- These regulations prevent clubs from spending beyond their means, ensuring they do not face financial difficulties that could jeopardize their existence.
UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) laws were introduced in 2009 to safeguard the financial stability of football clubs in Europe.
These regulations prevent clubs from spending beyond their means, ensuring they do not face financial difficulties that could jeopardize their existence.
Since their implementation in the 2011/2012 season, FFP laws have played a significant role in monitoring and regulating club finances. However, some clubs have been found in violation of these rules, leading to penalties and fines.
UEFA observed a concerning trend where half of the 665 European clubs experienced increased losses after each transfer period. This prompted the need for stricter financial regulations.
Among the leagues, the Premier League has witnessed the most frequent violations of FFP rules, with Manchester City being the most notable case. Since the takeover of The City Football Group by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2013, Manchester City has faced over 100 violations.
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When clubs are found to violate FFP laws, they face penalties that can include substantial fines and, in some cases, point deductions. In the 2021/2022 season, several prominent clubs incurred penalties for breaching the regulations.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) faced the highest fine of €10 million, followed by Inter Milan with €4 million and Juventus with €3.5 million; conversely, AS Monaco incurred the lowest penalty of €0.3 million.
In the 2022/2023 season, Manchester United received a fine of €300,000, while Barcelona faced a fine of €500,000. Belgian club Royal Antwerp and Turkish side Trabzonspor were subjected to the highest penalties of €2,000,000 each.
In some cases, clubs have faced fines and point deductions as a consequence of severe FFP violations.
Everton, for example, received a significant blow this season as they were deducted 10 points due to their financial losses exceeding the allowed threshold.
Everton now finds themselves in the relegation zone, recording losses of €378.1 million over three years, surpassing the permitted limit of €105 million for Premier League clubs.
This deduction exceeds the previous record of a 9-point deduction imposed on Portsmouth in 2010. Another Premier League club, Middlesbrough, also faced a similar punishment for postponing a match at short notice.
The scrutiny on club finances continues, with teams such as Chelsea and Manchester City potentially facing similar repercussions.
Chelsea is currently under investigation for potential breaches during the Roman Abramovich era, while Manchester City is involved in a legal suit for over 100 reported violations.
