Lionel Messi lost in 2021, rules bent – Did Barcelona cheat FFP? UEFA’s shocking investigation could bring serious consequences
It was meant to be the start of a new era. With Lamine Yamal dazzling Europe, young stars stepping up, and the club reclaiming the La Liga title, Barcelona’s resurgence on the field seemed to finally mirror its ambitions off it. But just as Hansi Flick prepares his side for another shot at the Champions League, a storm brews behind the scenes — and this time, it’s not one they can dribble past.
UEFA has reopened financial wounds the Catalan club hoped had healed. The governing body is investigating what it claims are repeated breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, calling into question the integrity of the club’s accounting — and its future in European soccer.
TV rights sparked a firestorm
The saga dates back to 2022, when Barcelona sold 10% of their television rights for 25 years to gain immediate financial relief. Instead of declaring the deal as a long-term asset sale — a typical financial classification — the club reported the income under “other operating income”, a move that made their books look healthier than they were.
“UEFA does not consider some operations as ordinary income — the so-called levers — unlike LaLiga’s criteria, which does consider them as ordinary operating income,” a club source told ESPN.
That wasn’t the end. Later that same year, Barcelona sold an additional 15% of their TV rights for $458 million. Once again, UEFA took issue with the classification of the income, flagging the repeated misreporting as an attempt to bypass FFP limits.
This creative accounting was the foundation of the so-called “levers” that allowed the club to sign new players and avoid deeper financial ruin. While LaLiga gave these tactics a green light, UEFA did not — and already imposed a €500,000 ($572,000) fine in 2023. But now, UEFA is no longer willing to look the other way.
Barcelona’s risky bet—and the fallout to come
UEFA confirmed that its Club Financial Control Body is reviewing the case, with outcomes expected by mid-June. While Barcelona appears optimistic, insiders suggest that repeated violations could lead to harsher punishments.
“We recently completed the financial audit process conducted by UEFA every two years,” the club said in a statement. “The conclusions and possible consequences… have not yet been notified to the club.”
But the warning signs are loud and clear. When the Catalans appealed the previous fine to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the verdict not only upheld the penalty but warned that future breaches would trigger “harsher sanctions.”
What penalties could Barcelona face?
The precise punishment remains unclear, but several consequences are reportedly on the table, depending on the outcome of the investigation:
- Points deduction in European Competitions: While no numbers are confirmed, reports suggest UEFA may dock points in the Champions League, potentially dropping Barça from a seeded position.
- Squad registration limits: Perhaps the most likely outcome is a reduction in their Champions League squad size, possibly from the standard 25 players to 22 or 23. This would be a tactical headache for Flick, limiting his flexibility in a grueling European calendar.
- UEFA Champions League ban: Though considered unlikely, expulsion from the tournament remains the harshest possible penalty. Given Barcelona’s financial reliance on Champions League revenue, such a move would be catastrophic — and surely contested.