Many people suspect that UEFA'S Financial Fair Play Regulations were introduced to stop clubs with rich owners like Manchester City and Chelsea being able to simply buy their way to the Champions League title. It has also created a set up where clubs in smaller domestic leagues face never being able to qualify as to challenge for a title does require some investment.
Indeed The Daily Mail's Martin Samuel indicated this in his regular article when he highlighted Bate Borisov of Belarus due to getting into the group stages twice in recent years they have become almost unstoppable at home winning the title 5 times on the spin and are 11 points clear this season.
That situation is being repeated in a fair few of the smaller league round Europe with the same names at least getting into the qualifying rounds year on year. How can this be "fair play" and the more important thing how can that be healthy? There is also a real chance the Champions League could stagnate with the same old same old year in year out.
As I mentioned earlier Manchester City and Chelsea are just the sort of teams the rules appear to target but UEFA President Michel Platini faces a headache a lot closer to home in the shape of Paris Saint Germain. The famous Parisian club were bought in the summer by The Qatar Investment Authority who are owned by Sheikh Hamad. PSG do have a rich history but haven't had a top 3 finish in Ligue 1 since 03-04 and it was 10 years before that since their last title, with only 3 sides getting a Champions League place they face a fight to break into the top 3 and get that coverted spot and that will cost money.
Added to the fact Parc Des Princes has on average seen crowds of just over 33,000, the french league also only recieves €668 million over four seasons for it's TV rights compared to The Premier League's £1.7 Billion deal for 3 years with Sky and ESPN it's clear PSG face a battle to get the monies in place to meet FFP and even get into the Champions League. I could only imagine that Mr Platini would be made to feel very welcome in his nations capital if PSG did qualify only to fall foul of his brain child.
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