Exclusive: Chelsea ‘surprised’ by record UEFA punishment – finance expert
Chelsea’s huge fine from UEFA was a “statement of intent” from the European governing body.
That is the view of football finance expert Dan Plumley, who explained to Football Insider exclusively that UEFA will be “holding clubs to task” with their financial regulations.
Chelsea were handed a €31million (£26.7m) fine this season, and could receive a further €60m (£51.2m) if they continue to fail to be compliant with the financial rules set out by the governing body over the next four years [BBC Sport].
The punishment was dished out after the West London club breached UEFA’s football earnings rule, whilst also having a squad cost ratio (proportion of income paid out in wages) above 80%, with the governing body setting a limit of 80% in the 2024/25 season.
The fine is the largest ever dished out by UEFA for a team in a single season. Chelsea sold their women’s team to avoid a sanction from the Premier League, but the European governing body did not allow the club to register the profit from the sale on their accounting books.
Chelsea and Aston Villa surprised by fine
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, finance expert Plumley suggested that both Chelsea and Aston Villa, who also received a fine, would be surprised by the size of the sanction.
The senior lecturer from Sheffield Hallam University believes the figures dished out by UEFA were a “statement of intent”, warning other clubs to stay within the financial limitations they have set.
Plumley said: “Potentially in-house, yes, and obviously this is the first wave of sanctions linked to UEFA’s new financial sustainability regulations.
“We’ve been fixated on squad cost ratios, but this is linked to the football earnings rule, which is similar to the PSR equivalent. I think what this is, is a statement of intent from UEFA, for sure, that they are going to look to punish clubs here, and they were both pretty sizeable fines.
“The Chelsea one is one of the biggest we’ve seen. I guess the clubs might have been a little bit surprised by that, but moving into this new framework for UEFA, it seems they’re really going to be holding clubs to task on this.
“It’ll be interesting to see how it kind of progresses in the future, then as well with suspended further sanctions and what it could amount to.
“I think it’s the first real time we’ve seen it and I think the clubs are probably, it might be a bit surprised, but also, you know, the losses are extensive against that target.
“Perhaps they shouldn’t be surprised, but they might still have been in terms of it being a new piece of legislation and seeing what UEFA are going to do.”
Chelsea looking to sell after sanctions
Following the sanctions, it was also revealed by The Times that Chelsea need to raise £60m through player sales before they can register players for next year’s Champions League.
Noni Madueke looks set for Arsenal, while Joao Felix is a target for Benfica, and the 25-year-old is reportedly willing to lower his wage demands to secure a return to his boyhood club.
Mick Brown also told Football Insider that Man United are still interested in Christopher Nkunku, which would be a major boost for Chelsea.
Both forwards have been on the fringes of Enzo Maresca’s squad for some time now, and their departures would put a sizeable dent in the £60m that is required.