Barcelona loses appeal at UEFA against $537,000 fine for misreporting income amid financial turmoil
Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez reacts during the Champions League Group H soccer match between Barcelona and Shakhtar Donetsk at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Barcelona lost an appeal to UEFA against being fined 500,000 euros ($537,000) for misreporting income under financial monitoring rules, the European soccer body said Friday.
UEFA’s club finance panel imposed the fine in July after Barcelona declared income in 2022 on profit from “disposal of intangible assets (other than player transfers) which are not a relevant income under the regulations.”
UEFA has not specified details of the revenue which was included in its accounts amid financial turmoil for the current Spanish champion.
In June 2022, Barcelona made a deal worth 207 million euros ($222 million) with investment firm Sixth Street in exchange for 10% of its domestic broadcast rights income over 25 years.
Barcelona’s financial issues led to the club joining a failed launch of the European Super League in 2021, the reluctant departure of Lionel Messi later that year and an inability to bring Messi back for this season when he wanted to return. Messi instead joined Inter Miami.
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