William Gaillard, the director of communications at UEFA, claims that the Financial Fair Play (FFP) system “should be rebuilt”. This follows the news this morning that Manchester City’s two-year ban from Champions League football was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Financial Fair Play ‘Should Be Rebuilt’ Says UEFA’s Director of Communications
A Need for Competitive Balance
Gaillard’s role at UEFA sees him be the senior legal advisor to president Aleksander Ceferin, while also heading all of the external communication by European football’s governing body.
Speaking via video link to SNTV, Gaillard, who had a role in building the original FFP system, now says it needs to be restructured.
He said: “I was involved in the construction of FFP. My point was we need competitive balance but the others disagreed.
“I completely agree with Aleksander Ceferin. FFP should be rebuilt and focussed on competitive balance, just like the rules in the US, with luxury tax, or wealth tax, or salary caps.
“That’s the only way to keep our game unpredictable, which is the main characteristic of any game. We need to look at very drastic measures or the game will degenerate.”
Gaillard Worries for Future of Champions League
The ruling by the CAS means that City will be able to compete in the Champions League, and the fine for their wrongdoings has been reduced to €10 million.
Gaillard, though, worries that the lenient punishment laid out could prompt the competition to be somewhat spoilt by the owners of mega-rich clubs.
He said: “This type of sentence by CAS means Manchester City can receive billions from the Emirates and the whole contest will become basically a tournament in Europe between Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
“That’s really the enormous danger professional club football is facing in Europe.”
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