UEFA have slammed Aston Villa with a €11 million (£9.5 million) fine and a further €15 million conditionally suspended for breaching financial regulations (h/t Martyn Ziegler).
Villa were among the clubs scrutinised for surpassing UEFA’s financial loss limits for the previous season.
Even though the Villains avoided punishment in the Premier League by employing an accounting move, they could not escape UEFA.
Aston Villa followed Chelsea’s lead in selling assets to themselves to stay within the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
That tactic worked in England, where clubs like Everton and Nottingham Forest were docked points for PSR breaches while Villa and Chelsea avoided such sporting sanctions.
However, UEFA took a harder line, and both clubs agreed to settlements to avoid further action.
The Villa hierarchy knew that UEFA’s Squad Cost Rules (SCR) posed a greater challenge than the PSR.
Per these rules, clubs must limit spending on wages, transfers, and agent fees to 70% of their revenue.
While the club resolved its domestic compliance issues before the June 30 deadline, there was little cause for celebration with tougher regulations looming.
As Villa prepare to compete in the Europa League next season, they remain under UEFA’s financial microscope.
Villa’s wage-to-turnover ratio is reportedly in the mid-80s.
Considerable cost-cutting will be required to comply with the 70% threshold, likely forcing the club to trim its wage bill in the coming months.
Fans will hope they do not have to sell key assets like Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins to avoid further UEFA punishment.
Arsenal and Chelsea were interested in signing Rogers, but the Villains are fighting to keep him at Villa Park.
Manchester United and Arsenal have also been sniffing around Watkins.
The Villains want to keep their best players, but the sanctions could force them to consider other measures.