LONDON: FA chairman Lord Triesman on Tuesday said English soccer had total debts of more than 3 billion pounds ($4 billion) and warned of its danger to the well-being of the sport.

The four big clubs - Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool - are believed to account for about a third of that amount, he added.

Speaking at the Leaders in Football conference at Stamford Bridge, Triesman and Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore voiced opposing views on the dangers of foreign ownership - one of the sport's most contentious issues - and whether the rules needed tightening up.