The financial fair play rules that penalized Man City last season "are set to be relaxed," according to Sarah Ebner of the LONDON TIMES. UEFA is expected to "announce that the rules will be eased to allow more owner investment, so negating the numerous legal challenges" it faces. There has been "constant controversy over FFP," particularly after Man City was fined £49M ($76.8M) and "restricted to a 21-man Champions League squad for this season for breaking the regulations." The rules, which were first implemented in '11, "forbid clubs from spending beyond their means but some have argued that they favour the rich, established clubs because they effectively prevent wealthy owners taking over a club and pumping in huge sums of money over a short period" (LONDON TIMES, 5/18). The PA's Martyn Ziegler reported UEFA President Michel Platini has "revealed that some of the rules will be 'eased' -- and the lawyer leading one of the legal challenges against the FFP system has responded by welcoming the move." Platini said, "The world is two-faced but we will say this openly: I think we'll ease things, but it will be the executive committee who will decide." A source close to the negotiations said, "Many clubs want change -- the current system means those who have more will always have more, and those who have less will always have less." Jean-Louis Dupont, the lawyer leading the legal action against UEFA, said in a statement, "We welcome the announcement of a change in the rules in line with the demands expressed by our clients in their various legal actions" (PA, 5/18).
LEGAL REASONS: The BBC's Matt Slater reported an article in Le Parisien went "slightly further, suggesting the changes were a reaction to the 'multiple legal actions (against FFP) currently in process, some of which are nearing conclusion.'" Those legal actions are being "spearheaded" by Dupont, who forced UEFA to "overhaul its transfer rules with the Bosman Ruling" in '95. Originally acting on behalf of a football agent, Dupont's challenge to FFP has now "attracted support" from fans of Man City, Paris St. Germain and other clubs. Dupont "maintains FFP is contrary to basic European Union rules on free markets and he has filed complaints at courts in Brussels, Paris and Switzerland, as well as with the European Commission" (BBC, 5/18).
