FFP update on the 2021/22 monitoring of clubs by the CFCB

The newly established First Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB First Chamber) announced today that eight clubs, FC Astana (KAZ), CFR 1907 Cluj (ROU), PFC CSKA-Sofia (BUL), Mons Calpe SC (GIB), FC Porto (POR), Real Betis Balompié (ESP), CD Santa Clara (POR) and Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) have been sanctioned due to the non-compliance with the “no overdue payables” requirement.

FC Astana and CFR 1907 Cluj were fined € 150’000 and € 200’000 respectively.

All other clubs were sanctioned with an unconditional financial contribution and additionally with a conditional exclusion from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which they would otherwise qualify in the next three (3) seasons (i.e. 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons), unless they can prove by 31 January 2022 that they have paid the outstanding overdue amounts.

Fines imposed are: PFC CSKA-Sofia - € 75’000, Mons Calpe SC - € 15’000, FC Porto - €300’000, Real Betis Balompié - € 250’000, CD Santa Clara - € 75’000 and Sporting Clube de Portugal - € 250’000.

Furthermore, the CFCB First Chamber found that AEK Athens FC (GRE) did not comply with several club licensing and financial fair play requirements. After having considered the circumstances of the case, the CFCB First Chamber decided to conclude a settlement agreement with the club which contain the following elements (summary):

• The club agreed to pay an unconditional financial contribution of €1.5 million;

• The club will be subject to a further withholding of 10% of the UEFA prize money that the club will be entitled to receive from participation in the next UEFA club competition for which the club would qualify. Such a withholding will not take place, and AEK Athens FC will be excluded from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which it would otherwise qualify in the next three (3) seasons, if a future compliance audit identifies similar breaches.

Finally, the CFCB First Chamber concluded that Beşiktaş JK (TUR) fulfilled the conditions imposed by CAS on 25 June 2021 following the breach of the “no overdue payables” requirement in the 2020/21 season. As a consequence, the conditional sanction foreseeing a withholding of 15% of the UEFA prize money shall not take effect.