Uefa FFP-Covid arrangements

Uefa yesterday confirmed how they would deal with with Financial Fair Play (FFP) with respect to the crisis.  Their statement had a bit of something for everyone: those who are keen to see FFP rules applied and those who are looking for some wriggle room.

Of the six emergency measures, two encapsulated both sides of this coin:

“Neutralising the adverse impact of the pandemic by allowing clubs to adjust the break-even calculation for revenue shortfalls reported in 2020 and 2021, while at the same time protecting the system from potential abuses

“Addressing the actual problem which is revenue shortfall due to COVID-19 and not financial mismanagement”

Protecting the system from potential abusers and not providing cover for financial mismanagement are strong messages.  Miscreant clubs who have wallowed in financial mismanagement are under Uefa monitoring remain under pressure, the best they can hope for is a one-year reprieve from consequences.

Congratulations to SPFL chief executive, Neil Doncaster, who was appointed to the Uefa Disciplinary Body yesterday, recognition, I’m sure, of the manner he handled himself in recent months.