PSG face fresh Financial Fair Play allegations

Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar (left) and Kylian Mbappe celebrate their team's goal during their Champions League match against Napoli at San Paolo stadium, Naples on November 6, 2018. PHOTO | ALBERTO PIZZOLI |

What you need to know:

  • The Qatari-owned club originally declared the contract to be worth Sh11.6 billion (100 million euros) in the financial years of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015
  • PSG, which spent Sh46.5 billion (400 million euros) on signing Brazilian star Neymar and French teenager Kylian Mbappe, reacted by lodging an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport
  • In the wake of the Football Leaks revelations, Uefa warned Monday it might re-open probes into the finances of other clubs, including Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City

PARIS

Uefa said Wednesday that further examination of French giants Paris Saint-Germain's alleged flaunting of Financial Fair Play rules would have to await a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

In the latest revelation from Football Leaks, French sports daily L'Equipe said Uefa was considering ordering PSG to amend its accounts to drastically re-assess the value of its sponsorship contract with the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA).

The Qatari-owned club originally declared the contract to be worth Sh11.6 billion (100 million euros) in the financial years of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015.

L'Equipe said Uefa's financial oversight body was now insisting that sum be reduced to Sh6.7 billion (58 million euros).

The effect of the change would be to plunge the French champions heavily into deficit, meaning they could fall foul of Uefa's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.

That would leave PSG facing Uefa penalties, including a possible ban from the Champions League and other European competitions.

Under FFP rules, clubs cannot spend more than they earn in any given season and deficits must fall within a Sh3.4 billion (30-million-euro) limit over three seasons.

In September, Uefa announced it was re-opening its investigation into accusations that PSG had broken the FFP rules.

PSG, which spent Sh46.5 billion (400 million euros) on signing Brazilian star Neymar and French teenager Kylian Mbappe, reacted by lodging an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

A Uefa spokesman said Wednesday: "We will have to wait for CAS's decision on PSG's appeal before looking at this issue."

Concerning the allegations in L'Equipe, Uefa said: "We do not comment on specific cases."

In the wake of the Football Leaks revelations, Uefa warned Monday it might re-open probes into the finances of other clubs, including Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City.