Platini on Friday released details of an improved picture of European clubs’ financial health, showing losses down €600 million (£511 million), but he still believes his organisation will “eventually” become embroiled in legal dispute with the more profligate clubs.
Uefa has already started inspecting clubs’ finances, and is in informal contact with all the leading Premier League clubs, but the full punitive potential of Financial Fair Play will not be felt until next May.
Those clubs who do not meet Uefa’s books-balancing edict face suspension from European competition, a substantial blow to income and ego.
Launching a spiky defence of FFP over breakfast in Monaco, Platini sat only a few yacht-lengths away from Stade Louis II, where low gates and high wages set FFP alarms ringing. Monaco, newly promoted to Ligue 1, will be a major issue for Uefa if they qualify for Europe next year.
The Frenchman will also have to address the costs of Paris St-Germain, whose books will be examined next May when a decision will be taken on whether they should be given more time or expelled from Europe (assuming they have qualified again).
Platini’s first skirmishes with the clubs might be in the French courts. Liberté, légalité but little fraternité.
Other clubs relying (partly) on wealthy benefactors, like Chelsea and Manchester City, are striving hard to meet requirements, particularly through maximising merchandising, marketing and (increasingly) touring and also through their youth set-ups which are well-regarded at Cobham and, when it opens, the impressive Etihad Campus.
Such investment can be written off against overall losses. Real Madrid, who have debts of approximately €600 million and are about to spend €100 million (£85 million) on Gareth Bale are oft-cited as FFP-busters but such are their huge broadcasting and commercial revenue streams that their lawyers could present a healthy financial picture.
“The devil is in the detail,’’ acknowledged Platini, “and we’re trying to get to grips with this devil.’’
Much will depend on how Platini’s FFP committee and, eventually, judges view the exact reality of losses, debts and liabilities when set against assets and income. FFP is one part Mr Micawber’s recipe for financial happiness and nine parts Insead Business School advanced exam paper. It is incredibly complicated, a hefty document made for lawyers.
“We’ve had discussions with clubs for years, but the clubs have lots of lawyers, they’re very competent people and they believe they’re in the right,’’ said Platini.
“Our committees will decide in May next year to check on their goodwill and validity and this will lead to decisions that will end up in court eventually. We are not trying to kill football. We are trying to help football.
“Go and talk to Mr Obama. Go and talk to the Pope. They understand FFP. It’s not just a whim of the president. It’s a whim of all the European football family and also the political bodies. They’re all in favour of regulation against this scourge of European football after a loss of €1.7 bn in one year.
"I don’t know where you can have a company which loses €1.7 bn in one year and still survives. Four years ago, the owners of big clubs came to me and said ‘we can’t stop spending – please put in some rules’.’’
The rules are helping. In 2011, there were €57 million (£48 million) overdue payables and 10 clubs referred for sanctioning. In 2012, €30 million was overdue and nine clubs, including Malaga, referred for sanctioning.
"In 2013 only €9 million (£7.7 million) was overdue and no clubs have been referred. “It means that clubs are paying — paying other clubs, paying their players, paying taxes,’’ said Gianni Infantino, Uefa’s general secretary and the detail man to Platini’s broad-sweep approach. “It’s very impressive.’’
It is a small issue, though, when set against club spending on wages, which are still growing, up 6.5 per cent between 2011 and 2012. Encouragingly for Uefa, revenue grew faster, up 6.9 per cent. The aggregate losses for 700 clubs was €1.066 billion for 2011-12 down 36 per cent from €1.67 billion in 2011.
“Clubs have turned the car into the right direction,’’ added Infantino. “This shows concretely the effects of FFP. Clubs are getting the message. What we want to do is help clubs make the system better, more sustainable and we want a smooth transition period. The success of Financial Fair Play will not be measured on how many clubs have been excluded because an exclusion represents a defeat.”
Platini had issues with sums like Real’s outlay on Bale.
“In terms of the morality of the fee, this question was being asked 30 years ago when Diego Maradona moved for £5 million. People said ‘wow, £5 million for a player’ and then it was Zidane for €60 million (£51 million), and then Cristiano Ronaldo for £80 million and now Mr Bale – €100 million.
“There is certainly money for this kind of transfer. Real Madrid have a turnover of more than €250m (£213 million) and if they buy three players for a total sum of €100m, this question would not be asked. But I think transfers are a robbery.
"Today a player is more a product than a footballer with a whole pile of people trying to get commissions. We and FIFA should think about that and find something more healthy.’’
On other business, Platini added that he wanted the summer transfer window “shortened” and feared the introduction of goal-line technology had opened “Pandora’s box” and that there would be calls for video reviews of “penalties, corners and offsides”.
He has introduced “integrity officers” in every country to combat match-fixing and reiterated that the 2022 Qatar World Cup had to be in winter.
Charlie Eccleshare
Oliver Brown
Chris Bascombe
Jason Burt
Chris Bascombe
Oliver Brown
Harry Redknapp
Sam Wallace