UEFA has handed down financial sanctions to five top European clubs—Chelsea, Barcelona, AS Roma, Lyon, and Aston Villa—for breaching its Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations following recent audits of their financial activities.
Chelsea received the heaviest penalty with a fine of €20 million, attributed to historical spending irregularities and deferred payments from previous ownership. Barcelona followed closely with a €15 million fine for exceeding squad cost limits and non-compliance with revenue balance requirements.
Lyon, grappling with ongoing financial constraints and recent relegation concerns, was fined €12.5 million, while Aston Villa was penalised €11 million, largely tied to their recent spending to remain competitive in both domestic and European football. AS Roma received a €3 million sanction for minor breaches.
UEFA stated that all clubs cooperated during the investigations and have committed to revised financial plans moving forward. Further sanctions could be imposed if future monitoring reveals continued non-compliance.
