September 25 – UEFA has confirmed it is stepping up its investigation into Paris Saint-Germain’s potential breach of financial fair play rules, rekindling the threat of the Qatari-owned club being thrown out of Europe.
UEFA says it has ordered accusations that PSG has again broken financial fair play rules to be referred to its Club Financial Control Body (CFCB), which oversees the application of FFP, “for further investigation”.
European football’s governing body initially opened an investigation into PSG’s spending in September 2017 under pressure from some of Europe’s biggest clubs after PSG signed Brazilian midfielder Neymar for a world-record €222 million. Within weeks the club had also agreed a deal to sign teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe from Monaco for €180 million.
In June, PSG were cleared of breaking any rules only for UEFA to say the following month that although PSG satisfied FFP regulations between 2015 and 2017 the break-even requirement for the 2018 financial year would remain “under close scrutiny.”
If eventually found guilty PSG could face exclusion from European competition for one or more seasons though such a severe sanction is unlikely.
The club, owned by Qatar Sports Investments since 2011, has been accused of “financial doping” by outspoken La Liga president Javier Tebas in their elusive quest to finally land the Champions League. They have already been punished once for breaking FFP rules in 2014 when they were fined €60 million but insist they are now fully compliant with the regulations.
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