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Barcelona Member Claims Messi Transfer Is Against EU Competition Laws

By  |  August 9, 2021

A Barcelona member has filed complaints with a French court and the European Commission with the aim of blocking Lionel Messi’s potential move to Paris St Germain (PSG), according to documents seen by Reuters on Monday, August 9.

In the complaints, shared by the fan’s lawyer Juan Branco, the Barca member claims that French football authorities have failed to enforce financial fair play (FFP) rules in order to help PSG become a force in European football.

Barcelona, like their main La Liga rivals Real Madrid, are fully owned by their subscription-paying members known as “socios.”

FFP rules forbid top European soccer clubs from paying their playing squads an excessive share of their total revenues, according to the member’s complaints, which also state that the transfer of 34-year-old Argentine Messi to PSG would breach the code.

The EU executive confirmed receipt of the complaint. “The Commission is assessing the complaint under its standard procedures,” a spokesperson said.

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