By Emmanuel Abi Couson
Chelsea FC has been fined €20 million ($23.6m) for breaking financial monitoring rules while Barcelona were ordered to pay €15m ($17.7m) by UEFA .
Both clubs face higher fines in future seasons if they miss financial targets set by UEFA in a statement on July 4
Aston Villa breach is far less severe and the Midlands outfit have been fined £9.5m unconditionally – £4.3m for football earnings and £5.2m for squad costs.
The Villains are to further pay £15m in conditional fines for additional breaches of the Uefa financial rules.
Chelsea had been under investigation for the £76.5m ($104.4m) sale of two hotels between subsidiaries of Chelsea’s holding company,BlueCo 22 Ltd.
The west London club’s fine matches the record €20m ($23.6m) sanction imposed in 2014 on Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain by UEFA. Those were the first round of penalties in the system then called Financial Fair Play.
In other investigations settled on Friday, UEFA fined financially troubled French club Lyon €12.5m ($14.7m) with future fines conditional on meeting targets.
The club owned by American businessman John Textor is fighting an appeal case next week against being demoted from Ligue 1 amid its financial turmoil, and could yet be excluded by UEFA from the Europa League next season.
Aston Villa breach is far less severe as the Midlands outfit have been fined £9.5m unconditionally – £4.3m for football earnings and £5.2m for squad costs.
These include both clubs not being allowed to register new players on their A List to Uefa Club competitions unless they have a positive transfer balance.
Uefa’s statement indicates both Chelsea and Barcelona could be under scrutiny of this agreement for four years, while Villa are under the microscope of three.
They also “conditionally” apply in 2027/28, if the club has a football earnings deficit in the 2026 reporting period.
If they exceed the 2027 target, the conditions will once again apply to the 2028/29 season.
Overall, nine clubs were hit with punishments in the disciplinary findings, including Porto, Panathinaikos and Besiktas.
Only two – Roma and İstanbul Başakşehir – were found to have breached previous settlement agreements.
Barcelona’s fine only applies to football earnings, with a £13m unconditional payment and £52m in conditional fines.
They will be under the microscope for the next two years.
Meanwhile, Lyon will have an eye kept on them for four years after receiving a £10.8m unconditional fine and £43m conditional.
