Juventus Breach FFP Rules

UEFA kicked Juventus out of this season’s Europa League and fined them for breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.

European football’s governing body also fined Chelsea for breaching FFP rules for submitting “incomplete financial information”.

According to UEFA, the matter relates to transactions between 2012 and 2019.

Juventus were fined £17.1m and Chelsea £8.57m.

The Italian club will only have to pay half of the fine if its financial statements for the next three years comply with the rules, while Chelsea has already agreed to pay the compensation amount. The Blues have spent around £600m on 19 new players since new owner Todd Boehly took over in May 2022, but their fine relates to the seven-year period Roman Abramovich ruled the club.

Uefa said: “Following the sale of the club in May 2022, the new owner identified potential deficiencies in the financial reporting of the club’s previous owners and notified UEFA proactively.”

In response, Chelsea said they would fully cooperate and assist UEFA in their investigation and had “agreed to a settlement” with the governing body.

“In line with Club Ownership’s core principles of full compliance and transparency with its regulatory bodies, we are grateful that this case has been closed through proactive disclosure to UEFA and an agreement that fully resolves the reported issues,” the Premier League said. said club

The Italian Football Confederation (FIGC) must now tell UEFA which club will replace Juve in Europe’s third-tier competition. It is likely to be Fiorentina, who were beaten by West Ham in last year’s final after finishing eighth in Serie A. The case against Juventus stems from a €718,000 (£620,000) fine as part of an agreement between Italian football authorities over player pay.

Juventus also picked up 10 points from Serie A last season, having heard of the club’s previous transfer deals.

They were initially given a 15-point penalty in January, but Italy’s highest sports court overturned the decision in April and ordered a retrial.

Had they not been awarded penalties, they would have finished fourth and qualified for next season’s Champions League.

No Appeal

In response to the accusation, Juventus said they accept UEFA’s decision and will not appeal. Club president Gianluca Ferrero said: “We regret UEFA’s decision. We do not share the interpretation given to our defence and remain firmly convinced of the legality of our actions and the validity of our arguments. “However, we have decided not to appeal this decision.

“An appeal, possibly to other levels of the decision, with an uncertain result and timing, adding uncertainty to possible participation in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.”