• Football

United could be hit by FFP charges

UEFA is considering changes to Financial Fair Play regulations which could cause problems for Manchester United.

European football's governing body have penalised clubs who made losses, including Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, who were both fined £40 million this summer.

Now they may switch their attention to those in debt, which includes former Premier League champions United, in a meeting on Monday.

Gianni Infantino, UEFA's general secretary, said: "We're now focused on losses and to repay the debt is part of the loss that the club can make at the end of the season. But, certainly, the question of debt is something that can be put on the table."

United owe around £350m, which is down from over £700m in 2010 and represents less than a year's turnover at Old Trafford.

They were debt free before the Glazer family's 2005 takeover but their American owners financed the buyout by borrowing against the club and around £700m has been spent servicing the debt in the subsequent nine years.

Real Madrid, who are more than €600m in debt, are another club who could suffer under the proposed changes.

Manchester City complained in May when they were found guilty of breaching FFP rules despite being debt free, with chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak telling the club's website: "We have a sustainable project today, in Manchester and across the board in the City Football Group.

"We have zero debt. We don't pay a penny to service any debt. For me, that is a sustainable model. However, our friends at UEFA seem to believe otherwise. They have their view, we have ours."

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