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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Graeme Young

Lionel Messi transfer sparks PSG vs La Liga financial warfare as Javier Tebas drops a bomb

Angry Javier Tebas claims he has evidence that proves Paris Saint-Germain are "getting around" Financial Fair Play.

The outspoken La Liga chief is ready to wage a war with the world's biggest spending club in the wake of their blockbuster deal for Lionel Messi.

Football fans worldwide were left open-mouthed as the Barcelona superstar left the club he loved as a free agent before PSG pounced.

Overjoyed president Nasser al-Khelaïfi saluted the deal and insisted his side were not in breach of UEFA's strict FFP rules.

But Tebas has come out swinging and claims he has proof to the contrary and even invited the PSG decision-maker and Ligue 1 president Vincent Labrune to discuss his findings.

The 59-year-old La Liga chief has been feeling the heat after losing his biggest three stars in Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Tebas - speaking to L'Equipe in an illuminating sit down - insists his desire for answers isn't borne out of jealousy but of a desire to protect European football's brand.

He said: "I criticise PSG because they don't generate the money required to have the squad they have got. That distorts competition in the economy of European football.

"It doesn't come from sponsorship. How can you explain that PSG have a squad which cost almost 600 million euros? If a team wins Ligue 1, they won't receive more than 45 million euros in prize money... It's impossible.

"I invited PSG's president (Nasser al-Khelaïfi) and the French league president (Vincent Labrune) to look at the figures which we have and where there are irregularities. They didn't reply. They were very quick to criticise me, but they didn't answer my invitation.

"I can show, in numbers to back it up, how they have got around the Financial Fair Play rules. Before they signed Messi, PSG had 40 per cent more income from sponsorship than Manchester United... Market values exist.

"I couldn't care less if Messi and Neymar stay at PSG. But all of this is damaging for European football. I am not the only one saying so. PSG dodged a fine on a technicality, not because of the sovereign fund."

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