Monaco signing three (James Rodriguez, Moutinho and Falcao) of the most exciting players in Europe is being treated as a cause for excitement. The first comment below Doyle's piece:

"Good on them. European Football is dominated by a select group of teams, PSG, Monaco etc add some new blood to the CL elite."

But do we really want these super deep-pocketed owners injecting "new blood"? The reason people are pleased is because they feel that the current "elite" is too deeply entrenched. But if that's the case, what do they expect to happen with the introduction of oligarch supported teams that have no need to play by the same fiscal rules as everyone else? If you've got a lizard problem, you don't deal with it by releasing a load of snakes. They may get rid of the lizards, but then you're left with a load of snakes. And when you're fed up with your load of snakes, how do you deal with that problem?

European super league, probably.

Rather short-sighted indeed.

There's also the apparent legal challenge:

Then Monaco launched legal proceedings with France's supreme court, declaring that the LFP's decision in March "violates several fundamental principles of French and European law, notably the principle of free movement, free competition, free access to sporting competitions, and also the Franco-Monégasque tax convention signed on the 18 February 1963".

Monaco are convinced they will win the case but it could take several months to reach a verdict, during which time they say they will hold no further negotiations unless the LFP suspends the threat to exclude them.

Seems like a classic salesman's trick to me. I know nothing about the Franco-Monganésque tax convention, but I am certain that there is no "free access to sporting competition" in EU law. Whilst under free movement principles Monaco cannot be forced to pay more tax, there is nothing to stop the Ligue Professionnel de Football from simply refusing Monaco access to the top divisions. Market access restrictions (for example only allowing 20 teams in a league, or only 22 players on the pitch) are inherent in sport and would not be unlawful.

Monaco are bluffing.