Man City has told UEFA chiefs that "wealthy benefactors should not be penalised" under Financial Fair Play rules for "investing heavily in clubs," according to Martyn Ziegler of the PA. Man City and Ligue 1 side Paris St. Germain were "each fined" £49M ($78M) for FFP rule breaches last season -- "and both clubs sent senior figures to a meeting" chaired by UEFA President Michel Platini in Nyon, Switzerland. Man City CEO Ferran Soriano attended the meeting, as did PSG Chair Nasser Al-Khelaifi "and it is understood both stressed their belief that sustainable investment should be permitted" (PA, 10/13). In London, Ben Rumsby reported Soriano argued that UEFA's current three-year monitoring period "should be extended by up to seven years to allow clubs to live the same rags-to-riches dream pursued by his side and Chelsea." One of the "major criticisms of FFP is that it may make it much more difficult for new teams to break into the elite of European football." Yet, "any extension of the monitoring period would have to be weighed against the risk that those without sufficient resources" may resume the "reckless spending and financial insanity" that prompted UEFA to "devise FFP in the first place" (TELEGRAPH, 10/13).
RUMMENIGGE SPEAKS OUT: In Madrid, Pablo Polo reported FFP has caused a "divide among Europe's top clubs." While "most are in favour, including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and
Barcelona, a vocal minority oppose the scheme," headed by PSG and
Man City. Real's "modus operandi seems to have the backing" of the European Club Association and was
"hailed by the association's president, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, as
adhering to the spirit of the regulations." Rummenigge: "Real and Barcelona are not
the big problem, although they have a higher mountain of debt. Financial
Fair Play is based on the break-even rule -- that's simply 'do not spend
more than you earn'" (MARCA, 10/14).
UEFA ENCOURAGED: REUTERS' Ian Chadband reported Platini described the meeting as "constructive" and "encouraging." UEFA described the discussions as "full and frank." Platini said in a statement, "Today's meeting was very constructive and showed once more that the key stakeholders in Europe are keen to work together to create a healthy financial landscape for club football. We have succeeded in reducing the cumulative losses of European clubs and in stabilizing European football's finances" (REUTERS, 10/13).
