Arsene Wenger does not want to stop 'big investors' pumping money into the game - even if there is a 'control' on what Newcastle United's owners can spend because of Financial Fair Play (FFP).
Newcastle have splurged more than £250m in transfer fees since the takeover in October, 2021. Although this is a noteworthy sum, Newcastle have not behaved like the so-called 'richest club in the world' because of FFP regulations, which prevent clubs spending more than they earn.
Wenger, who is FIFA's chief of global football development, has previously spoken about how FFP needs to become more 'flexible' because the rules prevent 'emerging clubs who want to invest from doing so'. Back in 2020, Wenger went as far as to say that FFP had 'fixed a hierarchy' because the clubs that 'dominate' are those sides who invested in an era before the regulations existed.
READ MORE: All the latest Newcastle United transfer news
A few years on, it was put to Wenger that Man City's historic treble was 'tainted' until the champions were cleared after Pep Guardiola's side were charged with 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules. Although Wenger did not directly namecheck City or, indeed, Newcastle in his response, the Arsenal legend made his feelings clear on sovereign wealth funds investing in football.
"I was in that job for a long time and, when we built the stadium [the Emirates], I suffered a lot by facing unfair competition at the time, especially when Chelsea came in," the former Arsenal boss told beIN SPORTS. "They bought all the big players and there was no Financial Fair Play at the time.
"At least, today, you have a control. You have a control because Financial Fair Play exists. When we faced Chelsea at the time, there was no control at all.
"I believe that, personally, there are two ingredients that are very important. You want the players to be well paid because you want the players to be rewarded. Also, you want the big investors to invest in football and you do not want to stop them investing.
"What I would like, too, is that they guarantee what they promise. That's the most important for me. You cannot stop people from investing into the game."
