August 10 – English premier league side Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have reached the Europa League quarterfinals, have been punished for breaching UEFA’s financial fair play rules for the 2019/20 season.
Wolves will only be allowed to register 23 players instead of 25 if they win the competition and thereby qualify for the Champions League next season.
In a statement released to British media, UEFA said Wolves had reached a settlement agreement under which the club will pay €200,000 in fines which could rise up to €600,000.
“The settlement agreement covers the sporting seasons 2020-21 and 2021-22,” UEFA said.
“Wolverhampton Wanderers undertakes to report a maximum break-even deficit of 30 million euros in the financial year ending in 2020 and to finally reach, in the 2021-22 season, an aggregate break-even result for the financial years ending in 2019, 2020 and 2021 within the acceptable deviation.
“Wolverhampton Wanderers FC accepts that, for the season 2020-21, it may only include a maximum of 23 players in its List A for the participation in UEFA competitions, instead of the maximum of 25 players.”
Wolves take on Sevilla in the quarter-finals tomorrow, the first time they have reached the last eight of a major European competition in 48 years.
UEFA have also punished French Ligue 1 side Lille and Istanbul Basaksehir of Turkey, who have both been found guilty of similar breaches.
Lille – who had a deficit of more than €30 million over three seasons and posted losses of €100 million in 2018 – have since likewise reached a settlement agreement.
“The financial situation from the 2017/18 season triggered an investigation from the European body and necessitated an agreement between the two parties which the club is satisfied with, judging it to be fair,” the French side said.
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