UEFA give Gill power to punish United's rivals... if they fall foul of financial fair play

[ANDRECHO 432]

Former Manchester United chief executive David Gill has been handed power by UEFA to recommend bans on clubs such as rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, who may find themselves in breach of new European Financial Fair Play rules.

Having stepped down from his post at Old Trafford at the end of last season to become a UEFA executive member, Gill has now been appointed chairman of the governing body’s extremely influential Club Licensing Committee.

The committee essentially decides which clubs are entitled to licences to play Champions League and Europa League football. This will become increasingly important as UEFA’s FFP rules shape the landscape of European football in the coming years.

Gill is a known advocate of FFP and one of four Barclays Premier League chiefs who proposed similar rules be implemented in English domestic football back in January.

He said 18 months ago that the new European system would only work if ‘appropriate sanctions’ were imposed on those who missed the targets. Sanctions already discussed by UEFA president Michel Platini have included fines and, for severe offences, competition bans.

Gill’s appointment will certainly raise eyebrows at clubs such as City and Chelsea who are currently striving to ensure their losses are no greater than the 845million (£38m) limit allowed by FFP across last and next season.

Both clubs have been used to viewing Gill as a rival in recent years and it will not have escaped their attention that the 55-year-old is to remain a United director and board member, despite handing over the chief executive baton to Ed Woodward.

On Monday night, a UEFA spokeswoman confirmed that Gill’s committee will have an influence over whether clubs’ finances entitle them to play in major European competition.

This is despite that fact that the Club Financial Control Body will go through individual clubs’ finances initially to see if they meet the targets set by FFP. Gill will play no role in this part of the process.

http://www.7msport.com/news/newsdata/20130618/89653.shtml

[Hamilton 2,120]

And this means?

Are we screwed?

Are we fine?

This doesn't matter really?

FFP will never be serious?

???

[mnmontero 78]

this just means that FIFA and UEFA as organizations are broken. How can they assign someone with strong ties to a club power to punish other sides. This is ridiculous. FIFA and UEFA are stupid.

[termninja 5,290]

They can bite our blue arse

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Seriously, they appoint Gill????

Where's Ashley cole when you need a proper statement on this issue

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I don't think FFP will affect us. We operate at a profit with a relatively healthy turnover. As long as we spend less than what we earn, we're fine, essentially. Meaning we can't afford much more than £70 million in transfers this summer.

[Fernando 6,484]

I don't think FFP will affect us. We operate at a profit with a relatively healthy turnover. As long as we spend less than what we earn, we're fine, essentially. Meaning we can't afford much more than £70 million in transfers this summer.

Hence no cavani.

[Hamilton 2,120]

Hence no cavani.

Unless Mou let some people go..

[Special Juan 27,439]

Isn't that lovely of them.

[Amblève. 4,995]

this just means that FIFA and UEFA as organizations are broken. How can they assign someone with strong ties to a club power to punish other sides. This is ridiculous. FIFA and UEFA are stupid.

This.

[Hutcho 8,443]

We voted for FFP. Roman has a team that probably gets paid the same amount as our players who have combed through every inch of FFP. Call roman what you want but he is far from an idiot.

[zolayes 14,489]

how can anyone suggest Gill would favour Manure when he makes his decisions?

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Lol come on guys. Roman Abramovich is openly in support of the FFP idea with Platini. Now if he's that happy to support it, it clearly means he's figured out a way to get past it. As for Gill, it doesn't matter what power he supposedly has, UEFA isn't going to sacrifice their financial income from the likes of City, Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea because of this. No way.