TURIN, Italy (AP) - UEFA President Michel Platini says investigations into nine clubs that breached Financial Fair Play rules are going well.
A UEFA panel has been in prolonged talks to agree on penalties for the nine for overspending on transfer fees and wages since 2011.
“They discuss, everybody fights for their thing but it’s on a good way,” Platini told reporters on Wednesday.
Platini launched the FFP program in 2011 after suggesting it was cheating to chase success by spending excessively, and clubs risked bankruptcy. The rules requires clubs who play in the Champions League and Europa League to approach break-even on their football business.
Asked if lengthy talks to resolve Manchester City’s case was a problem, Platini said: “It’s a discussion, it’s a settlement.”
Platini said he doesn’t know when sanctions will be resolved.
UEFA has not identified the nine, though Man City and Paris Saint-Germain - the champions of England and France - are reportedly the main cases.
Both face multi-million euro (dollar) fines and squad limits for Champions League matches.
If settlements with the clubs cannot be reached, a case is taken over by a separate UEFA judging panel which can impose tougher penalties. Decisions can also be appealed by rival clubs from the same national league.
“I am totally away from the discussion,” Platini said of the independent panels’ work. “It’s not a matter for the president of UEFA.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.