Chelsea case: Manchester City and PSG next up for UEFA

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain may be forced to sell one of their shining stars due to non-compliance of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. The Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) will rule on the case in the coming days and word is that European football’s governing body is annoyed with both clubs because they have failed to collaborate.

City and PSG vs FFP

Both the English and French clubs have refused to hand over certain documents alleging that the investigation into their dealing is driven from an uncorroborated report from journalists.

But there is something more sinister at play. If not, why the sudden urgency for PSG President Nasser Al Khelaifi to join UEFA’s Executive Committee, a decision that was rubber stamped on February 7. There are those who see in this move as a manoeuver to put a stop to any sanctions for breach of FFP. Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, has already come out to say that the appointment violates ‘all reasonable rules of good governance’.

For sale? PSG could be forced to sell one of their main men, Kylian Mbappe or Neymar.
Xavier Laine (Getty Images)

Champions League ban?

UEFA believes that PSG and City numbers do not add up, effectively calling it financial doping. They have entrusted the investigation to the former prime minister of Belgium, Yves Leterme, who was already part of earlier sanctions given to both clubs for their failure to comply with FFP. Now-Fifa presdident Gianni Infantino had seen the cases settled with financial fines, but Leterme was not satisfied with something that these rich clubs are barely affected by. With Ceferin giving the investigator full autonomy, openly confronting Infantino, there is a view that more severe punishments are required, including not being allowed to compete in next season’s Champions League and potentially having to sell off some of their stars – the likes of Neymar, Mbappé, De Bruyne, Sterling – to balance the books. Al Khelaifi doesn’t seem to think so.

The thing about Leterme is that he doesn’t have ties to anyone involved. If he comes to the conclusion that PSG and City have cheated, he will ask for suitable sanctions to be applied. Just as with lawyer Kimberly Morris, who before working for FIFA was in the Office for the Protection of Minors in Canada, passed judgement on Chelsea FC, a firm and independent hand should see the honest decision being made.