In the glamorous world of soccer, where talent takes the spotlight, financial intricacies can go unnoticed. After an overly uncertain summer considering the transfer saga revolving around Kylian Mbappe, PSG, and Real Madrid, it seems like PSG finally got some breathing space. Recently, Mbappe decided to waive a staggering $107 million in loyalty bonuses from PSG, which was a major sigh of relief for the French giants. However, PSG’s financial troubles may not be over. UEFA plans to scrutinize three players’ sales the club conducted recently.
The deals could have violated Financial Fair Play rules, resulting in a significant fine for PSG. Let’s delve deeper into the latest struggles of the French giants.
The sacrifice by Kylian Mbappe may not be enough to save PSG, as they could get hit by a UEFA fine
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PSG looked like a busy club this summer, which was forced to overhaul its roster after seeing the exits of superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. Apart from splashing a huge amount of money on signings this summer, the Paris-based club was also involved in sales. Players like Neymar, Verratti, Diallo, and Draxler moved to Middle Eastern clubs. However, PSG could be now in hot water over these deals.
According to a tweet from @DeadlineDayLive, L’Equipe reported that UEFA is looking to investigate the transfer deals that involve the sales of players to Qatar. PSG might face FFP charges if found gullible under UEFA’s code of conduct. UEFA announced an inquiry into PSG’s transfers of Verratti, Diallo, and Draxler to Qatari clubs. This is because PSG is owned by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI). UEFA wants to know if the buyer and seller in these transactions are ‘related parties’. If proven, this could potentially lead to severe sanctions against PSG.
The combined transfers of Abdou Diallo and Marco Verratti to Al-Arabi were roughly $64 million and Julian Draxler’s move to Al-Ahli was reported to be around $21 million. To assess the extent and nature of these transactions, UEFA is turning to its Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
🚨 UEFA will scrutinise the sales of Marco Verratti, Jullian Draxler and Abdou Diallo to Qatari clubs. 🔎
If UEFA judges that the proximity between PSG and the Qatari clubs are too close, the French side will NOT be able to include these sales in their accounts.
PSG have… pic.twitter.com/90la9eFZZi
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) September 19, 2023
It is to be noted that UEFA doesn’t treat transactions between related parties as a fair proposition. So, if identified, UEFA may omit the amount of a transaction between related parties from the financial documents it requires.
What does the future hold for PSG?
It is too early to say what the outcome of UEFA’s investigation will be. However, it is clear that PSG is facing a significant financial challenge. The club has been spending heavily in recent years, and it is now starting to feel the pinch. As UEFA begins its investigation, PSG faces a challenging journey through the complex realms of financial scrutiny.
The Ligue 1 champions are confident they’re in their right because Qatar Sports Investments doesn’t own shares in Al-Arabi SC or Al-Ahli. Mbappe’s $107 million loyalty bonus waiver was positive, but it may not prevent a UEFA penalty for PSG. If UEFA finds related-party transfers, the club might incur a hefty fine, hampering this season’s goals and targets. Fans around the world will be eagerly waiting to see the outcome of the investigation and the drama it brings along with it.
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