Financial Fair Play takes first big scalp

In the European football aristocracy guide, few sit higher than Milan, even though performances in recent seasons are well down on their historical standards.  After giving new manager, Rino Gattuson, around €200m to spend last season, they qualified for this season’s Europa League group stage.

But therein lies the problem: you cannot just throw money at football these days and hope to pass Uefa’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.  Europe’s governing body yesterday banned Milan from European football for one year as a consequence.

The club indicated they would appeal, noting that new Chinese owners invested €88m in capital “not loans” and were on a firm financial footing.  This is true, but that one-off splurge on bling for our old pal Rino pushed them outside of the scope of FFP; the ban has been in the post for a year.

For Milan, this is humiliating and will cost them north of €10m, but it sends out an important signal to all.  Financial Fair Play has taken its first big scalp.

Stiliyan Petrov match worn Champions League shirt raffle

We have a very special raffle, running until tomorrow. The shirt Stiliyan Petrov wore in Celtic’s 0-0 draw with Bayern Munich during our 2003 Champions League campaign is available. You can buy a ticket for £1 here on ebay.  Stan signed the shirt.

All proceeds go to the Stiliyan Petrov Foundation to aid research into leukaemia and cancer treatments.  Stiliyan’s recover from leukaemia shows us just how far treatments have come, but as our own CQN community knows too well, more progress is needed.  The draw will be made at Woodside Hotel, Aberdour, where our CQN Open Golf Day evening events take place.

It will cost you £1, or £50 if you want 50, and you might win a great memento.