During the recent transfer window, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) completed three significant player transfers to Qatari clubs, and these transactions are now under scrutiny by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
Marco Verratti moved to Al-Arabi for €50 million, Julian Draxler to Al-Ahli for €9 million, and Abdou Diallo to Al-Arabi for €15 million. These seemingly lucrative deals have raised questions within UEFA.
UEFA’s concern arises from PSG’s ownership by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), a Qatari investment fund. The close ties between QSI and various Qatari clubs can classify these transactions as deals between “related parties.”
UEFA may consider devaluing these transfers when assessing PSG’s compliance with Financial Fair Play regulations. In response, PSG has defended these deals, stating that “There is no issue. QSI is not an owner of the purchasing clubs, and the three players were sold at market value,” as conveyed to the sports newspaper L’Équipe.
The outcome of UEFA’s investigation could have implications for PSG’s financial standing and its adherence to Financial Fair Play rules.
