sint Truiden in Belgium to Japanese investors and looks as if he might sell Charlton Athletic. The experiment did not go down well with Charlton fans who saw unsuitable players imported from elsewhere in the network.

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