Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea – who are set to play in the Champions League next term – are one of nine sides that have been slapped with a significant fine by UEFA for breaching financial sustainability rules in the years ending 2023 and 2024.
The European football governing body, which oversees all three competitions on the continent, have given the Blues a fine of £27 million – £17.3m for not complying with their football earning rules, while a further £9.5m is for breaching squad cost rules.
Chelsea’s financial punishment comes with the potential for further implications down the line as the squad cost rules are reduced from 80 percent in 2024 to 70 percent from next season. Maresca's trophy-winning men are among four clubs hit by them.
enzo maresca chelsea Related
Chelsea's Bonkers Squad Depth For 2025/26 Season
Enzo Maresca, next season, from top to bottom, will have plenty of players to choose from.
Chelsea Among The Nine Teams Hit by UEFA Fines
Aston Villa, too, have been sacntioned by the European governing body
Alongside the west Londoners, their Premier League rivals Aston Villa are also among those who have received a financial penalty, according to a report from The Sun. European heavyweights Barcelona, Serie A outfit AS Roma and Olympique Lyonnais, too.
In comparison to Chelsea, Unai Emery’s side’s punishment is far less severe: they’ve been fined £9.5m unconditionally – £4.3m for football earnings and £5.2 for squad costs. The Midlands-based side have a further £15m to settle in conditional fines for additional breaches of UEFA’s financial rules.
The term "unconditionally" apply to the 2025/26 and 2026/27 seasons. They also "conditionally" apply in 2027/28, if the club has a football earnings deficit in the 2026 reporting period. If they exceed the 2027 target, the conditions will once again apply to the 2028/29 season.
Agreement settlements have been used by both clubs in order to reveal their respective punishments, while a statement from UEFA has revealed Sporting Disciplinary Measures against the duo of sides from England's top flight, the Premier League.
Neither club, until they have a positive transfer balance, are allowed to register new players on their A List for UEFA club competitions. Their agreements suggest that Chelsea could be under the microscope for four years, Villa for three.
On the decision, Chelsea produced a statement. It read: “Chelsea FC has entered into a settlement agreement with UEFA concerning a break-even deficit reported by the club under UEFA’s Financial Sustainability Regulations covering the financial years 2022/23 and 2023/24. The club has also agreed to pay a fine as a result of the club’s squad cost ratio in the 2024 reporting year between 80% and 90%.”
“The club has worked closely and transparently with UEFA to provide a full and detailed breakdown of its financial reporting, which indicates that the financial performance of the club is on a strong upwards trajectory. Chelsea FC greatly values its relationship with UEFA and considered it important to bring this matter to a swift conclusion by entering into a settlement agreement."
The Premier League and UEFA logos. Related
Explaining Financial Fair Play: How it Works, Calculations and Punishments
Introduced by the Premier League in 2011, Financial Fair Play has had a long-term impact on football.
As alluded to, Chelsea and Villa are not the only clubs hit with financial punishments – that includes Lyon, FC Porto, Panathinaikos and Besiktas. UEFA believe that two sides (Roma and Istanbul Basaksehir) have breached previous settlement agreements.
Barcelona have been fined merely for their football earnings. The La Liga side have to pay a £13m unconditional payment and an additional £52m in conditional fines. As mentioned in The Sun's report, the club will be under the microscope for a two-year period.