LaLiga chief says it’s ‘taken too long’ for Man City to be tackled for alleged financial breaches

La Liga boss Javier Tebas believes it has “taken too long” for Manchester City to be held accountable for alleged financial breaches, saying it is “the worst thing” for a league’s financial rules to be breached.

The Premier League accused reigning champions City of more than 100 breaches of financial rules last month following an investigation that began in December 2018.

An independent commission will consider the charges with a range of sanctions, including deduction of points and even relegation, on the table if City are found guilty.

City will fight vigorously in their corner and say they have an ‘irrefutable body of evidence’.

Thebes, an outspoken critic of Premier League wealth, said he first criticized City, as well as Paris Saint-Germain, at the Soccerex conference in Manchester in 2017, prompting an angry phone call from City’s CEO, Ferrán Soriano.

LaLiga boss Javier Tebas believes it has “taken too long” to approach Man City over their finances

Man City were charged by the Premier League for alleged breaches of financial rules

Man City CEO Ferran Soriano, right, made an angry call to Tebas after he criticized the club in 2017.

“That was in 2017 and now it’s 2023 and nothing has moved forward, but suddenly there’s an investigation,” Tebas told the Financial Times Business of Football Summit.

It has taken too long. We know that there was an alleged breach of 100 articles, so any decision will have to be taken accordingly by the Premier League.

‘One of the worst things about financial controls is if you don’t follow or comply with them.

“Barcelona are very important for LaLiga in Spain, but if they were to look the other way and not pay attention to what is happening with their finances, it would be a big mistake, our whole system would collapse.”

‘It’s impossible for them to do transfer business in the summer because of the numbers. This must be resolved and we must act.”

LaLiga leaders Barcelona have been kept under tight financial controls after racking up more than £1bn in debt.

It meant they couldn’t spend any money in the January window and had to seek court intervention to allow star player Gavi to get a full contract.

Tebas also said he would repeat all the criticism he has made in the past about PSG if Manchester United is bought by Qatari investors.

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani is one of two confirmed bidders for United, which were put on the market by the current owners, the Glazer family, in November.

PSG is already owned by Qatari investors, raising concerns about integrity, especially in UEFA competitions.

LaLiga leaders Barcelona have been kept under tight financial controls over the club’s debt.

Tebas has been a vocal critic of Manchester City and French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Tebas said he would repeat his criticism of PSG if Sheikh Jassim took over at Manchester United.

“Everything I have always said about PSG I will have to repeat,” Tebas said.

“What really shouldn’t happen is they make up fake sponsorships or structures around the clubs so that spending can be handled creatively, not within the realm of football.”

‘We have seen inflated sponsorship, then you create a structure. This is a bit dangerous and we have to pay attention.’

“In the case of Manchester United, the buyer knows that they have to pay for the acquisition and the losses.”