Lionel Messi poses with PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi and sporting director Leonardo after a press conference in the French capital.Credit:Getty
The governing body has estimated lost revenue across top-flight clubs alone in its 55 member nations over the two previous seasons at £6.1 billion ($11.5m). There is now a greater will for UEFA to base cost control measures on real-time spending events rather than retrospectively examining finances and attempting to apply penalties that way. The European Super League breakaway thatcontinues to divide the biggest clubs is considered a much more critical threat than the overspending of fossil fuel-rich club owners.
By the time that theimpact of Messi’s arrival at PSG is assessed by UEFA,the successor to FFP is likely to be well developed. Al-Khelaifi will be central to that as the new chairman of the European Club Association,a position he inherited after the Super League meltdown,of which PSG were not a part. UEFA is also worried about potential for conflict of interest with private equity deals and leagues such as the 10 per cent stake sold by Spain’s La Liga to the investor CVC.