Financial Fair Play rules could be eased: UEFA President Michel Platini

Michel Platini UEFA
UEFA president Michel Platini said that the FFP regulations were good but it was time to ease them

In a move that would be welcomed by the likes of Paris St Germain and Manchester City, UEFA president Michel Platini has said that some of the FFP (Financial Fair Play) rules could be eased. The decision on the matter will be down to UEFA’s executive committee.

According a report, the announcement is expected to be made next month, allowing more of owner investment for clubs. The move will help the European governing body to solve the legal complications which it faces due to the FFP rules.

Some clubs like Manchester City had claimed that UEFA’s FFP rules favoured the established and rich clubs since it did not allow wealthy owners to invest immediately as soon as they took over a new club.

PSG and Manchester City, who spent big on transfers last season, were handed a fine of £49m each by UEFA. Transfer restrictions were also imposed on the two clubs for spending huge sums of money on players in the last few seasons.

Feeling the pressure

The European club’s governing body has also been facing pressure from the European Club’s Association to change the rules. According the report, Michel Platini made this revelation when he was speaking to RTL, a French radio station.

"The world is two-faced but we will say this openly: I think we'll ease things, but it will be the executive committee who will decide if it is to be eased or something like that, and the outcome will be known by the end of June. I think the regulations have been very good and it is the clubs who voted for FFP.”

"But the French press say it is not right that (Chelsea owner Roman) Abramovich can buy many players and in France they cannot buy them. But if the Qataris had bought AC Milan, the French would also say we should make financial fair play even tougher. As it is, the Italians wanted it eased."

A source involved in the process revealed to Press Association Sport: “Many clubs want change - the current system means those who have more will always have more, and those who have less will always have less.”

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Edited by Staff Editor