FC Barcelona is reportedly at risk of facing harsher sanctions from UEFA after allegedly breaching financial regulations for a second consecutive time, according to new reports.
The Catalan giants were previously fined €500,000 (£420,000) by UEFA in 2023 for failing to comply with the governing body’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) requirements. At the time, the club narrowly avoided a ban from the Champions League for the 2024/25 season.
Despite escaping with a fine last year, Barcelona’s ongoing financial turmoil may now be triggering more serious consequences. According to The Times, UEFA is considering stricter disciplinary measures due to what could be classified as recidivism—a repeat offence under FFP rules.
Potential UEFA Sanctions for Barcelona
Reports suggest the LaLiga club could be:
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Restricted in the number of players they are allowed to register for UEFA competitions next season.
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Deducted points in the Champions League group stage—a penalty that could have both competitive and financial implications.
Barcelona’s financial struggles have persisted, despite efforts to offload assets. Earlier this year, the club narrowly managed to re-register players like Dani Olmo and Pau Victor, only after selling 475 VIP seats at the revamped Nou Camp and engaging in legal wrangling with LaLiga.
First-Time Offenders: Chelsea and Aston Villa in Negotiations
Meanwhile, Premier League clubs Chelsea and Aston Villa are also under UEFA scrutiny for financial breaches. However, as first-time offenders, both are expected to receive less severe punishments.
Chelsea in particular drew attention after attempting to sell their women’s team to BlueCo, their ownership consortium, in a deal worth close to £200 million. While this maneuver helped them comply with Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), UEFA rejected the move, viewing it as a workaround of FFP guidelines.
According to Mail Sport, UEFA’s Club Financial Control Board (CFCB) is currently in discussions with both clubs and may impose multi-year spending plans in lieu of harsher penalties. A final ruling is expected later this month.
UEFA Warned of Barcelona’s Recidivism in 2023
The increased scrutiny on Barcelona stems in part from the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) ruling in October 2023, when the club unsuccessfully challenged their previous fine.
The CAS decision explicitly warned:
“The CFCB (…) highlights that a similar breach by the club in the 2023/24 monitoring process would constitute a case of recidivism and would be addressed by the imposition of a harsher disciplinary measure on FC Barcelona.”
What’s Next?
With UEFA expected to deliver its verdict before the start of the 2024/25 European campaign, all eyes are on Hansi Flick’s Barcelona to see whether they will face limited squad registration, points deduction, or worse.
If confirmed, such sanctions could significantly impact the club’s European ambitions and further strain their fragile financial position.
