- Title: We need financial regulation in soccer says Olympique Lyonnais president
- Date: 4th September 2017
- Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (SEPTEMBER 4, 2017) (REUTERS) HOTEL PRESIDENT WILSON, WHERE EUROPEAN CLUB ASSOCIATION (ECA) IS HOLDING ITS TWO-DAY MEETING VARIOUS OF HOTEL PRESIDENT WILSON ENTRANCE FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO TALKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE ECA / GIANNI INFANTINO LEAVING UEFA PRESIDENT ALEKSANDER CEFERIN TALKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE ECA, JOINED BY GIANNI INFANTINO / UEFA AND FIFA PRESIDENT WALKING TOWARDS THE MEETING ROOM UEFA AND FIFA PRESIDENT WALKING TOWARDS THE MEETING ROOM UEFA PRESIDENT TALKING WITH MEMBERS OF ECA (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH CLUB OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS PRESIDENT JEAN-MICHEL AULAS, ALSO IN CHARGE OF THE FINANCIAL FAIR PLAY TASK FORCE AT ECA, SAYING: "There is an absolute need for regulation, because today the amount of money engaged is excessively important. It has been said that certain intermediaries, in particular agents, are being paid absolutely exorbitant sums of money, so there is a need to find solutions or intermediary clubs will die. So, before some approaches which are sometimes hard to understand from a competitive point of view, there is a need for regulation, and this is what UEFA is proposing to do." MEMBERS OF ECA LEAVING THE MEETING ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH CLUB OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS PRESIDENT JEAN-MICHEL AULAS, ALSO IN CHARGE OF THE FINANCIAL FAIR PLAY TASK FORCE AT ECA, ASKED IF THERE SHOULD BE SANCTIONS AGAINST PARIS SAINT GERMAIN, SAYS: "No, I think we need to trust in UEFA and the UEFA president, who was here today, made it very, very clear (that everyone needs to comply with financial fair play rules). And so everyone needs to comply with this commitment in order to see clearer and keep up with what has been done regarding financial fair play over the past four years, which has been very positive." MEMBERS OF ECA LEAVING THE MEETING ROOM HOTEL PRESIDENT WILSON
- Embargoed: 18th September 2017 21:14
- Keywords: Olympique Lyonnais FIFA Fairplay
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLANDD
- City: GENEVA, SWITZERLANDD
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016X6M9MN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:After UEFA announced an investigation of French club Paris St. Germain, the European Club Association (ECA) held a meeting on Monday (September 4) in Geneva to elect a new chairman, and to discuss the finances of European soccer.
Paris St. Germain will be investigated to see if their recent transfer spending spree, which netted French teenager Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona forward Neymar, broke the break-even rules of UEFA - known as financial fair play. These are designed to prevent clubs spending beyond their means in the hope of success, or being bankrolled by rich owners who wish to buy success.
President of French club Olympique Lyonnais Jean-Michel Aulas, also in charge of the financial fair play task force at the ECA, said there was a definite need for financial regulation in soccer with huge sums of money being paid to agents and other intermediaries for transfer deals.
Asked if he favoured sanctions against Paris St. Germain, Aulas said it was up to UEFA to decide, and clubs needed to comply with the financial fair play regulations.
Paris St. Germain, Qatari-owned, last month bought Neymar for 222 million euros, more than double the previous highest price paid for a player. They spent more than any other club in a single transfer window. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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