La Liga chief requests UEFA probe into Manchester City's finances
La Liga president Javier Tebas has urged UEFA to launch a thorough investigation into whether Manchester City has breached financial fair play (FFP) rules.
Both the Premier League club - which is bankrolled by the Abu Dhabi United Group - and Qatar Sports Investment-funded Paris Saint-Germain have overseen an exorbitant summer spend, and Tebas expressed concern that Manchester City and PSG's "funding by state-aid distorts European competitions."
Tebas added that huge transfer expenditures by the likes of City and PSG "is irreparably harming the football industry," according to the Associated Press.
BBC Sport understands there is no current intention from UEFA to open an investigation into City's finances, although there is already a probe underway into PSG's dealings. The Ligue 1 outfit triggered Neymar's €222-million release clause at Barcelona on Aug. 3, and is set to pay around €190 million for Kylian Mbappe next summer after an initial season-long loan from Monaco.
Related: Paris Saint-Germain 'surprised' by UEFA's FFP investigation
City, meanwhile, splurged £215 million on new arrivals - the highest spend across any transfer window - as the club's hierarchy tries to assemble a team that enables Pep Guardiola to launch an assault on the continental game. Among those brought aboard were ex-Monaco duo Benjamin Mendy and Bernardo Silva, who collectively cost around £96.5 million.
The statement from La Liga said it submitted two letters requesting the investigations into City and PSG's FFP status on Aug. 22. The correspondence includes an allegation that the clubs are supplemented by sponsorships - City, for example, is heavily backed by Abu Dhabi airline Etihad Airways - "that make no economic sense and lack any fair value."