RODGERS SAYS MONEY TALKS

CELTIC boss Brendan Rodgers has called on football’s ruling bosses to sanction clubs who break the Financial Fair Play rules

The Hoops team hammered 5-0 by Paris-Saint Germain cost £22.5million to assemble, while the French outfit’s tally was around £500million.

PSG tried to get around the financial regulations by taking 18-year-old Kylian Mbappe on an obligated loan deal for Monaco with the £133million purchase being completed next summer.

Rodgers said: “Time will tell what FIFA do. The starting point is having a sanction in place that clubs abide by. You see the clear gap.

“Don’t get me wrong, I can’t complain, because you never know, you might be in that position one day.

“Football is very much financial in every aspect. The money we get from Champions League is massive, but it’s nothing compared to some of these clubs.”

There is an argument Hoops’ experience among Europe’s elite is similar to what other domestic clubs go through coming up against the Parkhead side.

But Rodgers insisted: “It’s totally different. With all due respect, when you are working with that level of player, you see the difference.

“I understand the relative comparisons that get made.

“But it’s totally different because of that level of player and belief.

“It makes it more difficult for clubs like us from countries like ourselves.

“It’s now in place to get even more from the big-spending leagues, while teams like us have an extra game to even get there.

“It’s already well under way. It’s difficult, but we need to meet the challenge.

“It’s where we want to be, for many reasons. You want it at the highest level you can, but it’s only going to increase the difficulty as the years go on, because money talks.

“That’s what the people with the money want to see, it’s the brand.

“Listen, it’s where it’s going. The teams in pots one and two are so far ahead financially and they will look to have all the big teams in there after Christmas.”

Rodgers added: “The objective is to qualify for Europe (beyond Christmas).

“Take away the top two then these are the games that will really be deciding factors.

“Even then, in comparison to us again, they have a different level of wage.

“But we will look forward to the games and, hopefully, we will improve and get results.”

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