October 19 – UEFA’s get-tough policy on financial fair play has snared one of Russia’s best-known clubs, with Rubin Kazan banned for a season after they were found to have broken spending rules.
“The club is excluded from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which it would otherwise qualify in the next two seasons,” UEFA said.
The ban will come into effect if Rubin qualify for either the Champions League or Europa League in 2019/20 or 2020/21.
Rubin are currently fifth in the Russian Premier League, two points behind second place which grants direct entry into the Champions League group stage.
The two-time Russian champions, who won their domestic title in 2008 and 2009, had a ‘settlement agreement’ with UEFA after initially breaking the rules. That usually allows clubs to accept restrictions on transfers and squad sizes for a set period of time but Rubin broke that arrangement, leading UEFA to open a fresh investigation.
Rubin famously beat Barcelona in the Champions League nine years ago but their last foray into Europe was the Europa League in the 2015-16 season, ironically gaining entry only because Dynamo Moscow were excluded by UEFA for FFP breaches.
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