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La Liga boss issues financial warning if FFP rules are relaxed

La Liga boss Javier Tebas has warned against any relaxing of UEFA's financial fair play rules as ...
Stephen Doyle
Stephen Doyle

15.17 7 Apr 2020


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La Liga boss issues financial...

La Liga boss issues financial warning if FFP rules are relaxed

Stephen Doyle
Stephen Doyle

15.17 7 Apr 2020


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La Liga boss Javier Tebas has warned against any relaxing of UEFA's financial fair play rules as European clubs could end up even worse off financially.

FFP was established by European football's governing to ensure that clubs were not spending more than they earned and finding themselves in financial difficulties.

Manchester City were slapped with a two-year ban from UEFA competition this year for breaking the FFP rules, although the ban is being appealed.

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The European Club Association (ECA) has suggested relaxing FFP regulations, while football is at a standstill due to the coronavirus pandemic, in order to help cash-strapped clubs survive.

Tebas voiced his concern over such a move when talking to reporeters via a video link on Tuesday.

"It’s important these obligations are met, because if these European clubs don’t pay Spanish clubs the Spanish clubs may not be able to pay other European clubs," said Tebas.

"That’s why it’s important for the regulations to continue as they are and no-one tries to make the most of the circumstances and not pay."

Spain has been the second hardest-hit country in Europe by the spread of the virus, after Italy, and football in the country has been indefinitely postponed.

However Tebas believes, in a best case scenario, that there could be matches underway again by the end of May.

"Of all the different scenarios we have been looking at with UEFA to go back to competing, the most probable ones are 28 May, 6 June or 28 June," he said.

"We can't say an exact date. This will be given to us by the authorities in Spain. But we still have time to get back to training before that."

Tebas stated that the possibility of the season not being played to a finish is not even being contemplated in Spain.

He feels the financial impact on Spanish clubs could be massive whatever the outcome.

"If we are looking at the economic impact, including the money we would get from European competitions, the revenue Spanish clubs would miss out on if we don't get back playing again is 1bn euros," said Tebas.

"If we do get playing but without spectators, it would be 300m. Even if we get back to playing with spectators, the damage this situation has already caused would be 150m euros."


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