The First Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB First Chamber) has revealed that eight clubs have been sanctioned due to non-compliance with the overdue payables rule.
The football teams have been named as FC Astana, CFR 1907 Cluj, PFC CSKA-Sofia, Mons Calpe SC, FC Porto, Real Betis Balompié, CD Santa Clara and Sporting Clube de Portugal.
FC Astana and CFR 1907 Cluj have been fined €150,000 and €200,000, whilst the other clubs have been sanctioned with an unconditional financial contribution and a conditional exclusion from participating in the next UEFA competition.
The clubs would otherwise qualify in the next three seasons unless they can prove by 31 January next year that they have paid the outstanding overdue amounts.
The fines given include; 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.
Additionally, the organisation has found that AEK Athens FC did not follow several club licensing and financial fair play requirements.
Following an evaluation of the circumstances of the case, the CFCB First Chamber decided to conclude a settlement agreement with the club, meaning it would have to pay an unconditional financial contribution of €1.5 million, and be subject to a further withholding of 10% of the UEFA prize money.
It has been explained that the club would be entitled to receive this from participation in the next UEFA club competition for which it would qualify.
If this does not take place, the Greek top-flight team will be excluded from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which it would otherwise qualify in the next three seasons, if a future compliance audit identifies similar breaches.
Additionally, Sporting and Porto may also be excluded the next time they qualify for the Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League in the next three seasons.
Finally, it has been concluded that Beşiktaş JK 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 place.
