PSG ‘expect to be sanctioned’ over Financial Fair Play after purchases of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN "expect to be sanctioned" over Financial Fair Play, which could lead them to a transfer ban or a hefty fine.
The cash-rich French club purchased Neymar last year for a world record £198million and are obliged to buy Kylian Mbappe this summer for £162m after his season-long loan this year.
They could even be forced to sell some of their best players to balance the books, but the Mbappe transfer is likely to be filed under next year's accounts.
The club are expecting a verdict on the case by the end of June, but an end date has not been set for the verdict to be announced yet.
Europe's big clubs have reportedly been putting pressure on Uefa to give PSG a slap on the wrist, given Financial Fair Play was set up to stop cash-rich buyers coming in and simply purchasing an entire dream team.
Some sceptics have seen FFP as a mechanism for the established big sides in Europe to maintain a staus quo though, meaning they can stay on top by keeping up traditional revenue streams like TV and match tickets.
L'Equipe hint PSG will not be punished heavily though, which suggests they will not get a transfer ban.
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Manchester City have been another club targeted by FFP investigators, back in 2011.
A number of City's rivals questioned the validity of their stadium and shirt sponsorship deal from Etihad Airways, worth £187m, which had at the time not made a profit since its launch in 2004 and was owned by the half brother of the club's owner Sheikh Mansour.
City were at pains to point out the deal included an infrastructure plan – which clubs can spend out without having to include in their FFP figures and – and the magnificent Etihad Campus across the road from the stadium was created.
Unai Emery is expected to be replaced as Parc des Princes boss at the end of the season, with Thomas Tuchel suggested as a likely replacement, while outgoing Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has not been ruled out.
Wenger has said he still wants to work in football but given his underwhelming record in the Champions League with the Gunners, they may opt for the younger German