Barcelona is once again under scrutiny from UEFA after reportedly breaching financial regulations for a second time—an infraction that could carry harsher consequences and impact their participation in future Champions League campaigns.
The Spanish club, already fined €500,000 for misreporting income in 2023, now faces fresh penalties tied to its controversial use of “financial levers,” particularly the sale of future broadcasting rights. UEFA has ruled that such transactions cannot be considered regular operating income and thus fall outside the permissible financial metrics under its Financial Sustainability Regulations (FSR), formerly known as Financial Fair Play (FFP).
UEFA’s FSR aims to promote financial responsibility among clubs and caps losses at €60 million over three years, assuming certain financial health conditions are met. Clubs are also now restricted to spending no more than 85% of their revenue on wages, transfers, and agent fees—a threshold that will decrease to 70% by 2025. The regulations have grown stricter over time, and repeat violations are subject to more severe punishment.
Barcelona’s financial woes are well-documented. At one point, the club’s debt exceeded €1 billion, forcing major player sales like Neymar’s 2017 transfer to PSG and triggering creative financing tactics. In 2022, the club sold 25% of its La Liga TV rights—10% for €267 million, followed by another 15% for around €400 million—to raise immediate funds. While Barcelona classified these as operating income, UEFA categorized them as profits from the disposal of intangible assets, which don’t count toward FSR calculations.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld UEFA’s initial fine and warned of “harsher disciplinary measures” for repeat offenses. Now, Barcelona’s 2023 financial filings are under investigation, and potential sanctions could include squad registration limits for UEFA competitions, points deductions, or even temporary exclusion from European tournaments.
This growing pressure highlights the long-term risks of Barcelona’s financial strategy, as reliance on short-term asset sales may increasingly clash with UEFA’s tightening regulations.