PSG chief Nasser al-Khelaifi has urged UEFA, whom he serves as a member of the Executive Committee, to probe into Barcelona’s financial dealings.
Following a summer of seismic change in Catalonia, Barcelona’ president Joan Laporta enacted three economic levers which effectively sold off a large chunk of the club’s future TV rights and merchandising, while securing the long-term future as a European heavyweight.
It is certainly no secret that Barcelona have been crippled by billions of Euros worth of debt following years of gross mismanagement by former president Josep Bartomeu, which left the Blaugrana in a precarious position in regards to balancing their wage bill and registering star players.
Despite this, the current president has not only successfully created a margin in their wage bill, but also made it possible for the club to remain competitive in the transfer window having brought in seven new players over the summer, paying substantial fees for Jules Kounde, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.
Barcelona's La Liga spending cap has increased by nearly €800 million following the 'economic levers' the club activated over the summer 🤑 pic.twitter.com/1fz1q4l7Fr
— GOAL (@goal) September 9, 2022
As a result, eyebrows were raised across Europe with fans, experts and now seemingly club owners dumbfounded as to how Barcelona can operate with such improvidence.
PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi has now weighed in with his own take on the matter, suggesting that the club’s behaviour over the summer months could set a dangerous precedent.
“Is this fair? No, it’s not fair … Is it legal? I’m not sure.
“If they allow them, others will do the same,” he said. “UEFA of course have their own regulations. For sure they’re going to look at everything.”
The Qatari businessman, who has a huge influence at UEFA, the European Club Association as well as the beIN Media Group, also made an indirect threat recently in what is seemingly an ongoing feud between PSG and the Spanish football hierarchy; this is due to PSG’s Qatari state-backed ownership, which allows for boundless economic backing.
Speaking to European club chiefs, he said, “the new financial sustainability rules are a positive development. But we need to be careful. Dangerous levels of debt and magical equity deals are not a sustainable path.”
The PSG chief has been criticised himself in the past for creating vast amounts of debt, violating Financial Fair Play regulations, as well as implementing short-term capital injections for unsustainable oil.
Barcelona sold 25% of its digital rights, which were thought to be unprofitable, for €100 million to a private firm headed up by the founder of MediaPro. Just two years ago, they were the cause of a broadcast meltdown in Ligue 1 after defaulting on TV rights payments.
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