A group of 100 European clubs on Tuesday accepted the principle of financial "fair play" limits on big club spending, the European Club Association said on Tuesday.

But they now expect to work out the details with European football's governing body UEFA, including defining what financial size would constitute a "big" club, ECA officials and club executives said after a meeting here.

"The financial fair play measures were supported by 100 member clubs represented at the General Assembly," said Barcelona president and ECA vice chairman Juan Laporta.

"We think that's a very strong sign," he added.

UEFA's executive committee is due to examine the financial fair play measures at a meeting next Monday, including approval for a Financial Control Panel, a centrepiece of the measures.

They were first drafted after complaints about spiralling transfer fees and the capacity of top European clubs, especially in England, to fund star-studded teams while accumulating huge debts.

Laporta and Manchester United chief executive David Gill said the fair play measures would help clubs by ensuring sustainable growth and ensuring long term stability for club football in Europe.

The measures agreed on Tuesday include an obligation for clubs with a turnover over a certain threshold "over a period of time" to balance their books.

That would prevent them from spending "systematically" more than the revenue they generate, Laporta said.

The independent financial panel could help with guidance on transfer spending and wages, as well as sustainable debt levels.

Laporta and Gill said some clubs might still be able to afford big fees like Cristiano Ronaldo's record-breaking ?94-million move to Real Madrid this summer.

But they would have to break even, and the overall budget available over a season might limit their capacity to buy other players as a result.