FC Barcelona once again finds itself at the center of financial scrutiny in Europe. Despite securing a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League as LaLiga champions, the Catalan club could be facing serious sanctions from UEFA for repeated breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations — potentially affecting their European campaign before it even begins.

Why is UEFA investigating Barcelona?

According to The Times, UEFA previously fined Barcelona €500,000 for misreporting income related to the sale of 10% of their television rights in 2022. The club listed the operation as “other operating income,” but UEFA ruled it should have been categorized as a loss of intangible assets — making it ineligible to improve their FFP position.

Barcelona later repeated the maneuver, selling another 15% of their TV rights for an estimated €400 million, further raising UEFA’s concerns. Given the recurrence of the issue, the governing body is now considering harsher penalties for the Spanish giants.

What sanctions could UEFA impose?

If UEFA confirms that Barcelona violated FFP regulations again, the club could face several possible sanctions, including:

• ⚽ Reduced squad size in UEFA competitions (fewer players allowed in the Champions League list)
• 💸 A larger financial fine than the previous €500,000
• ❌ Point deductions in UEFA competitions (though rare, still possible in severe cases)

These punishments would be especially damaging for Barcelona, who are seeking a return to European prominence after multiple seasons without reaching the late stages of the Champions League.

Are other clubs under investigation?

Yes. Chelsea and Aston Villa are also reportedly under review by UEFA, though their infractions are not repeat offenses, and their sanctions are expected to be less severe. This puts Barcelona in a more vulnerable position, especially after failing to overturn previous decisions through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).