By David Gold
December 6 – Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has criticised Bayern Munich chairman Karl Heinz Rummenigge ahead of the Champions League clash between the pair this week, after the former German international attacked the Premier League leaders’ spending.
The Manchester club posted extravagant losses for the 2010-2011 season of £197 million ($311 million/€230 million), placing in doubt their ability to meet the new UEFA financial fair play (FFP) rules.
Vastly increased revenues now standing at £153 million (€179 million/$239 million), as well as a new £40 million ($63 million/€45 million) a year sponsorship deal with Etihad and the impact of Champions League football, will go some way to helping City comply with FFP, which stipulates that clubs cannot lose £40 million ($63 million/€45 million) over the first three years it is in place.
This season is the first, and over time the rules will become tighter to limit teams to breaking even over rolling three year periods.
Bayern Munich by contrast have reported profits for the last 19 years, and the German club take pride in their sound financial housekeeping, which contrasts markedly with most of their rivals in the Champions League.
Ahead of their crucial clash tomorrow, Bayern have already qualified for the second round of the competition as winners of their group, and Manchester City must beat them to have any chance of progressing; though if fellow Champions League newcomers Napoli also win their game, the result will be irrelevant.
Rummenigge (pictured), also the chairman of the influential European Clubs Association, told Austrian website 90minuten.at: “There must be a serious implementation of FFP.
“The regulations of FFP have become a very thick book, but actually you can put it in one sentence – we must not spend more money than we are making.
“The financial-doping must come to an end and lead to a virtual “equality of arms” between the clubs.
“The oligarchy must be pushed into the background.
“I recommend that UEFA should think of harsh punishments, otherwise there will be no financial fair play.
“Let’s take the example of Manchester City.
“How does it work when you write about €200 million (£195 million/$269 million) loss?
“The working group of UEFA is required to establish strict penalties.
“Some clubs want leniency, but in the final analysis, only the exclusion from the international competitions or the non-licensing for the European competitions or Champions League place [is appropriate].”
Rummenigge added that the problem was not exclusive to City, saying: “I am not angry [at City’s losses], I’m just curious as to how UEFA will deal with these cases.
“The management of Manchester City is nice and looks nice and they see the problem as well, but if the punishment is too mild, then you can do the same again.
“It has now reached the stage where 63 per cent of professional football clubs in Europe post losses.
“Most clubs see the danger, but no one steps on the brake.”
Mancini has sharply defended his team, saying that he will demand an explanation from the Bayern chief tomorrow, retorting: “I don’t understand Rummenigge’s behaviour against Manchester City.
“This has been six months now that he talks against us because of financial fair play.
“He also says that he hopes Napoli get through to the second stage [instead of City].
“I don’t know what his problem is with us.
“Manchester City are working for financial fair play for the next two years, so I don’t understand what has happened with Rummenigge.
“There are other teams in Europe that have problems with financial fair play, not just Manchester City.
“Rummenigge knows his football – he was an incredible player – but I don’t why [he singles us out].”
Manchester City, whose spending has also been criticised by figures such as Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, are confident that this year’s losses will not increase in future years, and that they can move towards self-sustainability.
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