PSG writes to Spanish league head to protest attacks on club
Associated PressAfter years of verbal attacks against its ownership and funding, Paris Saint-Germain’s leadership has had enough, writing to Spanish league president Javier Tebas to protest his “insulting and defamatory statements” about the Qatari-owned club, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press. Melero chided Tebas for adopting a “strategy favoring the economic expansion of LaLiga without having domestic financial regulations” that the French league introduced earlier. “It is now publicly-known that certain Spanish clubs and your League are facing unsustainable levels of debt after gross mismanagement,” Melero wrote, “not to mention the way Spanish football has been financed over the past decade – including by the State.” That is a reference to state aid received by Barcelona and Real Madrid in the past. On this subject, the Professional Football League has no lessons to receive in terms of financial control of clubs.” Tebas was speaking hours after PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi completed his first general assembly as head of the European Club Association -- the latest high-profile role for the Qatari, who also sits on the UEFA executive committee along with Tebas. “Time after time, you allow yourself to publicly attack the French League, our Club, our players – together with players of other Clubs – and the fans of French football,” Melero wrote to Tebas, “while constantly posting insulting and defamatory statements insinuating that we do not conform to the football financial regulations, amongst other unsubstantiated statements.” Melero said “year after year … we comply with UEFA and French regulations.” PSG reached a settlement with UEFA for breaching Financial Fair Play rules in 2014.