Chelsea and Aston Villa have been hit with heavy fines for breaches of UEFA’s financial fair play rules. Both Premier League clubs have received financial and sporting penalties that could significantly increase if they do not sort out their finances.
After reaching settlements with European football’s governing body, Chelsea have been fined £27million, which could increase by an eye-watering £51m. Villa have been told to pay £9.5m, which could increase by £13m if they too fail to meet a series of targets agreed with UEFA. Both teams could face restrictions on the number of players they can register for UEFA competitions next season. Chelsea qualified for the Champions League, while Villa will play in the Europa League.
UEFA said that “clubs agreed to reach intermediate annual targets, and to the application of conditional financial and sporting measures should these targets not be met (i.e. stricter restriction on the registration of new players on the list A and exclusion from the next Uefa club competitions for which they will qualify).”
A further conditional punishment could see Chelsea and Villa restricted over which players they can register for their respective European campaigns next term. They will not be able to register new players to their UEFA squad lists unless their transfer balance is positive.
That could hinder what activity both clubs can complete for the remainder of the summer transfer window. Chelsea have already spent a combined figure of around £90m on forwards Liam Delap and Joao Pedro. Bashir Humphries, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Marcus Bettinelli have all departed for a combined £15m. Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic has been linked with a £25m move to either Galatasaray or Sunderland.
Villa’s only foray into the market so far is a £5m move for 19-year-old Turkish defender Yasin Ozkan from Kasimpasa. Unai Emery’s side have sold young right-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden to Championship Coventry for a small fee. Outcast midfielder Philippe Coutinho also departed to Vasco da Gama.
According to the i Paper, further sanctions imposed on Chelsea and Aston Villa could involve points deductions. Next season will mark the second year in which UEFA’s competitions all start with a league phase, in which the difference between teams’ points can be very tight.
Chelsea are likely to escape breaches of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). For Premier League auditors, the Blues could include the sale of their women’s team to a company within their ownership group. UEFA do not permit that income.