This will be the extent of the fine.
Remember last month when I alerted you all to the fact that Nike and Paris Saint-Germain were accused of some financial irregularities for transfers between 1998 and 2005? No? Dammit, I knew you guys didn’t read anything I wrote!
Yesterday, French prosecutors recommended a €120,000 ($163,000) fine be levied against Nike and a €150,000 ($203,000) fine for PSG. Additionally, they asked for former financial director Pierre Frelota to receive a suspended 12-month sentence and a fine of €20,000 ($27,000).
The damages didn’t stop there, however, as former PSG presidents Francis Graille (2003-2005) and Laurent Perpere (1998-2003) were also indicted for “concealed employment.” The former has had an interesting history, as founder of Visual TV production company (linked to Canal+), president of French club Lille OSC, and director of Sportfive marketing company. The latter was involved directly with Canal+ (as director of finances), and his tenure was immediately prior to that of Graille, by whom he was replaced despite leading PSG to an Inter-Toto Cup title and modest success in all French domestic competitions.
Graille is set to receive a 12-month suspended sentence and a fine of €25,000 ($34,000), while Perpere is facing 18 months (it’s not clear if this would be suspended) and a €40,000 ($54,000) fine. Of the agents involved in the scandal, Ranko Stojic, Milan Calasan, Henri Henrotay, Jose Maria Minguella and Roberto Rodriguez each face an 8-month suspended sentence and fines between €20,000 ($27,000) and €30,000 ($41,000).
While all of these individuals are likely unhappy about their upcoming financial outlay, it is unlikely that these fines will represent any significant monetary difficulty. It is even more laughable to think that Paris Saint-Germain, the 3rd-richest club in Ligue 1 (with a budget of $65 million for the current season), or Nike, which just reported profits of nearly $500 million for the 3rd quarter (double their profits of 1 year ago), will in any be influenced by fines that comprise such a minuscule percentage of their net worth.
But, hey – justice!
Good to see the French authorities display the same kind of toothlessness as the English FA when it comes to punishment!
I read everything you write!
lol @Clemantona – I appreciate the sense of national loyalty!
I believe Anonsters is also a fan of your whole oeuvre.
As some of you folks are, presumably, more familiar with the French legal system, is this something that can (or will) be rectified? If not, I can’t see why Nike or anyone else wouldn’t take full advantage to field an all-star team if the price of doing so is some measly fines.
First, NYK has not shown me his whole oeuvre, and I’m not sure I want to see it. It’s probably viral.
Second, Nike has to protect its corporate image. Being involved in shady dealings and corrupt transactions usually isn’t good for such things. Unless you’re
BlackwaterXe.[...] right when PSG seems to be improving, they shoot themselves in the foot. On Monday, prosecutors recommended that PSG along with NIKE be fined in addition to recommending [...]