FC Barcelona Agrees To Mammoth $70 Million Fine From UEFA

More bad news for FC Barcelona, as the Catalans have been hit with a mammoth $70 million fin from European soccer governing body UEFA for a Financial Fair Play (FFP) violation in the financial years of 2023 and 2024.

“The First Chamber of the CFCB determined that HNK Hajduk Split (CRO), Aston Villa FC (ENG), Chelsea FC (ENG), FC Barcelona (ESP), Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) and FC Porto (POR) failed to comply with the rule on football revenue, applied for the first time in the 2024/25 season. The analysis covered the financial years ending in 2023 and 2024,” began a statement from UEFA.

“In assessing clubs compliance with the football earnings rule, the CFCB paid particular attention to transactions involving the sale of tangible or intangible assets, the exchange of players (so-called ”swaps“) and transfers of players between related parties. Clubs were required to make adjustments, as profits from such transactions cannot be recognised as material income under the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Sustainability Regulations, 2024 Edition (the ”Regulations“),” it added.

HNK Hajduk Split, Aston Villa FC, Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona and Olympique Lyonnais reached agreements with the CFCB for a period of 2, 3 or 4 years. The length of each agreement depends on the clubs ability to comply with the Regulations within a specific timeframe. The ultimate goal of clubs is to fully comply with the rule on football revenues at the end of the settlement period (i.e. in the 2026/27 season for a period of 2 years, in the 2027/28 season for a period of 3 years, in the 2028/29 season for a period of 4 years).

“All clubs agreed to pay a fine (conditional and unconditional), the amount of which is based on the amount of the breach. The transactional agreements, which cover a period of 4 years, also consider the expected financial result for the fiscal year ending in 2025,” it then concluded.

UEFA listed the clubs, the length of time they have to get their finances in order, the fine they will be hit with if not, and how much of the sum is unconditional.

In short, FC Barcelona has been fined $70 million (€60 million) of which $17.7 million (€15 million) is unconditional and must be paid already. If it doesnt get its act together in two years, the whole amount will then be payable.

More bad news for FC Barcelona

On the same day it learned that Nico Williams had snubbed it to sign a 10-year extension with Athletic Club, despite reportedly having an agreement in place with the Euro 2024 winner, this is more bad news for FC Barcelona which is still in many ways recovering from its economic crisis at the turn of the decade. Though it was expecting this punishment to be handed down by UEFA, the timing could have been better during a rough 24 hours for Culers.