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Bayern Munich's Karl-Heinz Rummenigge blasts free-spending clubs ahead of Manchester City clash

Bayern Munich's Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has hit out at clubs who he believes are not shaping up to adhere to Uefa’s forthcoming Financial Fair Play rules, stating that those like Manchester City are climbing the ladder thanks to wealth alone.

The German league has been seen as one of the most financially responsible in recent seasons, and the Bavarians' chairman is happy that Uefa president Michel Platini is implementing rules to try and make the playing field more level, insisting that the game is currently unfair.

Rummenigge told DRadio: “In the words Financial Fair Play really lies the truth. It seems obvious at the moment that there is Financial Unfair Play. And it is quite clear: we have a world in which the Arabs, Russians and Italians play a dramatic role.

“Because of their wealth they can make transfers and accordingly can improve the quality of their teams, and I think that cannot be the way of the future.”

He also commented on the false economy of splashing millions on Europe’s elite in order to make a profit in the future.

“When a Manchester City, Chelsea or Inter or AC Milan can make large transfers, the princely sums they pay suggest that at the end of the day they are on par with the second division in Germany,” he said.

“Everything is so expensive: the transfer fees, salaries, and all. And that led to Uefa finding that over 60% of all professional clubs in Europe are taking financial losses”

He also suggested that he had doubts over how these clubs would meet the rules put in place by Uefa, stating: “The sheikhs who own these clubs have promised Michel Platini that they will ensure that the rules are adhered to. We are now - it has to be said perhaps even more - in a test phase. In this test phase, the clubs must change.

“Especially the clubs that have recorded very high losses every year. And there are candidates that give the impression that they are ready.

“Inter, for example. AC Milan are also holding back very much in terms of spending money. Accordingly, I can imagine, they are well on their way to meeting these criteria. For other clubs I don't have as much faith.”

Goal.com