PSG ‘surprised’ by FFP probe

Paris Saint-Germain insist they are “surprised” by UEFA’s decision to investigate them over Financial Fair Play.

UEFA confirmed on Friday that it would be probing PSG after their record-breaking deals for ex-Barcelona superstar Neymar and French wonderkid Kylian Mbappe, but the Ligue 1 giants made it clear they had nothing to hide.

“The Club are surprised at [UEFA’s] stance as they have constantly kept the UEFA Financial Fair Play bodies informed about the impact of all the player transfers carried out this summer, when they were not asked to do so,” read a statement on the club’s official website.

“The Club are very confident in their ability to prove that they will fully comply with FFP the for fiscal year 2017-2018.

“The Club recall that they have always acted in total transparency with the European football bodies, with whom they have developed trusted relations over the last six years, showing their utmost respect for [UEFA].

“Thus, Deputy Managing Director Jean-Claude Blanc presented, at the Club’s head offices on August 23, for more than three hours, to UEFA experts, including Andrea Traverso, who is responsible for UEFA’s FFP, figures showing that the deals carried out, with FC Barcelona and the latest one with AS Monaco, were in compliance with FFP rules for the financial year 2017-2018.

“On August 31, the Club’s management again exchanged views with UEFA’s FFP leaders to specify, in complete transparency, the manner in which the deal with AS Monaco would integrate, as of this season, into the Club’s accounts, both in terms of depreciation and payroll, in compliance with French accounting standards and French treasury.

“The Club have already achieved, in the summer of 2017, sales that enable them to increase their revenues by more than €104m for the 2017-2018 season.

“The Club recall, if necessary, that they also have very significant player assets, which can generate very significant capital gains in the next two transfer windows (January and June) for the 2018 financial year.

“With the arrival of these two players complementing a very high level, the Club is taking a new step forward in its project to build a world-class club and sports franchise.

The Club have proved in recent years that they have the capacity to their its income exponentially, while they anticipate an increase of 20-40 percent in each of the levers at their disposal (international revenues, sponsoring, merchandising, ticketing, TV rights, income linked to sporting performance, summer and winter tours).

“In the interest of dialogue and transparency, the Club will continue their exchanges with UEFA in the coming days and respond, like they have, to each of the questions asked by the European body.”

Tags FFP Kylian Mbappe Monaco Neymar Paris Saint-Germain PSG
La Liga - Club News