UEFA on Friday fined Chelsea €20 million ($23.6 million) for violating its financial monitoring rules, while Barcelona was ordered to pay €15 million ($17.7 million) for similar issues.
Both clubs could face significantly higher penalties in coming seasons if they fail to meet the financial targets set by European football’s governing body.
Chelsea’s case centered on the internal sale of two hotels valued at £76.5 million (approximately $104.4 million), a transaction conducted between subsidiaries of its parent company, BlueCo 22 Ltd. The London club has been under the ownership of a consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital since 2022.
The fine equals UEFA’s highest-ever financial penalty, matching the €20 million sanctions handed to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain in 2014 during the early enforcement of what was then known as Financial Fair Play.
In other rulings announced the same day, French club Lyon was fined €12.5 million ($14.7 million), with additional penalties suspended depending on future financial compliance. Lyon, currently facing serious financial turmoil and owned by U.S. businessman John Textor, is appealing its relegation from Ligue 1. The club could also be excluded from next season’s Europa League if its situation fails to improve.
