NYON: UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino has insisted that the governing body’s financial fair play rules are already working despite a summer of speculation surrounding massive transfer fees.

Under the rules, clubs in European competitions will have to break even by the start of next season, and Infantino insisted that the regulations had already led to a drop of in overall club debt.

However, with Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale the subject of a world record bid from Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and Manchester City also splashing out huge sums on new players, some clubs have shown little sign of curbing their considerable spending.

Infantino said: “People see these signings and ask how it can happen with financial fair play but it’s possible – if you generate E100m you can spend E100m.

“The other thing which must be taken into account is that a club may have an agreement to pay that over five years, so the cost is E20m for the season. The problem comes is if a club doesn’t generate E100m but spends it – then there will be disciplinary consequences.”

Infantino added that he has been encouraged by the overall trend, although the body is still collating the latest figures.

“It is quite positive,” he added. “It shows financial fair play is working and that it’s happening right now. Overall losses in European club football are down for the first time, and by several hundreds of millions [of euros].”

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Friday, August 9, 2013

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