UEFA have denied comments attributed to their president Aleksander Ceferin that he would look to bar Paris Saint-Germain from the Champions League.
The French newspaper L’Equipe had quoted the Slovenian as saying “if I want to be as popular as [one of his predecessors] Michel Platini, I know I have to exclude PSG from European competitions”.
The comments came as UEFA began a formal investigation into the financial affairs of the Parisian club who take on Celtic in their opening Champions League group match at Parkhead this evening.
PSG effectively spent more than £400m in the summer transfer window, including smashing the world record transfer fee to recruit Neymar from Barcelona for around £200m, and taking Kylian Mbappe on loan from Monaco with an obligation to sign him next year for around £150m.
Ceferin is keen to ensure the Financial Fair Play measures introduced by Platini in 2010 are adhered to, and reportedly made his comments about PSG to some leaders of the European Clubs Association (ECA).
UEFA, though, deny the comments. “We categorically deny the allegations mistakenly attributed to president Aleksander Ceferin,” said a statement. “UEFA wants to emphasize once again the full independence of the Club Financial Control Committee.”
PSG’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi denied any wrongdoing. “Nothing is hidden and UEFA can come to our offices. We respect all the rules, and if other clubs are not happy, it’s not my problem.”
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