op European clubs could ultimately decide to leave Uefa and the Champions League and form their own breakway competition as a solution to the constraints imposed by the Financial Fair Play regulations. There is a growing fear, exemplified by the move of Nicholas Anelka, possibly to be followed by Didier Drogba, that financial power in football may start to shift from Europe to Asia.
For now the strategy of clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City is to argue that they have a long-term strategy to break even in the future. Whether this will convince Uefa's enforcers remains to be seen.
The agreement of the former G-14 grouping of Europe's top clubs to recognise Uefa and Fifa's jursidiction expires on 31 July 2014. With no sign of a new agreement forming an alternative to the Champions League is an option.
There a number of risks as it could imperil the place of the clubs in their domestic competitions, given that national associations would presumably want to remain within Uefa so that they could participate in the European Cup.
However, the clubs have put contingency plans by selecting 20 of their top lawyers to form an advisory panel. They would then 'join legal forces' to implement a managed and structured withdrawal from Uefa.
