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Newcastle miss out on millions because of 'Mike Ashley-shaped issue' as Arsenal bank FFP win

Newcastle United exited the Champions League at the same stage as Manchester United this season but the Magpies will receive a much lower coefficient payment because of the club's long absence from Europe

Newcastle United have missed out on millions of pounds in UEFA coefficient payments because of a 'Mike Ashley-shaped issue' after the Magpies spent so long out of Europe.


That is the view of football finance expert Kieran Maguire as Premier League clubs weigh up whether sides such as Aston Villa should be able to claim the difference in coefficient funding between themselves and the top club in Europe as allowable losses after Unai Emery's team qualified for the Champions League. The proposal has been tabled by Crystal Palace, whose chairman Steve Parish, has long argued that five and 10-year coefficients are the 'beginning of the straw that starts to look like it might break the camel's back'.


Newcastle, for instance, stand to make significantly less than the Premier League's established order in coefficient payments from competing in the Champions League this season because it was the first time in a decade that the Magpies had played in Europe. Newcastle, for context, lie in 83rd place in the UEFA rankings whereas Manchester United, who also exited the Champions League group stages, are 11th because of the Red Devils' historical performances in Europe.


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"Each of the 32 clubs in the Champions League are ranked on the basis of their success in Europe in the last 10 years," Maguire told the Price of Football. "Newcastle United have had a Mike Ashley-shaped issue to deal with over that period of time because it was their first year in Europe.

"They are ranked according to their performance. Newcastle United got €4.5m for coming from the UK. Arsenal, who haven't qualified for the Champions League since 2016, got €25m for exactly the same. Manchester City got €32m. Manchester United got €28m. You look at that and you go, 'That does seem to make it slightly more difficult for Newcastle United to be competitive.'"

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