CFCB concludes the monitoring of overdue payables for the 2023/24 season

The UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) has finalised its assessment of the “no overdue payables” requirements as defined in the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Sustainability Regulations.

During the 2023/24 season, thirteen clubs, namely Adana Demirspor (TUR), FK Auda (LVA), SC Braga (POR), PFC CSKA Sofia (BUL), FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO), Galatasaray A.Ş. (TUR), FC Ordabasy Shymkent (KAZ), FK Partizan (SRB), FC Porto (POR), Real Betis Balompié (ESP), Riga FC (LVA), CJSC FC Shakhtyor (BLR) and Vitória SC (POR) have been imposed disciplinary measures by the CFCB for having overdue payables.

Two clubs, Adana Demirspor (TUR) and CJSC FC Shakhtyor (BLR), appealed the CFCB First Chamber decisions before the CFCB Appeals Chamber.

The assessment of the solvency requirements for clubs participating in UEFA competitions during the 2023/24 season was performed by the CFCB at three regulatory deadlines, i.e. in July 2023, October 2023 and January 2024. During this assessment, it became apparent that some clubs did not fulfil the no overdue payables criteria in March for club licensing and participation in the UEFA club competitions.

The eleven clubs which did not appeal the decision of the CFCB First Chamber were imposed the following fines for having overdue payables and/or misreporting payables information:

- FC Porto (POR) - € 1,500,000,

- CSKA Sofia (BUL) - € 450,000 (*),

- Vitória SC (POR) - € 200,000,

- FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) - € 80,000,

- SC Braga (POR) - € 40,000,

- FK Partizan (SRB) - € 40,000,

- Galatasaray A.Ş. (TUR) - € 30,000,

- Real Betis Balompié (ESP) - € 30,000,

- FC Ordabasy Shymkent (KAZ) - € 20,000,

- Riga FC (LVA) - € 10,000, and

- FK Auda (LVA) - € 10,000.

When determining the appropriate fine, the CFCB considered the amounts overdue during the 2023/24 season as well as aggravating and mitigating factors. To the extent that the club licensing criteria were breached, the fine imposed (marked with *) corresponds to the UEFA revenues earned by clubs which unduly participated in UEFA club competitions.

Furthermore, due to recidivism, payables overdue for more than 90 days during the season and/or breach of the club licensing criteria, FC Porto (POR), PFC CSKA Sofia (BUL) and Vitória SC (POR), were imposed a suspended exclusion (subject to the conditions below) from participating in the next one UEFA club competition for which they would otherwise qualify in the following three seasons (i.e. 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28) as follows:

- For PFC CSKA Sofia (BUL), the exclusion is suspended for a probationary period of three seasons and will only be enforced if the club does not fulfil the solvency requirements in the 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27 seasons.

- For FC Porto (POR), the exclusion is suspended for a probationary period of two seasons and will only be enforced if the club does not fulfil the solvency requirements in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons; and

- For Vitória SC (POR), the exclusion is suspended for a probationary period of one season and will only be enforced if the club does not fulfil the solvency requirements in the 2024/25 season.

Finally, the CFCB Appeals Chamber decided as follows with regard to the two appeals lodged against the CFCB First Chamber decisions:

- For CJSC FC Shakhtyor (BLR), the CFCB Appeals Chamber confirmed the decision of the CFCB First Chamber which found that the club had failed to report overdue payables for club licensing. The club was imposed a fine of EUR 1,010,000 (*) as well as an exclusion from participating in the next one UEFA club competition for which the club would otherwise qualify in the next three seasons (i.e. 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27).

- For Adana Demirspor (TUR), the CFCB Appeals Chamber confirmed the decision of the CFCB First Chamber which found that the club had overdue payables during the 2023/24 season. Due to misreporting, payables overdue for more than 90 days and substantial overdue payables that remained unpaid, the club was imposed an exclusion from participating in the next one UEFA club competition for which the club would otherwise qualify in the next three seasons (i.e. 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27).