CHELSEA have been handed a significant fine by Uefa for its financial sustainability breaches in the years ending 2023 and 2024.
European football‘s governing body, Uefa, has slapped the Blues with a £27million fine.
GettyChelsea have been fined £27m by Uefa over financial breaches[/caption]
Chelsea were one of five clubs hit with a £17.3m fine for not complying with Uefa’s football earnings rules, while an additional £9.5m came from breaches of squad cost rules – with Chelsea being one of four clubs hit by them.
The punishment comes with the potential for a far harsher fine down the road as the squad cost rules squeezes down from 80 per cent in 2024 to 70 per cent from next season.
Conditional breaches of Uefa’s financial rules mean Chelsea risk being hit with a further £52m fine.
Premier League rivals Aston Villa have also been slapped with a fine on both charges.
However, the Villans’ breach is far less severe and the Midlands outfit have been fined £9.5m unconditionally – £4.3m for football earnings and £5.2m for squad costs.
They then have a further £15m in conditional fines for additional breaches of the Uefa financial rules.
Both clubs’ punishments come in the form of agreed settlements.
A Uefa statement also revealed Sporting Disciplinary Measures against the two teams.
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These include both clubs not being allowed to register new players on their A List to Uefa Club competitions unless they have a positive transfer balance.
Uefa’s statement indicates both Chelsea could be under scrutiny of this agreement for four years, while Villa are under the microscope of three.
The terms “unconditionally” apply in the 2025/26 and 2026/27 seasons.
They also “conditionally” apply in 2027/28, if the club has a football earnings deficit in the 2026 reporting period.
If they exceed the 2027 target, the conditions will once again apply to the 2028/29 season.
A Chelsea statement on the decision said: “Chelsea FC has entered into a settlement agreement with UEFA concerning a break even deficit reported by the club under UEFA’s Financial Sustainability Regulations covering the financial years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024.
“The club has also agreed to pay a fine as a result of the club’s squad cost ratio in the 2024 reporting year being between 80% and 90%.
“The club has worked closely and transparently with UEFA to provide a full and detailed breakdown of its financial reporting, which indicates that the financial performance of the club is on a strong upwards trajectory.
“Chelsea FC greatly values its relationship with UEFA and considered it important to bring this matter to a swift conclusion by entering into a settlement agreement.”
Overall, nine clubs were hit with punishments in the disciplinary findings, including Barcelona, Lyon, Porto, Panathinaikos and Besiktas.
Only two – Roma and Istanbul Basaksehir – were found to have breached previous settlement agreements.
Barcelona’s fine only applies to football earnings, with a £13m unconditional payment and £52m in conditional fines.
They will be under the microscope for the next two years.
Meanwhile, Lyon will have an eye kept on them for four years after receiving a £10.8m unconditional fine and £43m conditional.
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