Big win for PSG as UEFA financial probe dropped

PARIS: PSG won a major victory on Tuesday when the world’s top sports court backed the French champions against European football’s governing body UEFA over club finances.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld PSG’s appeal against a UEFA decision to reopen a probe into the club’s compliance with Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

UEFA had originally cleared PSG of wrongdoing in June following an investigation triggered by PSG splashing out 400 million euros ($454 million) to buy Brazilian superstar Neymar and French phenomenon Kylian Mbappe.

“The appeal filed at the CAS on Oct.3, 2018 by Paris Saint-Germain against the decision issued on Sept.19, 2018 by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the UEFA (to reopen the case) is upheld and the challenged decision is set aside,” CAS said in a statement.

It added that the ruling was “final and binding”.

The probe was opened to determine whether PSG respected financial rules imposed by UEFA which broadly limit them to spending no more than they earn.

The club said in a statement it “took note of the favourable decision and intends to go ahead serenely with its development”.

The court ruled that the decision to reopen the case missed UEFA’s own deadline of 10 days to review its previous decision to drop the case.

“The challenged decision was untimely and must be annulled,” CAS ruled.

Agence France-Presse