By Samindra Kunti
September 9 – Javier Tebas once more is at the centre of the storm. This time Paris Saint-Germain and French Professional League (LFP) have attacked the boss of Spanish football after he branded the state-funded club “as dangerous as the European Super League”.
Tebas has repeatedly taken aim at both PSG and Manchester City, super clubs backed by money from the Gulf states, but the Parisians and their general secretary Victoriano Melero say Tebas is engaging in “diversion” from Spanish football’s own problems, according Reuters.
“Time after time, you allow yourself to publicly attack the French League, our club, our players together with players of other clubs and the fans of French football; while constantly posting insulting and defamatory statements insinuating that we do not conform to the football financial regulations, amongst other unsubstantiated statements,” wrote Melero in a letter.
“The French League did not, like your league, wait until recent years to take actions and put in place strong financial regulations.”
“It is now publicly-known that certain Spanish clubs and your league are facing unsustainable levels of debt after gross mismanagement, not to mention the way Spanish football has been financed over the past decade including by the State.”
Melero also targeted the way La Liga have handled FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, two rebel clubs that backed the breakaway European Super League plans and still haven’t backed down.
“I am quite surprised you are not focusing more of your attention on the two clubs in your league that remain steadfastly focused on breaking up your league, and European football as a whole,” said Melero.
“We invite you to focus on solving your domestic issues, which you are responsible for, and to stop your transparent and repeated diversion attempts.”
The LFP added their voice to PSG’s criticism, describing the La Liga chief’s criticisms as “outrageous.”
“The Professional Football League and La Liga clearly do not share the same approach of what should be the inter-league relations. The Professional Football League does not want to be the ‘muleta’ waved by Mr. Tebas to hide the internal problems currently experienced by Spanish professional soccer,” read a statement.
“However, it would like to remind that the financial largesse that Spanish clubs have enjoyed for many seasons and which is at the origin of the current problems, is neither its responsibility nor that of Paris Saint-Germain.”
“On this subject, the Professional Football League has no lessons to receive in terms of financial control of clubs. It is undeniable that the LFP has played a leading role in this field at the European level with the creation of the DNCG, which is still today an effective regulatory model recognised by all.
“In conclusion, the Professional Football League advises Mr. Javier Tebas to return to more restraint.”
This summer PSG acquired Lionel Messi from FC Barcelona and also brought in Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum, Achraf Hakimi and Gianluigi Donnarumma, all in a bid to win the Champions League. It’s the first time since 2004 that Messi won’t feature in La Liga.
“PSG looks like the league of legends given the age of some players,” said Tebas earlier this week. “LaLiga has young players like Vinicius (Junior). The problem of PSG, we will solve it. What PSG are doing is as dangerous as the Super League,” Tebas said.
“We will continue to grow despite the departure of Messi. We will work against the club states. These clubs are as much enemies as the Super League.”
Tebas added: “Currently PSG spends more than €600 million on salaries (per year), television in France will pay nothing more than €70 million, they declared commercial losses 30% above the average of others in Europe… that’s not is sustainable. It can’t happen.”
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