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Is UEFA's Financial Fair Play punishments simply 'window dressing'?

Listen to the full interview via the podcast UEFA promised no "blood and tears" when it comes to...



Is UEFA's Financial Fair P...
Soccer

Is UEFA's Financial Fair Play punishments simply 'window dressing'?

Listen to the full interview via the podcast

UEFA promised no "blood and tears" when it comes to Financial Fair Play but today it was confirmed that Manchester City would be out of pocket to the tune of €60 million over breaches of UEFA rules.

European football's governing will also impose Champions League squad size restrictions on the club. Paris Saint Germain also face a similar punishment.

But City are opposed to their sanction.

Tonight we were joined by Philippe Auclair to discuss the fallout from the latest revelations.

While City want to fight their corner, Auclair warns against ending up before the second chamber of UEFA's Financial Fair Play process, detailing that sanctions would "get tougher" further up the food chain.

"At the moment it is a negotiated agreement. Some people will think it doesn't go far enough because in fact PSG and Man City, their spending power in terms of salaries won't have much difference. If you look at the squads as well, 25 down to 21 could be the one that hurts them the most but if you look at the groups, you will find out that they'll be able to work through it.

"Another thing as well, they will have to sell to be able to buy. In the case of PSG it is not a problem because they are trying to get rid of Cavani and Marco Verratti."

Auclair believes UEFA feel as if they have saved face, although he adds that they could have gone much further in terms of coming down hard on clubs like City and PSG. He also believes that the punishments will not make those clubs actively rethink their spending policies and that FFP does not redress the balance between clubs in the Champions League and those locked outside the gravy train.

But continued breaches of the spending rules, could see bans from European competition, although Auclair sees this as "something down the line" as UEFA give clubs the chance to put their houses in order.

He also sees an element of UEFA "window dressing" when it comes to Financial Fair Play and possibly a first step.

Auclair also discussed how much the sanctions will hurt City and PSG in the long run.

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