Uefa to probe Neymar’s PSG deal

ZURICH: French club Paris St Germain have been placed under investigation by Uefa to see if their recent transfer spending spree has broken the break-even rules of European soccer’s ruling body known as Financial Fair Play (FFP).

The Ligue 1 club signed French teenager Kylian Mbappe, one of Europe’s most exciting talents, on Thursday in a deal worth €180 million (R2.75bn) to highlight their astonishing financial muscle.

The Qatari-owned club last month bought Brazil forward Neymar from Barcelona for €222m, more than double the previous highest price paid for a player. They spent more than any other club in a single transfer window.

However, FFP rules ban clubs from spending more than their generated revenue, a policy introduced to prevent rich owners from trying to buy success and distorting the transfer market.

Clubs can ultimately be kicked out of European competition for flouting the rules although until now Uefa has tried to negotiate settlements with offenders.

“Uefa considers Financial Fair Play to be a crucial governance mechanism which aims to ensure the financial sustainability of European football,” the ruling body added.

Meanwhile, clubs around Europe are growing increasingly frustrated by a transfer window they say is too long and overshadows the start of the season.

The windows for the major European leagues close at the end of the August, two to three weeks after the season has begun. Coaches say that makes it impossible to prepare properly.

English clubs will vote next week on a proposal to close the transfer window before the season starts. That will probably be ineffective unless other leagues follow suit.

The transfer system is governed by Fifa’s Regulations, but it is up to national associations to decide the length of their own windows. Fifa’s rules say each country should have two windows of up to 12 weeks during the close season and four weeks during the season itself. – Reuters