UEFA could be within its rights to ban giant of European football as it looks at what clubs have breached the specific rules required to play in the Champions League.
READ ALSO:
Eddie Howe Under Pressure as Newcastle Face Summer Exodus and Uncertain Future
Every year, the governing body for European football looks in to potential rule breaches across all clubs taking part in its competitions. From the Champions League to the Europa League and more recently, the Europa Conference League, there are plenty of regulations football clubs must abide by to take part and have a chance of winning silverware.
READ ALSO:
Chelsea finances: Blues announce biggest pre-tax loss of any club in Premier League history
And for 2025, it could result in one major ban as well as sanctions against two other clubs for breaches.
READ ALSO:
JUST IN: Obiano's SSA on Security, Azubuike Ekwegbalu Murdered
Barcelona is the club that could be facing serious risk as they have been in FFP trouble for the second consecutive year, while Chelsea and Aston Villa also breached but face a lenient punishment.
READ ALSO:
Ikwecheghi in Trouble as Police Opens Investigation into Alleged Assault of Bolt Driver
The Catalan club appealed after they were found to have breached the UEFA rules last year, but were fined £420,000 by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
READ ALSO:
INEC 'Went Rogue': Atedo Peterside Exposes Shocking Election Manipulation in Edo State (WATCH VIDEO)
After giving the judgement, CAS also said: "A similar breach would be addressed by the imposition of a harsher disciplinary measure" from UEFA's Club Financial Control Board (CFCB)."
READ ALSO:
ZAMFARA: How Six Kidnapped Federal Varsity Students Were Rescued In Less Than 24 Hours | READ MORE
The club decided to sell their broadcasting media rights and in-house content hub, in a bid to stay within the UEFA financial rules, but the organisation considered the funds to be 'profits on disposal of intangible assets.'
READ ALSO:
Who has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Who do England and Scotland play? Could Lionel Messi face Cristiano Ronaldo?
According to Times, an FFP breach for the second year in a row could lead to serious implications for the Blaugranas.
READ ALSO:
Hon. Amobi Ogah Congratulates Dr. Okechukwu Ogah on Historic PASCAR Appointment
The punishment is set to be announced soon and could likely be squad size reduction or points deduction. Last year, the club was given the possibility of a ban after one year of breaches, meaning the risk is higher for two years in a row.
READ ALSO:
David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world, says Arsenal team-mate Kai Havertz after Sporting heroics
Barcelona have been in financial turmoil for several years and have tried a lot of ways to gain some financial stability.
READ ALSO:
OMICRON: How Lagos Defeated 4th Wave Of Covid-19 - Commissioner For Health
Chelsea and Aston Villa also breached the UEFA's financial rules, but are expected to face not so severe punishments as they are first time offenders.
READ ALSO:
Sandro Tonali will choose Manchester United if they secure Champions League football
The London based club came at the top of Premier League's PSR charts after the sale of the Chelsea Women's team.
READ ALSO:
Roberto De Zerbi: Tottenham in talks with ex-Brighton boss about taking over as head coach
But UEFA did not approve of the sale to a sister company and this has led to the Blues likely facing a fine alongside another Premier League team Villa. According to Bryan King - a former scout of the team, Villa could face a £5 million fine.
READ ALSO:
Eddie Howe Under Pressure as Newcastle Face Summer Exodus and Uncertain Future
Both Chelsea and Villa have held discussions with CFCB over a financial settlement. Chelsea qualified to the Champions League after a final day win in the Premier League over Nottingham Forest.
READ ALSO:
Chelsea finances: Blues announce biggest pre-tax loss of any club in Premier League history
While Villa were in the competition last season and lost to eventual champions Paris Saint Germain in the Quarter-final. They will play in the Europa League next season after having failed to win against Manchester United on the final day of the season.
READ ALSO:
JUST IN: Obiano's SSA on Security, Azubuike Ekwegbalu Murdered
Four clubs have previously been banned from competing in the Champions League by UEFA.
READ ALSO:
Ikwecheghi in Trouble as Police Opens Investigation into Alleged Assault of Bolt Driver
Over the years, the Champions League has been seen as the premier club competition in European football.
READ ALSO:
INEC 'Went Rogue': Atedo Peterside Exposes Shocking Election Manipulation in Edo State (WATCH VIDEO)
Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid are the kings of the competition, having won 15 Champions League titles.
READ ALSO:
ZAMFARA: How Six Kidnapped Federal Varsity Students Were Rescued In Less Than 24 Hours | READ MORE
Meanwhile, Liverpool are the Premier League side with the most Champions League trophies, having lifted the prestigious European Cup on six occasions.
READ ALSO:
Who has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Who do England and Scotland play? Could Lionel Messi face Cristiano Ronaldo?
However, the competition has seen some controversial moments throughout the years, with four clubs reportedly banned from taking part in UEFA tournaments.
READ ALSO:
Hon. Amobi Ogah Congratulates Dr. Okechukwu Ogah on Historic PASCAR Appointment
As reported by Four Four Two, there have been at least four sides that received a ban from UEFA.
READ ALSO:
David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world, says Arsenal team-mate Kai Havertz after Sporting heroics
READ ALSO:
OMICRON: How Lagos Defeated 4th Wave Of Covid-19 - Commissioner For Health
Besiktas are one of the biggest clubs in Turkey and a household name in European football.
READ ALSO:
Sandro Tonali will choose Manchester United if they secure Champions League football
However, back in 2013, they were banned from playing in UEFA competitions for allegedly being involved in domestic match-fixing.
READ ALSO:
Roberto De Zerbi: Tottenham in talks with ex-Brighton boss about taking over as head coach
They were handed a one-year ban after a failed appeal.
READ ALSO:
Eddie Howe Under Pressure as Newcastle Face Summer Exodus and Uncertain Future
READ ALSO:
Chelsea finances: Blues announce biggest pre-tax loss of any club in Premier League history
Similar to Besiktas, Fenerbahce were also reportedly involved in a match-fixing scandal back in 2013.
READ ALSO:
JUST IN: Obiano's SSA on Security, Azubuike Ekwegbalu Murdered
They were slapped with a two-year ban, while appealing the decision, Fenerbahce lost to Arsenal in a Champions League play-off against Arsenal.
READ ALSO:
Ikwecheghi in Trouble as Police Opens Investigation into Alleged Assault of Bolt Driver
READ ALSO:
INEC 'Went Rogue': Atedo Peterside Exposes Shocking Election Manipulation in Edo State (WATCH VIDEO)
The Italian Serie A giants were suspended from UEFA competitions for the 23/24 season after being accused of breaching Financial Fair Play rules.
READ ALSO:
ZAMFARA: How Six Kidnapped Federal Varsity Students Were Rescued In Less Than 24 Hours | READ MORE
READ ALSO:
Who has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Who do England and Scotland play? Could Lionel Messi face Cristiano Ronaldo?
North Macedonian outfit FK Pobeda were hit with a huge eight-year ban in 2009 for allegedly 'manipulating the outcome of a match'.
READ ALSO:
Hon. Amobi Ogah Congratulates Dr. Okechukwu Ogah on Historic PASCAR Appointment
The report stated: "Irregular betting patterns were observed in relation to a Champions League qualifier against Armenia's FC Pyunik five years earlier."
READ ALSO:
David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world, says Arsenal team-mate Kai Havertz after Sporting heroics
Back in 2020, it was reported that UEFA's two-year ban imposed on Premier League side Manchester City was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
READ ALSO:
OMICRON: How Lagos Defeated 4th Wave Of Covid-19 - Commissioner For Health
City were originally suspended for a 'serious breach of UEFA's financial fair play rules'.
READ ALSO:
Sandro Tonali will choose Manchester United if they secure Champions League football
UEFA has banned/suspended 13 teams from competing in the Europa League in its history, and the reasons range from corruption to financial issues.
READ ALSO:
Roberto De Zerbi: Tottenham in talks with ex-Brighton boss about taking over as head coach
UEFA - European football's governing body - oversees tournaments such as the Euros, Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
READ ALSO:
Eddie Howe Under Pressure as Newcastle Face Summer Exodus and Uncertain Future
But sometimes they have intervened and stopped some clubs from competing due to various rule breaches.
READ ALSO:
Chelsea finances: Blues announce biggest pre-tax loss of any club in Premier League history
Four clubs have been banned from competing in the Champions League, which is widely seen as UEFA's premier club competition, while two nations have been banned from competing at the European Championships since it began in 1960.
READ ALSO:
JUST IN: Obiano's SSA on Security, Azubuike Ekwegbalu Murdered
But what clubs have been made to sit out the Europa League, UEFA's secondary club competition?
READ ALSO:
Ikwecheghi in Trouble as Police Opens Investigation into Alleged Assault of Bolt Driver
Besiktas were banned from the competition in June 2013 and served a one-year suspension for their involvement in domestic match-fixing, as reported by BBC Sport at the time.
READ ALSO:
INEC 'Went Rogue': Atedo Peterside Exposes Shocking Election Manipulation in Edo State (WATCH VIDEO)
Fellow Turkish side Fenerbahçe were also handed a two-year ban for their involvement in domestic match-fixing.
READ ALSO:
ZAMFARA: How Six Kidnapped Federal Varsity Students Were Rescued In Less Than 24 Hours | READ MORE
AC Milan were banned from the 2019/20 Europa League over breaches of Financial Fair Play rules.
READ ALSO:
Who has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Who do England and Scotland play? Could Lionel Messi face Cristiano Ronaldo?
"AC Milan is excluded from UEFA club competitions of the sporting season 2019-2020," said the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) at the time.
READ ALSO:
Hon. Amobi Ogah Congratulates Dr. Okechukwu Ogah on Historic PASCAR Appointment
AC Milan confirmed their "voluntary acceptance" of the ban, according to BBC Sport.
READ ALSO:
David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world, says Arsenal team-mate Kai Havertz after Sporting heroics
In 2012, Spanish outfit Malaga were given a two-year UEFA suspension and were banned from competing in the Europa League in 2013/14 because of unpaid bills.
READ ALSO:
OMICRON: How Lagos Defeated 4th Wave Of Covid-19 - Commissioner For Health
The second year was waived on appeal, but CAS rejected their attempt to overturn the first.
READ ALSO:
Sandro Tonali will choose Manchester United if they secure Champions League football
Swiss side FC Sion were expelled from the 2011/12 Europa League for fielding ineligible players who were signed while the club was still under a transfer ban imposed by FIFA. This allowed Celtic to be reinstated into the competition in that season.
READ ALSO:
Roberto De Zerbi: Tottenham in talks with ex-Brighton boss about taking over as head coach
The CAS upheld the decision despite FC Sion's appeal.
READ ALSO:
Eddie Howe Under Pressure as Newcastle Face Summer Exodus and Uncertain Future
Serbia's Partizan Belgrade were banned from the Champions League and Europa League for three seasons in 2017 due to unpaid debts. The ban was later overturned after they provided evidence that they had cleared unpaid debts.
READ ALSO:
Chelsea finances: Blues announce biggest pre-tax loss of any club in Premier League history
Scotland's Rangers were unable to compete in European competition in 2013/14 as the club's "administrator... conceded that the club are unable to meet Uefa's 31 March accounts deadline".
READ ALSO:
JUST IN: Obiano's SSA on Security, Azubuike Ekwegbalu Murdered
In 2013, Rapid Bucharest were also handed a one-year European club competition ban for the Europa League and Champions League.
READ ALSO:
Ikwecheghi in Trouble as Police Opens Investigation into Alleged Assault of Bolt Driver
They were also punished with a fine of 100,000 euros (£86,000).
READ ALSO:
INEC 'Went Rogue': Atedo Peterside Exposes Shocking Election Manipulation in Edo State (WATCH VIDEO)
Meanwhile, Steaua were also handed a suspended one-year ban with a five-year probationary period after allegations of match-fixing, as reported by Sofia Globe.
READ ALSO:
ZAMFARA: How Six Kidnapped Federal Varsity Students Were Rescued In Less Than 24 Hours | READ MORE
The Ukrainian side, Dnipro, received a one-year ban in 2016 over financial issues.
READ ALSO:
Who has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Who do England and Scotland play? Could Lionel Messi face Cristiano Ronaldo?
Azeri club Inter Baku and Romania's Târgu Mureș were also given one-season suspensions.
READ ALSO:
Hon. Amobi Ogah Congratulates Dr. Okechukwu Ogah on Historic PASCAR Appointment
UEFA said the bans would be enforced in the next season the clubs qualified for the Champions League or Europa League for a three-season period, according to Reuters.
READ ALSO:
David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world, says Arsenal team-mate Kai Havertz after Sporting heroics
In 2018, Albanian side, Sk├½nderbeu, were given a ten-year ban from all UEFA competitions, including the Europa League, as well as a Ôé¼1 million fine, after CAS said its panel "found to its comfortable satisfaction that Skenderbeu was responsible for match-fixing activities" in both domestic and continental matches as per AP.
READ ALSO:
OMICRON: How Lagos Defeated 4th Wave Of Covid-19 - Commissioner For Health
It must be noted that some of the bans mentioned cover both the Champions League and Europa League, depending on which competition each club would've competed in.
