UEFA has issued financial fair play (FFP) fines to five prominent football clubs for breaching its financial regulations, with Chelsea fined €20 million, Barcelona €15 million, and additional penalties imposed on Lyon, Aston Villa, and Roma. These sanctions come after UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) reviewed the clubs’ financial conduct over recent seasons, particularly focusing on losses exceeding permitted limits and irregular accounting practices.
Chelsea and Aston Villa, both Premier League clubs, were found to have breached UEFA’s loss limits over a three-year monitoring period ending in the 2023/24 season. Chelsea’s case notably involved UEFA rejecting the club’s accounting treatment of the sale of their women’s team to a sister company—a transaction accepted by the Premier League but disallowed by UEFA. As first-time offenders, Chelsea and Villa are expected to face primarily financial penalties rather than harsher sporting sanctions. Chelsea’s fine of €20 million reflects this, while Aston Villa’s penalty is reportedly smaller but still significant.
Barcelona, meanwhile, faces a €15 million fine amid ongoing financial turmoil and repeated breaches of UEFA’s rules. This marks the second consecutive year the Catalan giants have been sanctioned, following a €500,000 fine in 2023 for misreporting profits. Due to their history of violations, Barcelona is at risk of more severe disciplinary measures, including potential squad size reductions or even points deductions in the upcoming Champions League season. UEFA has warned that repeated breaches could lead to unprecedented penalties, underscoring the seriousness of Barcelona’s financial situation.
Lyon and Roma have also been fined for similar breaches, although details on their specific penalties are less publicized. These fines form part of UEFA’s broader effort to enforce financial discipline and ensure clubs operate sustainably within their means.
The fines highlight the ongoing tension between UEFA’s stricter financial regulations and clubs’ accounting practices, especially regarding related-party transactions and revenue recognition. While domestic leagues like the Premier League may accept certain transactions, UEFA maintains a more conservative approach to preserve competitive balance in European competitions.
