Barcelona, one of the world’s most famous football clubs, is under serious investigation by UEFA, the governing body for football in Europe. This time, it’s not about how they play on the field, but how they handle their money off it.
UEFA Investigates Barcelona Over TV Rights Dealings
The problem started back in 2022 when Barcelona sold 10% of their television rights. This means they gave away a portion of the money they earn from broadcasting their games in exchange for quick cash. Instead of recording this deal the right way, UEFA says it wrongly reported the income.
They called it “other operating income,” which made it look like extra money they earned from their normal business. But UEFA disagreed and said it should have been listed as a “loss of intangible assets.” That’s a fancy way of saying the deal should have counted as losing value from the club’s future earnings, not gaining money in the present.
Barcelona didn’t stop there. They did it again later by selling another 15% of their TV rights for around €400 million. This second move raised even more red flags. UEFA believes these deals were used to make the club’s financial situation look better than it really was — a direct breach of the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. These rules exist to make sure clubs don’t spend way more than they earn.
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For the first mistake, UEFA already fined Barcelona €500,000. But since the same type of problem has now happened more than once, UEFA is considering stronger punishments.
What Can UEFA Do to Punish?
If UEFA finds that Barcelona has indeed broken the rules again, they have several ways to take action. Each of these possible punishments could hurt Barcelona’s future in European football.
- Reduced Squad Size
UEFA might limit the number of players Barcelona can register for Champions League matches. Usually, clubs can register up to 25 players for these big tournaments. If this number is reduced, Barcelona would have fewer options when facing Europe’s top teams. This could hurt their performance and make it harder for them to win. - Bigger Financial Fines
Barcelona has already been hit with a fine, but a larger one could be coming. If UEFA decides the club acted knowingly or was careless in reporting its finances, the fine could be in the millions. This would add even more financial pressure to a club already working hard to fix its budget. - Point Deductions in European Competitions
Though this is not common, UEFA does have the power to deduct points from clubs in tournaments like the Champions League. If Barcelona starts with negative points, their chances of reaching the knockout stages could drop fast. In such a competitive tournament, every point matters.
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These punishments would not just be a slap on the wrist. They could seriously impact Barcelona’s chances to return to the top in European football. The club hasn’t reached the late stages of the Champions League in recent years, and any new setback could make that goal even harder to achieve.
Other Clubs Also Under the Spotlight
Barcelona isn’t the only team being looked at. Chelsea and Aston Villa, two clubs from the English Premier League, are also being reviewed by UEFA. However, their cases are considered less serious. Unlike Barcelona, they are not repeat offenders. This means that while they may also be punished, their sanctions are likely to be lighter.
This makes Barcelona’s situation more troubling. Repeating the same mistake after already being fined once shows a pattern UEFA may see as deliberate. In such cases, UEFA has the right to act more strictly. Also, attempts by Barcelona to challenge earlier penalties through the Court of Arbitration for Sport didn’t work. This could weaken their position further if they try to fight any new decision.
Right now, all eyes are on UEFA as they investigate the details of the club’s financial behavior. Football fans and financial experts alike are waiting to see how tough the governing body will be on one of the sport’s biggest names.