[Goose]

European football leagues don’t have salary caps and they haven’t yet destroyed the leagues (though some teams are in deep financial trouble).  The only rule is that teams are not supposed to subsidize their salaries, for example on the backs of Arab oil money.

BC

You are literally correct. The only rule is that teams are not supposed to subsidize their salaries with outside money. Since that is the only rule, all kinds of side agreements and collusion among subsets of the owners is commonplace. When some of these deals become public, there is outrage among the fans but nobody goes to jail because it isn't illegal. Also, competition from a startup league in the same country just isn't happening. Nobody is worried about it being a monopoly.

[Goose]

European football leagues don’t have salary caps and they haven’t yet destroyed the leagues (though some teams are in deep financial trouble).  The only rule is that teams are not supposed to subsidize their salaries, for example on the backs of Arab oil money.

BC

You are literally correct. The only rule is that teams are not supposed to subsidize their salaries with outside money. Since that is the only rule, all kinds of side agreements and collusion among subsets of the owners is commonplace. When some of these deals become public, there is outrage among the fans but nobody goes to jail because it isn't illegal. Also, competition from a startup league in the same country just isn't happening. Nobody is worried about it being a monopoly.