UEFA to check sponsorship deals

Manchester City and PSG have been warned by UEFA they will have to prove they are not "cheating" the new financial fair play system.

Last Updated: 04/02/13 at 15:44 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Champions League. Click here to bet.

Manchester City: Warned by UEFA

Manchester City: Warned by UEFA

Both clubs have huge sponsorship deals with companies closely associated with their owners.

City have a £400million deal with Etihad airline, closely linked to its Abu Dhabi-based owner, while Qatar-owned PSG have recently announced a £125million-a-year deal with the Qatar Tourist Authority.

UEFA published its annual benchmark report which warns two English clubs - understood to be Manchester City and Chelsea - are among 46 across 22 European countries who could fall foul of its financial rules based on 2009-2011 figures.

However, Chelsea made a profit last season and are confident they will comply when the system comes into effect next year, while City believe they will also be able to comply when the rules come into force for the 2014/15 season.

One issue which remains for City and PSG however, is their big sponsorship deals, with UEFA saying they will check to ensure they have not simply been agreed at inflated values in order to allow the clubs to comply with financial fair play (FFP).

UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said: "Everyone, including PSG, know they have to demonstrate [the deals] are without cheating and that will be submitted to panels.

"We have a regulation which speaks about fair value of deals and the fact that a related party cannot just inject money into a club directly or indirectly."

Clubs in European competition will be obliged to break even, within discretion of 5million euros (£4.3m) over three years, though initially owners will be allowed to cover losses of up to 15million euros (£13million) a year.

UEFA's report says club losses have ballooned from 600million euros (£515million) in 2007 to a record 1.7billion euros (£1.45billion) in 2011, though revenues have seen an increase.

PSG would appear to have the most to do to convince UEFA, but at least the estimated £3million that David Beckham is due to receive for his five-month contract should be exempt from the FFP calculations because the French club is to pay that direct to charity.

Infantino said investments "in youth, in charity and social concerns," would be exempt from spending figures, adding: "It's certainly a very good thing that he (Beckham) donates his salary or PSG do; if and how this will have an impact [on FFP] will have to be assessed."

Infantino also insisted the financial measures were not targeted at England, and recommended that the Premier League adopt similar rules which are on the agenda for their meeting on Thursday.

He added: "It has been perceived by some as a sort of anti-English thing - absolutely not. It is just a good common sense rule that everyone of us is implementing at home; if you earn £1,000 you can't spend £1,200.

"We can only encourage the Premier League as we encourage each league and association. I think it's very positive.

"We are very happy that the Football League has already introduced financial fair play."

Bet with SkyBet  Champions League. Click here to bet.

Football365 Facebook Fan Page

The Football365 fan page is a great place to meet like minded people, have football related discussions and make new friends.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

Y

et another example of Cameron's broken Britton.

varicoseregent
Britton prepares for surgery

I

ve heard his older brother might be joining as part of the deal too... Roland.

wezmond
West Ham sign defender Rat

I

think it's time anyway. That hat must smell awful by now. Time for a change and a rinse

levi
Pulis' Stoke exit confirmed

Footer 365

Mata: Mourinho one of the best

Juan Mata would welcome the appointment of Jose Mourinho as Chelsea's new manager and says they must aspire to win the Premier League.

Zabaleta excited by Pellegrini

Pablo Zabaleta believes Manuel Pellegrini could be a great manager for Manchester City as his "way to play football is great".

Sergio Ramos believes Gareth Bale would be right at home at Real Madrid

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos believes Gareth Bale is "in the right mould" to be a star player at the Bernabeu.

Mail Box

Mails: Jol Out And Other Demands...

You might notice that we haven't included a single mail about teams in pubs, because most of them were terrible. Instead we have a disgruntled Fulham fan and Scouse maths...

A Night In The Pub With Aston Villa...

Villa are the latest team to get the pub treatment, while the morning mailbox also includes missives on Tony Pulis leaving Stoke and Chelsea's future under Jose Mourinho...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved