Why Spanish Media Attacks On PSG Over FFP Regulations No Longer Hold Any Weight

Madrid-based daily AS is seizing on the storm surrounding Manchester City to launch fresh attacks against Paris Saint-Germain. As the English side was reportedly found guilty of 114 financial breaches by an independent commission, the Spanish outlet is attempting a dubious comparison. Journalist Luis Nieto relies on this tense context to criticize the spending of the Parisian club led by president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi.

The Spanish argument revives the usual rhetoric against state-owned clubs championed by Javier Tebas. The outlet looks back at the sanctions handed down in 2014 by UEFA, which included a €60 million fine and a squad restriction to 21 players. Trying to hold Paris Saint-Germain accountable for alleged English rule-breaking remains a crude conflation given the distinct modern paths of both institutions.

The comparison drawn by the Spanish media collapses under basic regulatory scrutiny. Manchester City are answering to an independent British panel over charges brought by the Premier League for allegedly circumventing domestic rules. In contrast, Paris Saint-Germain operate within the strict regulatory framework set by both French and European authorities. No formal investigation is currently open against the French champions.

The case against the English outfit covers nine seasons of alleged financial breaches between 2009-10 and 2017-18. It leaves them facing the threat of potential relegation or a transfer ban. Meanwhile, the Parisian hierarchy have consistently engaged directly with European football's governing body, fully complying with the August 2022 settlement agreement that included a €65 million financial penalty. The financial transparency demonstrated by Paris Saint-Germain stands in stark contrast to the sweeping fraud allegations leveled against their English counterparts.

The financial measures taken by the Parisian hierarchy have earned official recognition of their fiscal discipline. In June 2026, UEFA formally confirmed the end of the settlement regime monitoring Paris Saint-Germain across the 2023-2025 period. The capital club complied fully with Financial Fair Play criteria, shutting down recurring claims of irregularities pushed by the Spanish press.

This budgetary discipline is also visible in the figures submitted to French football's financial watchdog. Net losses reported to the DNCG dropped by 60%, falling from €109.8 million in 2022-2023 to €40.1 million in 2024-2025. Paris Saint-Germain have shown the strength of their economic model, reducing external criticism from Madrid to mere media noise.