By Andrew Warshaw
April 25 – Europe’s loss-making clubs will be breathing a sigh of relief after UEFA president Michel Platini confirmed that none of them will face the ultimate sanction of competition bans for breaching financial fair play regulations.
UEFA are set to name the clubs still being probed for irregularities early next month – understood to be fewer than 20 – but Platini says none of those who have failed to comply in their pursuit of success will be thrown out, for now at least.
Expulsion from the Champions League or Europa League remains on the table as a potential punishment but with FFP only just starting to bite, Platini says it’s not right for the severest sanctions to be imposed quite yet.
“In effect, the first decisions will be announced at the start of May,” Platini said in an interview with Le Parisien newspaper. “But if you are expecting blood and tears, you will be disappointed. There will be some tough things but no exclusions from European competition.”
Clubs are allowed to spend around €45 million more than they earn until the end of next season – provided the money is covered as equity by owners to cover the losses. UEFA are set to announce all settlement deals with non-compliant clubs next month, with more serious cases judged in June aimed at curbing excessive spending on transfers and wages.
Asked specifically about Qatari-owned Paris St Germain, whose financial clout has been significantly enhanced as a result of an unusual commercial deal with Qatar Tourism Authority, Platini hinted he was not entirely satisfied with how the club operates and questioned whether they were playing by the rules.
“I cannot talk about one club in particular, that is not my role. I will say simply that Paris St Germain’s financial model is distinctive and atypical. That image contract with the QTA, the tourism office of Qatar, is innovative, that’s all I can say. But is it viable? Is the value of the contract correct? Those are the answers that the experts must decide.”
Heavy fines, squad salary caps and bans on registering new players in European competition are three possible sanctions that could be announced in June. Platini said UEFA would not hesitate to start hitting clubs hard, even if it was too early to impose expulsions. “I think that significant sanctions will affect the big clubs. We will go through with this,” he said.
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