Uefa Fines Aston Villa, Barcelona, Chelsea, AS Roma, and Lyon for Breaching FFP Rules

Aston Villa, Barcelona, Chelsea, AS Roma, and Lyon have all been fined by UEFA for violating Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. The fines range from €3 million for Roma to €20 million for Chelsea. Barcelona received a €15 million fine, while Aston Villa and Lyon were fined €11 million and €12.5 million, respectively.

According to a previous report, Aston Villa has signed Zepiqueno Redmond on a contract until June 2029.

WHAT HAPPENED?

In a statement released on Friday, UEFA confirmed the clubs who have been sanctioned for FFP breaches. “The CFCB First Chamber found that AS Roma, Olympique Lyonnais, Aston Villa FC, FC Barcelona, and Chelsea FC have all breached the CFCB Procedural Rules by failing to include information or including incorrect information of UEFA regulations.”

The statement continued: “The CFCB First Chamber imposed financial contributions on all clubs as follows: Aston Villa: €11 million; Barcelona: €15 million; Chelsea: €20 million; Roma: €3 million; Lyon: €12.5 million. The CFCB First Chamber decided that, as it did in the Heart of Midlothian FC/ FC Volendam case, only a financial contribution would be sufficient as objective justifications exist, and as such, the sanction on the aforementioned clubs has been limited to a financial contribution.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Barcelona has previously breached regulations, while there has been considerable scrutiny on Chelsea’s finances – especially given the huge spending spree the club embarked on in the January transfer window. All clubs involved will need to get their affairs in order, with UEFA continuing to single out teams who are not staying within the confines of the governing body’s rules.

WHAT NEXT?

The duration of the three-month European ban has now expired, meaning Savic is able to return to training for Hertha as of Saturday, and may even feature in a reserve team fixture over the weekend. The German FA has instructed Hertha to hold regular meetings with Savic, though, in order to keep him on track with his gambling problem. The FA added in a statement: “The monitoring of the behaviour ban by FIFA, DFB, and DFL is ongoing. The reporting obligation also ends upon the expiry of the probationary period – but not the reporting obligation by Savic to Hertha BSC (every 2 weeks). The monitoring of the Probationary Rule Order is carried out by the DFB combined with the power of the DFB to impose a ban without a Notice of Violation or to suspend the probationary period and impose the suspended fines if the Conditions of the Probationary Rule Order are not fulfilled. A check of the compliance with this order, together with the surveillance of Savic and his entourage to avoid any involvement in betting activities are and will be carried out during the Probationary Rule Order and its conditions are still pending. (Note: Details for a future statement still depend on his criminal background as well as the criminal proceedings).”