Longsight-memories
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Leading European clubs including Italian giants Internazionale are pressing for Uefa to adopt the sanctions to ensure that the new rules, designed to ensure clubs live within their means, are not abused by clubs with massive benefactor funding.
Uefa president Michel Platini has said the rules are necessary to stop “financial doping” by the richest clubs driving their competitors into financial trouble as they strain to compete.
Manchester City, backed by Abu Dhabi’s petro-dollar wealth, and Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea are among clubs that the established European elite fear will be able to evade the rules, which effectively tie transfer fees and player wages to turnover.
The rules came into effect at the start of this season but until now the sanctions for clubs breaching the regulations have not been clear, with Uefa saying only that serious breaches could lead to clubs being thrown out of the Champions League or Europa League.
Following discussions at the European Club Association general assembly in Genevea this week however clubs have agreed to ask Uefa to announce a graded system of sanctions.
These would include financial penalties as well as preventing clubs in serious breach from signing any new players, effectively forcing them to comply with financial constraints laid down by Uefa.
Internazionale chief executive Ernesto Paolillo chaired a working group of leading clubs including Arsenal and Real Madrid this week, and said the clubs are keen to know what the penalties will be.
“We are all fully behind the financial fair play rules because we need to make some changes in European football,” he said. “European clubs were in deficit by more than €1bn last season, so we need action.
“But we need to see the sanctions now because the rules have started, so that the clubs know the rules. We think that having a transfer ban, and to have prize money from Uefa withheld, are appropriate penalties for breaking financial rules.”
Paulillo and directors of established European elite clubs are keen that City in particular are forced to comply with the rules, which limit benefactor funding to €45m over the next three seasons.
All other income must be “legitimate” revenue, but there are already complaints over City’s £400m sponsorship and naming rights deal with Etihad, the Abu Dhabi national airline controlled by the same family as City.
City believe that the deal will pass the FFP test because it includes money for youth and community development aspects, which are exempt from the rules.
Uefa president Michel Platini has said the rules are necessary to stop “financial doping” by the richest clubs driving their competitors into financial trouble as they strain to compete.
Manchester City, backed by Abu Dhabi’s petro-dollar wealth, and Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea are among clubs that the established European elite fear will be able to evade the rules, which effectively tie transfer fees and player wages to turnover.
The rules came into effect at the start of this season but until now the sanctions for clubs breaching the regulations have not been clear, with Uefa saying only that serious breaches could lead to clubs being thrown out of the Champions League or Europa League.
Following discussions at the European Club Association general assembly in Genevea this week however clubs have agreed to ask Uefa to announce a graded system of sanctions.
These would include financial penalties as well as preventing clubs in serious breach from signing any new players, effectively forcing them to comply with financial constraints laid down by Uefa.
Internazionale chief executive Ernesto Paolillo chaired a working group of leading clubs including Arsenal and Real Madrid this week, and said the clubs are keen to know what the penalties will be.
“We are all fully behind the financial fair play rules because we need to make some changes in European football,” he said. “European clubs were in deficit by more than €1bn last season, so we need action.
“But we need to see the sanctions now because the rules have started, so that the clubs know the rules. We think that having a transfer ban, and to have prize money from Uefa withheld, are appropriate penalties for breaking financial rules.”
Paulillo and directors of established European elite clubs are keen that City in particular are forced to comply with the rules, which limit benefactor funding to €45m over the next three seasons.
All other income must be “legitimate” revenue, but there are already complaints over City’s £400m sponsorship and naming rights deal with Etihad, the Abu Dhabi national airline controlled by the same family as City.
City believe that the deal will pass the FFP test because it includes money for youth and community development aspects, which are exempt from the rules.