Sheikhs, oligarchs and American tycoons have been a boon to the business of football, and have taken the game’s riches to almost obscene levels. There seems no end to the desire to own a football club, even if Roman Abramovich is being forced into a fire sale.

Sanctions imposed on him by the British government and the EU have forced him into selling Chelsea, the quintessential London club that he turned from being perennial also-rans to becoming European champions...