PSG monitored by UEFA following player transfers to Qatari clubs

PSG will be observed by UEFA over their recent player sales to Qatari clubs, including those of Abdou Diallo and Marco Verratti to Al-Arabi and Julian Draxler to Al-Ahli.

These moves have raised some eyebrows as PSG are predominantly owned by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), the sovereign fund of Qatar. UEFA plans to closely monitor these transactions in the coming weeks.

While previous sponsorship contracts with Qatari companies had been devalued by UEFA due to their "related party" nature, these three transfers, collectively generating around €80m for PSG this summer, could face scrutiny if financial fair play experts perceive a too-close relationship between the buyer and seller.

Currently, Al-Arabi and Al-Ahli are not considered "related parties" of PSG, according to L'Equipe. Furthermore, PSG's leadership appears to have priced its players reasonably, with Marco Verratti's €45m sale and Abdou Diallo's €15m deal aligning with market valuations.

Though PSG insists that QSI is not a shareholder in the purchasing clubs and that the players were sold at market prices, UEFA's club financial control body (ICFC) will investigate the transfers.

PSG, already under a "settlement agreement" with UEFA, must remain compliant to avoid more severe penalties, following a €65m fine in September 2022, with €55m suspended.