The Observer, Volume-19 Issue-9

The Observer An IIJNM publication

Vehicle modifications cause noise pollution and accidents, young people are attracted to it | P 2

Vol 19, Issue 9

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

@theweeklyobserver Epaper:https://issuu.com/ theweeklyobserver/docs Website: http://www. theweeklyobserver.in

Sewage all over, residents can’t walk on the roads of Vijaya Bank Colony in Horamavu | P 2

Government ban fails to control illegal home delivery of booze Stores deliver liquor only to nearby areas Adilin Beatrice C

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espite a high court order and the excise department’s ban on home delivery of alcohol in Karnataka, liquor shop owners have found loopholes to continue it.

The Observer contacted a few liquor shops in Kalyan Nagar, HSR Layout, BTM Layout, Panduranga Nagar and Hebbal whose numbers are available online. The manager of a liquor shop in HSR Layout said: “We do home delivery of alcohol. But we do it only in HSR Layout.” He disconnected the call when asked if they have enabled a provision under the Karnataka Excise Act for home delivery.

A shopkeeper in Panduranga Nagar said: “We deliver alcohol up to 4-5 km.”

The owner of a liquor store in BTM Layout asked The Observer

facebook.com/ twoiijnm/

The Letter of Authority that gives an exception for home delivery was withdrawn on November 3, 2018 | Credit: Adilin Beatrice C where alcohol had to be delivered. activists to turn against us. We He said they would not deliver even fixed a limit to the alcohol anywhere outside BTM Layout. that could be carried, but the “We introduced a trial run of liquor shop owners took online sales and home delivery of advantage of it. Since the trial alcohol, thinking it would reduce didn’t go well, we totally banned drunk and drive cases and illegal it. If we receive complaint from sales. We permitted HipBar to anyone regarding this, we do online sale and home delivery. will take immediate action But it turned out that the against it,” said an official from underage people were misusing the excise department. the provision, causing NGOs and “Currently, no hotel, bar, liquor

shop and online platform has enabled provision under the Karnataka Excise Act to do home delivery or online sale of alcohol.”

As per Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, the state government may, by notification, prohibit the transport of intoxicants or any kind of intoxicants from any local area into any other local area.

The high court order of September 2019 declared that the Karnataka Excise Act does not permit online sale or home delivery of liquor either for oneself or as an agent. The judgement was delivered by Justice S. Sujatha who dismissed a petition filed by HipBar Pvt. Ltd, an RBI-approved mobile wallet exclusively meant for transacting adult beverages.

The state government had on August 1, 2017, granted a letter of authority (LoA) to HipBar permitting it to do online order processing and delivery of Indian and foreign liquor including beer, wine and low-alcohol beverages.

The LoA was withdrawn on November 3, 2018.

Govt had no authority to allow online liquor biz, P 3

News briefs India-born Banerjee wins economics Nobel 2019 Abhijit Banerjee, who was born in India, his wife Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer have won the Nobel Prize in economics. They spent two and a half decades researching policies and methods to alleviate poverty. Banerjee has said the government should come out with poverty alleviation measures for the urban poor.

FASTags cards for vehicles Road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has called FASTags (a device to make automatic payments at toll booths) equivalent to Aadhaar for vehicles.

This will allow the government to track their movement across the country. FASTags will be mandatory for all vehicles on national highways from December 1.

Sourav Ganguly to head BCCI Sourav Ganguly, former captain of the Indian cricket team, is set to become only the second international cricketer to be elected president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Cataract main cause of blindness According to National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey of India (2015-19), cataract is the principal cause of blindness for people above 50 years in India.

Despite high pollution, traffic cops Life savers are helpless don’t wear govt-provided masks due to traffic congestion

Claim they are no good, buy their own masks Aarthi N

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espite high levels of air pollution, traffic constables in Bengaluru do not wear government-provided masks, saying they are not of good quality.

“The mask that the government provided is not good. Many of us prefer to buy them from outside to escape pollution. The mask policemen wear cost between Rs 100 and Rs 200 each,” Mahesh H.S., a traffic constable near the Shantinagar bus station, informed The Observer.

A traffic policeman near the

Many Traffic police prefer to buy pollution masks from outside to escape pollution | Courtesy: KPN Kempegowda Bus Station who refused to give his name said: “The

city is filled with dust and pollution. We should wear masks to protect ourselves, otherwise we will suffer. A few wear the masks provided by the government, but those who feel they are not good buy their own.”

Following reports about the deteriorating health of traffic constables, the police department in May 2019 handed anti-pollution masks to around 3,500 traffic personnel with a note that said wearing them was a must.

“I will not say that the mask is worst, but it is not of that good a quality. That is why policemen prefer to buy masks on their own.

Even if we wear masks, it does not make much difference,” Santhosh S., a writer at the Kengeri traffic police station, said.

Police: We are facing health issues due to pollution, P 3

Ambulances do not reach on time: Patients

Ankita Mukherjee

H

eavy traffic congestion in Bengaluru is preventing ambulances from reaching patients on time.

Hareesh G, an ambulance driver, informed The Observer: “From 9am to noon and from 5pm to 7pm, we face the most traffic congestion. We try to get our way out, but if we get stuck in the middle of the congestion, we cannot make it. There are times when the patients’ families face a loss due to this.”

Venkatesh R, a cab driver, said:

Police clear jams for ambulances | Credit: Ankita Mukherjee “Police try to clear the congestion to make way for ambulances. If an ambulance is caught in the middle of congestion, then nothing can be done. We try to make way for any emergency vehicle whenever we hear its siren.”

Masthan K, a motorist, shared: “Whenever I see an ambulance stuck in a traffic jam, I move out of the way and try not to block its path.”

Green Corridor in action, P 3

CITY

2 Citizen’s voice Assembly election CM BS Yediyurappa and Congress leader Siddaramaiah are all set to campaign for the Maharashtra assembly elections. It is hard to make out whether the first priority of state leaders is to address the flood relief work in the state or to get their party a victory in neighboring states.

Vivek Kumar Abandoned bus stand An abandoned bus stand near Kengeri police station has become a garbage dumping yard for the people residing behind. It has become extremely sickening to cross the road as we have to hold our breath while crossing it as it stinks that much.

Labani Mahanandy Alcohol addiction Alcohol addiction is increasing by day. It has been reported in all the age groups but teenagers now are more involved into it. Clubs and pubs serve alcohol to minors without asking for age proof.

Awareness programs should be promoted and such clubs and pubs should be banned on serving alcohol to minors.

Anushka Sharma Pink Sarathi Pink Sarathi by BMTC has emerged as a supplement to the existing patrolling vehicles, Pink Hoysala by Bengaluru City Police, for the safety of women and children. Despite 76 patrolling vehicles working on streets round the clock, most women are unaware of the services.

Jagriti Parekh Garbage Heaps of biodegradable garbage is rotting behind the KR Market building, causing stink in the surrounding. The waste management team needs to inspect and clean the area.

Bhavya Kumar

The Observer Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Loud sound from exhaust pipe is an attention seeker for the young

Vehicle modifications cause noise pollution and accidents

Chirag Dutta espite restrictions on vehicle alterations, several drivers in Bengaluru modify their vehicles and ride them.

These vehicle modifications are responsible for road accidents and noise pollution.

Motorcycles like KTM, Royal Enfield, RX 150 (two-stroke) and Kawasaki are customized to produce loud sounds and exhaust crackles. Though the sound limit for two-wheelers is 80 dB and 75 dB for four-wheelers, riders attach exhaust pipes that produce sound louder than 80-85 dB. Customization of car engines to enhance the performance of the engine is another problem.

Sajjan R, an ex-motor mechanic residing near Shivajinagar, informed The Observer: “Youth want to make their vehicles look fancy. They customize their vehicles in such a manner that they can attract attention. Especially in bikes, sound is the best way to draw attention. Though this is illegal, garages make a good profit from installations. There are a few garages in Karnataka that sell illegal or stolen parts. But people step into trouble when they decide to ride modified vehicles without getting permission from the RTO. Some riders are so desperate that they purchase bikes simply to modify them.”

People get parts attached that make the vehicles heavy, causing them to go off-balance. Exhaust pipes that produce loud noise almost touch the road. Riders of bikes with such attachments are

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People get parts attached that make the vehicles heavy, causing them to go off-balance.| Credit: Chirag Dutta at great risk when they negotiate ified parts, like bright LED lights, speed breakers. There is a danger make it risky for other riders. of the pipe touching the road or These are increasing the chances even getting detached. of road accidents. Illegal cusSandeep Anirudhan, an envi- tomizations are among the main ronmental activist, said: “Many reasons for driving offences by jupeople feel nauseated and some venile increasing.” experience a blackout due to the Dilip G, a student who owns a noise caused by honking and KTM RC390, said: “I don’t have crackles from bike silencers. The any noticeable installations on most affected ones are those who my bike, though I had the headtravel long distances everyday. lights and the muffler of the exHeart diseases are common haust modified. I don’t think among these people.” these matter. The police stop bikShivaswamy S, chief warden of ers randomly and not when they traffic, Kengeri, said, “In Ben- are actually at fault. I don’t take galuru city, the problem might my bike any further than Kengeri not be very notable, but it is a se- as I do not have permission from rious issue in the outskirts. Mod- the RTO. I believe I have the

Sewage all over, residents can’t walk on roads Say authorities haven’t acted on complaints Aman Bhardwaj esidents of Vijaya Bank Colony, Horamavu, have faced a problem of sewage flowing on roads for the past one year. The place stinks so badly that people can’t walk on the roads.

The residents say they wrote a complaint to the authorities twice but they took no action.

Bhaskar K.R., a resident of the colony, informed The Observer: “Sewage overflow creates muddy and stinky roads that people are unable to walk on.” A number of accidents have occurred in the past three weeks because the roads are slippery.

Dr Saramma Biju Karian, a local doctor, said: “The stink and the muddy water cause a number

right to modify it any way I like.”

An architecture student from the BGS International Residential School was pulled over by police for having the muffler of his exhaust removed. “It happened near the Rajarajeshwari College of Engineering, a few days ago.

My bike was not very heavily modified, but I had to pay a fine of Rs 2,700. Traffic police asked me to reattach the muffler,” he informed The Observer.

According to Section 190 (2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, “Any person who drives, or causes or allows to be driven, in any public place a motor vehicle which violates the standards prescribed in relation to road safety, control of noise and air pollution, shall be punishable for the first offence with a fine of Rs 1,000 and for any second or subsequent offence with a fine of Rs 2,000.”

The Supreme Court has banned alterations to motor vehicles. According to a New Indian Express report: “The Supreme Court… said no motor vehicle could be altered to change the original specification made by the manufacturer that has been used for its registration. The apex court referred to an amended provision of the Motor Vehicles Act and observed that its ‘clear intent’ was that a vehicle cannot be so altered that the particulars contained in the certificate of registration are at variance with those 'originally specified by the manufacturer’.” chirag.d@iijnm.org

Around the city •National Conference on Business Management, Economics and Social Sciences, October 20 •Student Conference on Conservation Science, Oct 15-20, Indian Institute of Science •Ilaiyaraja Live in Concert, 5.30pm, Oct 19, Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.

R

Sewage overflow creates muddy and stinky roads that people are unable to walk on. | Credit: Aman Bhardwaj of diseases that mostly affect children.” There is an increase in the number of mosquitoes in the area due to the sewage.

Ankita, a software engineer with JP Morgan and a resident of that colony, shared: “Every day I reach my office late because I can’t ride my scooter on the slippery road. I have to walk till the bus stand for public transport which takes a longer time.”

The ward member who didn’t want to be named said: “I in-

formed our MLA regarding the problem and the accidents in the past three weeks. He promised me the problem would be resolved within a month and he would personally look into it.”

“The BBMP will soon pass a tender for cleaning the sewage,” he added.

Manjula N. Rao, BBMP engineer (solid waste management), said: “I didn’t know about this problem in Horamavu but will … try to solve it as soon as possible.”

Her department will assign the work to a group of workers and solve the problem within two months.

Akshay Heblikar, director of Eco-Watch, an organization set up to spread the message of environmental conservation, said: “The sewage harms the environment very badly. It can cause many diseases.” The BBMP should take action to resolve the problem as soon as possible. aman.b@iijnm.org

•Planetarium Show Jawaharlal Nehru Bengluru, 9th October 5.30am to 31st October 5.30am.

Weather Forecast: Mostly cloudy Maximum temperatrure: 28 degree celsius Minimum temperature: 21 degree celsius Humidity: 66% Precipitation: 56%

CITY

The Observer Thursday, October 15, 2019

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HC: Govt had no Traffic policemen: We face authority to allow health issues due to pollution online liquor biz A A Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

fter the Karnataka government withdrew its permission to HipBar to do online order processing and delivery of liquor, the mobile wallet moved the high court questioning the withdrawal. The court said the state government had no authority to issue a letter of authority under provision of the Excise Act. After realizing the outcome, the state withdrew it.

Akshay Heblikar, director of Eco-Watch, an NGO, said: “The court banned home delivery because anyone could order it.

There is nothing to prove the age of the person who is ordering it.

But when it comes to going to a shop and buying, the shopkeepers can at least identify the age approximately.”

Lakshman K.A., manager of well-known liquor shop on M.G. Road, said: “Illegal home delivery of alcohol will spoil the market.

I’m totally against those who do home delivery. Online purchase of alcohol won’t let the customers choose from a good range of products. Maybe underage people can easily order it in that way which is against the law. I agree with the court’s order. It will be good if the excise department finds illegal liquor shop owners and takes action against them.”

Dunzo, a delivery company, stopped liquor delivery in September 2018. HipBar stopped it in November the same year.

Online sales and home delivery of alcohol were banned as the sell-

The court banned home delivery because underage people could order alcohol| Courtesy: Pexels ers were unable to track the age of the people ordering them. The apps had age-verification systems that could easily be forged.

Sharanya S, a college student, said: “The high court order has both pros and cons. The positive side is that no one can get alcohol sitting at home. Home delivery of alcohol enables even a 10-year-old child to order it. So banning will reduce the number of underage drinkers. The negative aspect is that without home delivery the number of drink and drive cases will rise. To make matters worse, people will start doing home delivery without legal permission.”

Prajna C R, a social drinker, said: “I take alcohol, but only when I hang out with my friends or family. I have never ordered for home delivery. It is not a good thing to drink at home as it will become a routine. The high court order is good.” adilin.b@iijnm.org

traffic constable stationed near the Vasanth Nagar signal said: “We do wear masks when the pollution is high.

But when we are standing at the side of roads, we do not wear them.”

Dr B.R. Ravikanthe Gowda, joint commissioner of police (traffic), said: “Anti-pollution masks are used by our personnel at general junctions. There are two or three types of masks which prevent respiratory issues related to dirt and smoke. We provide these masks regularly.... I don’t know why traffic policemen buy masks on their own. The ones we provide are use-and-throw masks which can be used for a particular period of time. We counsel those who do not wear masks to wear them.”

Masks provided to traffic constables are meant to not let dust particles in. But personnel who stand in heavy traffic zones said pollution is increasing and they face a lot of health issues. The masks are only a temporary solution.

As these traffic policemen stand on roads, they are exposed to dust and noxious emissions from vehicles. People who inhale these can suffer from respiratory and cardiac diseases, and even cancer, in the future. Air pollution can also cause long-term damage to people's nerves, brain, kidneys, liver and other organs.

The Observer tried to contact a pulmonologist and an oncologist but was unable to reach them.

Yellapapa Reddy A.N., an environmentalist and chairman of the Bangalore Environmental Trust,

Traffic policemen suffer the most from respiratory problems because of not wearing anti-pollution masks provided by government which safeguards them from dust and smoke | Courtesy: KPN said: “This equipment has been sub-inspectors. Those working at designed to protect the health of junctions in the central business the policemen who control the district and Outer Ring Roads are traffic. The government cannot more prone to asthma. make laws for everything. They According to a Hindu report in should know the importance of January 2017, a pulmonary funcwearing masks as the pollution tion test conducted on 235 traffic can cause various health prob- policemen in Bengaluru revealed lems. Due to pollution, all vital that 31% of those surveyed had organs in a human body are af- reduced lung function. A total of fected.”

20% had some respiratory probIn 2015, a study conducted by lem or the other.

Heal Foundation and AIIMS, With an increase in population jointly with Bengaluru traffic po- and the number of vehicles in the lice, showed around 77% of police city, the pollution has increased. officials of different ranks suf- According to reports in 2018, nine fered from vitamin D deficiency. out of 16 quality-monitoring staSince then, health camps were tions across Bengaluru have conducted for personnel. In recorded particulate matter March 2019, a special camp on (PM2.5) in excess of the National asthma was held for constables, Ambient Air Quality Standards. head constables and assistant aarthi.n@iijnm.org

Green Corridor provides roads with zero signals for organ transportation, says additional commissioner, traffic Continued from page 1

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r B.R. Ravikanthe Gowda, joint commissioner of police (traffic), informed The Observer: “Whenever an ambulance plays the hooter, people should move out of the place to make way for it, but some don’t bother. We should have more sensible people around us.”

Under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, if a vehicle blocks the way of an emergency vehicles, then the driver of that vehicle will be charged a fine up to Rs 10,000.

J Chandrasekhar Reddy, the Assistant Additional Commissioner of Traffic Management Centre said, “We have come up with ‘Green Corridor’ where the road becomes zero signal for organ transporting, and we give green signal to the ambulances and send them to the proper destinations as soon as possible.”

Traffic congestion is high at junctions under construction.

Up to Rs.10,000 fine will be charged on vehicles for blocking ambulances according to Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 | Courtesy: Pexels Hudson Circle, Electronics City and Shivajinagar also faces heavy traffic congestions.

The Observer noticed an ambulance of Marigold hospital, without its siren blaring, stuck in traffic for about two minutes.

When questioned, the driver said he was on his way to pick up a

patient in the morning.

There is no traffic post near the Jayadeva junction, 500 metres from Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research. BMRCL employees regulate traffic manually. This makes it difficult for the drivers to follow the traffic signals.

Suman Barwai, a BMRCL employee who controls traffic there, said: “It is a problem managing traffic manually. We shifted our traffic signal post due to Metro construction work. If any hooting ambulance comes, we try to make way for it. But it becomes difficult when there is a thick traffic jam. Because of this, ambulances get stuck minutes after minutes.”

Dr Ashish Verma, assistant professor of transportation systems engineering at IISc, observed: “It is the responsibility of each citizen to make way for ambulances. We can be sensible enough to leave space for ambulances, so that the patients get proper treatment on time.”

Dr Pannalal Saha, who works in a hospital, said: “At times, a patient’s condition becomes critical, and he dies due to not getting enough oxygen by the time he reaches a hospital. People should be sensible enough to make way for emergency vehicles.” ankita.m@iijnm.org

Twitterati talk @Anil Kumar, IAS I would like to assure citizens that last night itself #BBMP has fixed reflectors on bus lane bollards to warn motorists. There is no cause for concern as the bollard work was in progress yesterday & reflective sheets were placed the same day after work was completed. #BBMPCOMM https://t.co/mgiJrz6a45

Team Observer Editor: Chirag Dutta Copy editors: Aarthi N, Adilin Beatrice C, Ankita Mukerjee, Aman Bhardwaj, Chirag Dutta Reporters: Aarthi N, Adilin Beatrice C, Ankita Mukerjee, Aman Bhardwaj, Chirag Dutta Page Layout : Aarthi N, Adilin Beatrice C, Ankita Mukerjee, Aman Bhardwaj, Chirag Dutta Photo editor: Chirag Dutta Supplement: Ritam Chatterjee, Aarthi N

4

The Observer Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Sports The Money on the Ball

SUPPLEMENT

The European football transfer market has become exorbitant, writes Ritam Chatterjee

T

he top five European foot-

ball

leagues

(Premier

British tabloid, The Mirror says

summer targets like Christian

of a change in their squad other

Arsenal manager Unai Emery

that the Argentine might think

Eriksen from the Spurs or Paul

than bringing back their legend

across the world.

League, La Liga, Seria A,

was able to spend heavily in the

he has some unfinished business

Pogba whose return to his ex-club

Gigi Buffon and signing 19-year-

Bundesliga and Ligue 1) have

summer transfer window despite

after failing to land all of his tar-

doesn’t seem to go as planned.

old Holland Centre Back Martin

spent their highest ever in this

reports of a tight budget, includ-

gets in the summer.

Barcelona, on the other hand,re-

De Ligt after he had an incredible

summer’s transfer window. Ac-

ing £72m to sign Nicolas Pepe

The CEO of Atletico Madrid

gret not resigning Neymar who

season with Ajax.

cording to Deloitte’s Sports Busi-

and £25m for Celtic's Kieran

Miguel Angel Gil Marin claims

publicly admitted that he’s unsettled at PSG and wants to move.

ness Group, they have splashed

Tierney, but in an interview with

that his team has had “to rein-

out a record of €5.5 billion on

Bloomberg, Gunners managing

vent itself” following the depar-

some of the biggest names in

director Vinai Venkatesham sug-

tures of former club captain Diego

world soccer.

Antoine

Griezmann,

Meanwhile, Real Madrid ended

Bundesliga is fourth onoverall spending this summer. Dortmund signed Julian Brandt and

their long pursuit of

Thogan Hazard to fill the gap cre-

Eden

gested that fans won't be seeing

Godin,

by

ated by Pulisic’s departure along

The most expensive move is

as much money being splashed on

Lucas Hernandez,Torres Juan-

signing the Belgium

with Mats Hummels who re-

being Harry Maguire, the ex-

their side in the January’s Winter

fran, Filipe Luis and Rodri Her-

winger from Chelsea

turned to his former club after

Leicester City defender who

Transfer Window.

nandez this summer.

for a reported fee of

playing three years at

Hazard

joined the Red Devils for £86mil-

Sources said that the Manches-

Speaking at the World Football

lion, making him the most expen-

ter United hierarchy’s “patience”

Summit, Marin said, “The depar-

sive defender ever.

extends to the belief that the “cul-

tures of players forced us to take

Antonie Griezmann

Barcelona

Bayern.

€100 million.

Barcelona

Bayern

signed

signed

the flop

Arsenal and the Tottenham

tural reset”, cited by executive

risky decisions and we have suf-

for €120 million to

Philipe

Hotspurs, both north London

vice-chairman Ed Woodward, will

fered because of the release

recreate more dy-

Coutinho to fill

clubs, broke their transfer records

require three full seasons, and

clauses.We have completed a gen-

namic frontline. La

the void that

by signing Nicolas Pepe and Tan-

the attendant transfered win-

erational change and the team

Liga clubs collec-

guy Ndombele respectively to

dows, before the mistakes of the

has not been hindered by it,

tively spent €1.37

boost their squads.

post-Sir Alex Ferguson years can

thanks to the work done by our

billion becoming

be rectified.

coach Simeone."

the second-high-

Chelsea, going through a

A

James

Ro-

driguez’sreturn to his parent club Real Madrid.

transfer ban, failed to sign any-

Manchester United announced

one except Mateo Kovacic and the

annual revenue of £627m and

“Captain

Christian

profit of £50m in 2019, with

Pulisic from Dortmund. Man-

Woodward backing manager Ole

tion Joao Felix from Benfica

never-ending

chester City, who spent the most

Gunnar Solskjaer to return suc-

for a club record of €126m,

mands of football

in the past 3 years signed Rodrigo

cess to Old Trafford.

the highest of this term

America”

Hernandez from Atletico Madrid.

United have made an uncon-

Apart from filling the void in the

vincing start to the campaign,

tletico roped eight play-

According to soc-

est spenders.

ers for €245m, including

cer pundits across

Portuguese

the globe, with the

sensa-

fans and the objec-

Eden Hazard

across Europe.

tive to win silverware every season, the clubs

Real Madrid

Real Madrid has been

de-

midfield, Pep Guardiola’s team

with the team sitting in eighth

sniffing

signed 25 years old right back to

position, 10 points behind the

Saint Germain's Neymar and

Joao Cancelo for £26 million +

leaders Liverpool after six games.

Kylian Mbappe in the hope of

Danilo on a 5 years contract from

Mauricio Pochettino, Totten-

landing their next ‘Galactico’, but

impressive season in Bun-

the top five leagues is

‘The Old Lady’. No wonder every-

ham Hotspur’s boss has sug-

could it be Manchester City’s Ra-

desliga. The top 3 teams of La

up around €0.9 billion

one calls it the Premier League

gested that he will delve back into

heem Sterling?

Liga dominated the transfer win-

on the record set last

and yes, it’s the richest league

the transfer market in January.

However, according to Spanish

dow where Atletico Madrid spent

summer and indicates

newspaper Mundo Deportivo,

an estimated amount of €240

the continuous increase

around

are bound to make big money moves. The in-

for €65 million after his

crease in spending by

Real have money in the bank and

million, the most by any La

in the wealth of those at

they can make a monster bid to

Liga side.

football’s top table.

snatch Sterling this winter.

Seria A clubs stands third

“Spending across clubs in

The forward is clearly happy in

on overall spending €1.17 billion.

Europe’s

Manchester and playing some of

Antonio Conte who was ap-

reached record levels this sum-

top

leagues

have

the best football of his career

pointed as their new manager

mer’s transfer window,” said

under Guardiola in his last three

signed both Alexis Sanchez and

Dean Jones, partner in the Sports

seasons, so why he would want to

Romelu Lukaku from Manches-

Business Group at Deloitte.“The

swap that for Madrid is anyone's

ter United in his first season to

improved financial performance

guess. But the attraction of Real

strengthen the frontline of Inter

of European football clubs has

has proved strong before.

Milan after both of them failed to

also reduced the need for clubs to

hit the heights last season.

sell their best players to bring

Madridistas will not be happy Griezmann playing against Chelsea in a friendly match | Credit: The Sun

signed Frankfurt’s hitman Luka Jovic

Paris

as their club failed to sign their

Juventus hasn’t brought much

competition among themselves.”