UEFA has dismissed an appeal from FC Barcelona against a €500,000 fine for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
The governing body confirmed the original punishment imposed on the Spanish giants in July.
The club had been penalised for wrongly reporting profits on non-player sales during the 2022 financial year, which were deemed ‘not a relevant income under the regulations’.
Barcelona contested the fine and appealed what they referred to as a ‘disproportionate’ decision, vowing to pursue the matter ‘all the way to the last instance’, including the Court of Arbitration for Sport if necessary.
However, UEFA have dashed their hopes of overturning the verdict, as the Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) Appeals Chamber stood firm in their decision.
A statement read (via UEFA’s official website): “The UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) Appeals Chamber has taken a decision in the case of the appeal by FC Barcelona (ESP) against the decision issued by the CFCB First Chamber on July 13, 2023.
“Before the CFCB First Chamber, FC Barcelona was fined €500,000 for wrongly reporting, in the financial year 2022, profits on disposal of intangible assets (other than player transfers) which are not a relevant income under the regulations.
The CFCB Appeals Chamber has now decided:
- To reject the appeal lodged by FC Barcelona.
- To confirm the decision of the CFCB First Chamber.
This latest development adds to Barcelona’s woes as they have been navigating a turbulent period off the pitch.
The club has been grappling with financial challenges, resulting in the controversial decision to force players to take salary cuts to help alleviate their fiscal crisis.
Barcelona remains under investigation for its alleged involvement in the Jose Enriquez Negreira scandal, in which the former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) reportedly received money from Barcelona.
The club denies any wrongdoing, but the allegation is not going away.
The FFP fine is a reminder of Barcelona’s financial struggles and the need to address these issues promptly.
With mounting controversies and financial instability, the club’s credibility is under scrutiny, and they must take action to rebuild their reputation and finances in the coming years.
