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Barcelona faces potential Champions League sanctions amid financial scrutiny

Ayer 08:20

Barcelona is confronting serious repercussions from UEFA, including the possibility of a points deduction, following allegations of repeated financial rule violations.

Joan Laporta, the club president, witnessed Barcelona being fined €500,000 last October due to the improper inclusion of income from so-called “financial levers” in their profit and loss statements. These financial levers involved selling future earnings, like a share of broadcasting rights, to secure immediate funds. Notably, a deal that sold 10% of La Liga TV rights for the next 25 years netted the club €267 million. However, UEFA designated these profits as “disposal of intangible assets,” disqualifying them from being counted towards Financial Fair Play (FFP) limits.

Under FFP regulations, clubs are permitted to incur losses of up to €200 million over a three-year span. Yet, UEFA's financial control board has cautioned Barcelona that any further infractions would lead to stricter penalties. This could entail squad restrictions for the upcoming Champions League season or a points deduction in the new league-format stage of the competition.

Chelsea and Aston Villa are also under investigation, though both clubs are likely to face only fines as first-time offenders. Chelsea reportedly sold their women’s team to a related company to balance their financial statements—a maneuver permitted by the Premier League but potentially problematic for UEFA. Aston Villa, on the other hand, has allegedly allocated over 90% of their revenue towards wages, violating UEFA’s squad cost cap, which is set to be strictly enforced from the 2025–26 season.

For Barcelona, this situation marks a continuation of financial missteps.

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