Barcelona hit with Financial Fair Play violation and fine

Barcelona paid a fine resulting from overspending and triggering the Financial Fair Play regulations. This stems from Barcelona’s acquisition of Dani Alves, Andreas Christensen and extending Ronald Araújo’s contract.

Barcelona’s excessive spending is a much-noted topic. Just this past summer, Barcelona spent well over $100 million on Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Koundé. However, the issue is more on the contracts. In addition to those three transfer fees, Barcelona brought on Franck Kessié, Andreas Christensen, Marcos Alonso and Héctor Bellerín on free transfers. Those free transfers have ensuing contracts. That is what brings Financial Fair Play into issue with Barcelona.

These FFP rules belong to LaLiga, which does oversee the contracts and wages of its clubs. Moreover, this is in relation to Barcelona’s 2021/22 accounts.

The fine Barcelona faces is around $800,000. However, the club is not willingly answering the fine. Instead, it plans to take the fines to court to challenge the sanctions laid out by LaLiga. There is no date set yet over when any trial would be for Barcelona.

Barcelona weakened by Financial Fair Play from LaLiga

Barcelona was only able to attempt the acquisition of these players by pulling a number of ‘levers’ to skirt around LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play. However, as LaLiga President Javier Tebas noted, those were short term solutions to long term problems.

“The levers have worked for them this season but not for the next one,” Tebas said.

Barcelona exceeded its salary cap, which is different for each team based on revenue and expenses. Marca notes that Barcelona’s debt puts a serious limit on the ability to work within its salary cap. Hence, the $800k fine comes at an inopportune time.

Barcelona is not pegged as a major contender in the upcoming January transfer window. The club exhausted much of its transfer budget in the summer window. However, it has performed well in the league as a result. That being said, the club did fall in the Champions League group stage for the second-straight year. It now competes in the Europa League.

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