UEFA could reopen investigations into PSG and Manchester City FFP accounting
NYON: European football federation UEFA has said it is prepared to revive financial fair play investigations “on a case-by-case basis” if there is evidence of “abuse”.
In the past two weeks German news magazine Der Spiegel and other media outlets wih accsss to the Football Leaks files has claimed that Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City – respective champions France and England – overvalued sponsorship deals to help meet the break-even accounting standards.
PSG have not commented while City have only descrbed the leaks as an “organised and clear” attempt to damage the club’s reputation.
The problem for UEFA is that acting on the leaks would mean accepting what both it and FIFA have suggested was illicitly obtained material.
A UEFA statement said it could “test the information it receives” but “it relies on that information being fair and accurate reflections of a club’s finances”.
It added: “Seven years ago, European clubs had a cumulative debt of 1.7bn euros (£1.5bn). Last year it was a profit of 600m euros (£525m). Without question, FFP has been a success for the game across Europe.
“It relies on the co-operation of clubs to declare a complete and genuine financial position.
“Should new information suggest that previously concluded cases have been abused, those cases may be capable of being reopened as determined on a case-by-case basis.
“This approach is applied universally to all clubs that apply for a Uefa licence and participate in European club competitions.”
In its reporting based on leaked documents, Der Spiegel also said the clubs negotiated with Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who was then general secretary of Uefa, to agree reduced punishments on FFP breaches.
Uefa found City had breached FFP rules in 2014 and the two parties reached a settlement, with City paying a £49m fine – £32m of which was suspended – while their Champions League squad was reduced for 2014-15.
Der Spiegel called the settlements “weak” and claimed Uefa “wasn’t even entirely aware of the degree to which it had been deceived”.
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