Wenger: UEFA financial fair play doomed to fail
Europe’s governing body are due to implement the system for the 2013-14 season, which will give them the right to ban teams from Champions League or Europa League participation if they continue to spend more than they earn over a rolling three-year period.
The likes of Manchester City and Paris St Germain have risen to the top of their respective domestic leagues on the back of the vast wealth of their Middle Eastern owners.
Earlier this month, City, last season’s FA Cup winners, posted a record-breaking £194.9m (€225m) loss, with wage costs spiralling to £174m (€200m) — all bankrolled by Sheikh Mansour.
Elsewhere, the Court of Arbitration for Sport are set to hear a dispute between UEFA and Swiss club FC Sion, who responded to their exclusion from the Europa League by mounting a civil action.
Wenger believes such litigation and the collective power of the top clubs could eventually soften the stance of the European governing body towards how they implement the new financial restrictions.
“Will UEFA have the legal power to force it through? I question it,” said the Arsenal boss, whose side look to secure safe passage through to the knockout stages of the Champions League with victory over Borussia Dortmund at Emirates Stadium tonight.
“In other countries, you have as well Paris St Germain, Malaga. Once they represent a force together, it will be difficult to fight against.”
The Gunners boss continued: “When I see the numbers announced by Manchester City, do you really think it will work in 2013? I cannot see it when the wage bill is bigger than the turnover. Frankly, that cannot happen in one year. Secondly, with what happened with Sion challenging UEFA, they have lost a lot of power.
“We live in a world where any decision made is challenged.
“The authority of the legal affairs is challengeable everywhere.”
Wenger expects a “big test” tonight, given Dortmund’s 1-0 win at Bayern Munich which saw Jurgen Klopp’s side cut the deficit on the Bundesliga leaders down to two points.
“Both teams have improved since — we have grown, they have grown,” said Wenger, referring to the 1-1 at the Signal Iduna Park in September. “Every player and every member of staff is conscious that it is a very important night for us.
“It is another big test and we will go into the game with that attitude, concentration and desire to win. We feel strong enough to be at home and finish the job.”
Mario Gotze is Dortmund’s flair player, and continues to attract reports of a big-money move — with Arsenal reportedly interested. Wenger, though, insisted: “Gotze is a very good player. I can understand there is a lot of interest in him around Europe.
“On our side, I do not think this is the best time to talk about it. We play against Dortmund tomorrow and we must concentrate on the game.”
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