UEFA to investigate PSG’s player sales to Qatari clubs
L’Équipe are reporting that UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body will investigate the transfers of three Paris Saint-Germain players – Marco Verratti, Julian Draxler and Abdou Diallo – to Qatar Stars League sides.
Les Parisiens have reportedly banked a combined €80m through the sales of Verratti and Diallo to Al-Arabi SC and of Draxler to Al-Ahli. As Qatar is the main shareholder of PSG through Qatar Sports Investments – a subsidiary of the country’s wealth fund – the proximity between the Qatari clubs and PSG is called into question.
The outlet reports that the financial fair play experts at UEFA may “freeze” a transfer in a club’s financial accounts if they believe the transaction occurred between related parties. UEFA may also do so if they feel the transfer fees are inflated in order to circumvent the need to balance the books. This is the reason why UEFA want to determine the level of closeness between the buying Qatar Stars League sides and the selling club – PSG.
The Ligue 1 champions told L’Équipe that they understood the controversy. However, they feel they are within their right considering Qatar Sports Investments does not own any shares in either Al-Arabi SC or Al-Ahli. PSG also feel that Verratti (€45m), Diallo (€15m) and Draxler (€20m) were sold to market prices. Draxler’s reported €20m fee has been in contested in the French media, with Le Parisien notably reporting that the German international was sold for a fee between €8-9m, not the €20m cited in German media.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
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