UEFA probe PSG after Neymar, Mbappe deals

PARIS: UEFA opened a formal investigation into Paris Saint-Germain on Friday after the French club broke the world transfer record to sign Neymar.

European football’s governing body said they would look at whether PSG had violated their Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.

“The investigation will focus on the compliance of the club with the break-even requirement, particularly in light of its recent transfer activity,” UEFA said in a statement.

PSG signed Brazilian striker Neymar for a world-record €222 million (RM1.12 billion) on Aug 3 and completed a loan move for Kylian Mbappe on Thursday in a deal that includes an option to buy the French teenager for €180 million.

“In the coming months, the Investigatory Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body will regularly meet in order to carefully evaluate all documentation pertaining to this case,” the statement added.

“UEFA considers Financial Fair Play to be a crucial governance mechanism which aims to ensure the financial sustainability of European club football.”

PSG said they were “surprised” by UEFA’s decision.

“The club is surprised by such a step as it has permanently kept UEFA’s Financial Fair Play teams informed of the impact of all player transactions this summer while nothing obliged it to do so,” read a statement on the PSG website.

“The club is very confident in its ability to demonstrate it will perfectly respect the Financial Fair-Play rules in accordance with the financial year 2017/18.”

Mbappe’s move to PSG has left many wondering how the Qatarowned club can avoid sanctions from UEFA considering the investment already made on Neymar.

According to media reports, the only clause required to be met to make the club’s option to buy Mbappe an obligatory one is for PSG to stay in the top flight this season.

UEFA will have to consider whether Mbappe’s transfer fee is factored into PSG’s accounts for the current season, or whether it will carry over to the following campaign.

The FFP system was first approved by UEFA in 2010 to try and combat soaring debts in the game.

PSG have already incurred sanctions for a previous violation and were slapped with a €60 million fine, 40 million of which was suspended, in 2014, and saw their squad for the Champions League cut from 25 to 21 players. AFP