NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has defended the Glazer family as they come under renewed pressure from Manchester United fans to sell the club.
Supporters groups angry at the club’s £716m debt have stepped up their campaign to force the Glazers out in recent weeks, while a consortium of wealthy United fans dubbed the ‘Red Knights’ is said to be thinking about making an offer for the club.
But in his annual address, Goodell said he had nothing but praise for the way they run their NFL team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"I talk to the Glazers on a regular basis,” he added. “I will tell you that they are sound owners. They are terrific for the NFL and we have not seen that there is any stress that would affect the way they operate any of their professional teams, much less the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."
The Times reports that Goodell was then asked about unnamed British clubs facing severe financial difficulties that threaten their existence, and whether NFL practices ensured it could not happen in the United States.
"You point out something that is at the core of what we are doing,' Goodell continued. “You have to manage your business properly. There are a lot of financial risks, particularly in today's climate, and you have to manage against that and make sure you are thinking through those issues."
Goodell identified revenue sharing as key to allowing all teams to compete without bankrupting themselves.
He said: "I think some of the policies we have in the NFL, such as revenue sharing, give everybody in the league the financial foundation to compete with other teams. That has been at the core of our success."
