Multiple teams in Europe broke the agreed-upon Financial Fair Play rules, according to a press statement from UEFA on Friday.
UEFA Sanctioned 8 Clubs
The Club Financial Control Body discovered eight clubs that did achieve the break-even threshold, according to the statement. These include Paris Saint-Germain, Olympique de Marseille, Milan, Monaco, Roma, Beşiktaş, Inter, and Juventus. Following that, the clubs received sanctions, with PSG getting the biggest fine (€65 million), later lowered to €10 million.
Unfortunately, clubs were subject to emergency Covid measures in 2020 and 2021, when spectators were mostly barred from stadiums and TV arrangements were altered. UEFA’s investigation covered the financial years 2018 to 2022. Clubs received exemptions as a result during this time.
All of the clubs taking part in the UEFA championships in 2021–22 had their financial operations reviewed by the Club Financial Control Body (CFCB). The researchers concluded that the English clubs and Rangers met the requirements for compliance because they were technically able to fulfill the break-even necessity thanks to the implementation of the COVID-19 emergency measures and/or because they gained from chronological positive break-even results.
Note on these “fines”. The money will be subtracted from UEFA payments they are due to receive from club competitions like Champions League, Europa League. Clubs don’t write a cheque
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) September 2, 2022
As per the sources, it was declared that even though 19 additional clubs “technically” met the break-even threshold, their financial standing will be “monitored” going forward. These include, among others, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Borussia Dortmund.
Other Clubs Under Surveillance
Due to “extraordinary COVID deductions and analysis of prior financial outcomes,” Chelsea, Leicester, Man City, and West Ham have escaped punishment under the UEFA financial fair play rules. These exemptions do not apply this season, though, and the clubs have been warned that they would be “closely scrutinized in the future time.”
Even harsher than those in the English top division are UEFA’s FFP rules. The permissible losses, or “acceptable deviation,” as the accountants call them, are slightly over £50 million (or 60 million euros) as of this summer, compared to £105 million in the Premier League. Although the inspection didn’t result in any punishment for Premier League clubs, it did have an effect, especially on Leicester City.
