Karl-Heinz Rummenigge Criticizes PSG Amid Financial Fair Play Sanctions
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has taken a clear stance following FIFA’s sanctions against Paris Saint-Germain for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, signaling his disapproval of what he perceives as uneven enforcement across Europe’s top clubs.
Rummenigge dismissed concerns over Real Madrid’s recent high-profile signings, including Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez, which reportedly cost the Spanish giants over €100 million this summer. He pointed out that Real Madrid balanced their spending by offloading several players, maintaining compliance with FFP rules.
“Any doubts about financial fair play when we see Real Madrid buying Bale or now James? No, Real Madrid sold three or four players, so the balance was not negative,” Rummenigge told German newspaper Die Welt.
However, the Bayern executive was more critical of clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, where significant financial backing comes from third-party investors, often raising questions over transparency.
“The problem,” he said, “is PSG and Manchester City, where money flows through third-party sources. They rightly received a deep yellow card.”
Rummenigge’s comments highlight ongoing tensions within European football regarding financial regulations and the role of wealthy investors. The punishment of PSG marks a key moment in UEFA and FIFA’s efforts to enforce financial discipline among the continent’s elite clubs.
