Globalisation has had a profound impact on European football and English football in particular. A series of political and economic transformations took place in the 1990s which reflected wider global transformations outside of the sport. Clubs sought additional funding from more commercial practices. New global media companies used football to establish new audiences and wider commercial partners. The Champions League and English Premier League epitomise these transformations as they have a select group of corporate partners, exclusive media packages and global branding. In addition, the Bosman ruling in 1995 deregulated players’ contracts and permitted the wide scale migration of players. A significant outcome of these transformations in England was the growing appeal to global investors. These investors saw the English Premier League as a valuable investment and a clear way of establishing a global profile.
