Gill has dig at neighbours by urging Uefa into action

Manchester United executive David Gill has said that Uefa must impose "appropriate sanctions" against clubs who do not comply with Uefa's new Financial Fair Play (FFP) regime and, in the week after Manchester City revealed their player wages vastly exceed their turnover, has pointed out that his club do not spend more than 50 per cent of their own revenues on salaries.

City revealed this month that their £174m wage bill was £21m more than total revenue, a trend set when 2009 wages were 95 per cent of turnover, rising to 107 per cent last year.

Gill said United's ratio had been under 50 per cent since 1991 – in fact their 2006 £96.1m wage bill was 55 per cent of £173.2m revenue, though the percentage has been brought under 50 since.

"Ever since we floated back in 1991, we have had [this] policy," said Gill, who made no reference to City. "That's our model ... [FFP will] have a requirement that clubs have to break even." With Uefa withdrawing the idea of a transfer ban on clubs breaking FFP as legally unenforceable, Gill expects to hear of the sanction plans early next year.

Meanwhile, the two officials at the centre of United's controversial 1-1 draw with Newcastle on Saturday – referee Mike Jones and assistant John Flynn – have not been given Premier League games this weekend. Sir Alex Ferguson will not face an FA charge over his comments after that game.

City v United in wages

Manchester City
Year   Revenue   Wages     % spent
2006 £61.8m        £34.3m      56
2007 £56.9m        £26.4m      64
2008 £82.3m        £54.2m      66
2009 £87m           £82.6m      95
2010 £125.1m    £133.3m    107

Manchester United
Year  Revenue   Wages     % spent
2006  £173.2m    £96.1m       55
2007  £210.1m    £92.3m       44
2008  £256.2m  £121.1m       47
2009  £278.5m  £123.1m       44
2010  £286.4m   £131.7         46