UEFA to impose sanctions on Barcelona and nine other clubs

According to The Times, UEFA will announce economic sanctions on 10 teams that did not comply with financial Fair Play in 2020/21, including Barça and PSG.

UEFA plans to announce a package of sanctions on 10 major clubs in Europe for non-compliance with Financial Fair Play in the 2020-2021 season, according to The Times. Last week L’Equipe published that one of those teams is PSG, but among the others that are being closely watched are also Barça, Juventus, Marseille, Inter and Roma. There are also ten more under surveillance, although they are in time to present their updated and regularized accounts.

The season in which the irregularities regarding economic control were committed coincides with the arrival and explosion of the pandemic. UEFA rules only allow losses of €30m over three years, but those related to Covid and spending on women's football or grassroots football may justify an increase.

In principle, the fines will be economic and would be agreed with the clubs. In the case of not reaching an agreement, they would be resolved unilaterally by UEFA. It is assumed that this may be the case with Barça and Juve, who currently do not have a good relationship with UEFA due to their still-alive attempt to create a Super League together with Real Madrid.

This season will be the last under current FFP rules. From 2023, UEFA will introduce a new system that will limit spending by clubs to a percentage of their revenue in a calendar year on player salaries, transfers and agent fees. The European body will introduce a limit of 90% in 2023, 80% in 2024 and 70% from 2025.