Platini said a week ago that all clubs who do not respect the Financial Fair Play law will be punished. Gazprom, UEFA sponsor, contradicted him.
A week ago, UEFA president announced that will be unwavering in his initiative to introduce the Financial Fair Play Low. According to UEFA rules, clubs are not allowed to spend more than they produce, are prohibited any debts and the owners’ money can be invested only in infrastructure and development of the youth centers.
Because they have not complied with these rules, this year Gyor, AEK Athens and Besiktas were excluded from European Cups. “The whole family of football lines with the spirit of financial fair play, with new rules restricting all clubs, whether in England, France and Russia,” Platini said a week ago. In the same speech, the former French footballer has rebuked and warned City and PSG for tens of millions thrown on transfers.
At just 48 hours after this speech, Zenit has paid 80 million euros to transfers Hulk and Alex Witsel. The money came from Gazprom, the largest natural gas producer in the world and of owner of the club from St. Petersburg. Basically, the Russian giant took the same attitude as Sheikhs from PSG, whom Platini has criticized for their policy.
But Gazprom enjoys protection from UEFA. In early summer, the two sides signed a sponsorship contract for the next three years, following which Gazprom has become an official partner of the UEFA Champions League. A good opportunity for the British newspaper “The Guardian” to question what about Platini’s speech related to “Financial Fair Play Low, whether in England, France and Russia “.