Barça will have to pay 15 million to UEFA for its 'levers'

Published New:10/06/2025 - 19:02h

Updated New:10/06/2025 - 19:02h

Barça has managed to reduce to €15M the fine that UEFA has imposed on the club for the financial 'levers' activated in the last three years. How does this sanction affect the 'culé' budget?

Joan Laporta's trip to Munich for the UEFA Nations League final was a strategic decision by the FC Barcelona board. In addition to accompanying the six 'culés' called up by Spain for the continental 'final four', the 'culé' president took the opportunity to smooth things over with UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin, who intends to punish the club for its European 'levers'.

Last week, the highest body of European football communicated to Barça a fine of 60 million euros for alleged "benefits from losses of intangible assets" between 2022 and 2025. This was the second financial penalty for the same reason to the 'azulgrana' team, since last year there was also a penalty of 500,000 euros for declaring non-existent accounting profits.

Barça appealed the sanction to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS), but the body sided with UEFA last October and warned the club of a much harsher punishment this year. Well, UEFA raised the fine to €60M this summer, although Barcelona would finally only have to pay €15M, as long as it does not receive bad news from LaLiga's financial 'Fair Play'.

Barça justifies its 'levers', but UEFA insists on sanctioning the club

The economic benefits questioned by UEFA have to do with the commercialization of assets such as Barça Studios, which instead of "operational income" are considered by the continental body as a financial burden. Laporta, however, assures that all operations have been carried out with the endorsement of LaLiga and, therefore, do not constitute any violation of financial 'Fair Play'.

In addition, with regard to the sale of own assets and their consequent profits, the 'culé' board made it clear that, unlike the Autonomous Sports Companies (SAD), Barcelona cannot carry out capital increases. On the contrary, it depends on the profits obtained in the market and the commercialization of its internal assets to have a sustainable budget.

All this, of course, with the prior approval of the delegate members and in compliance with the club's statutes. In this way, Joan Laporta used diplomacy to reduce a very harsh punishment that means losing, nothing more and nothing less, around 50% of the money earned in the last Champions League.

What is the impact of UEFA's punishment on Barça's finances?

In order for the fine to finally be 15 million, FC Barcelona must, yes or yes, avoid new punishments from LaLiga for non-compliance with its financial 'Fair Play' this summer.

In principle, the economic benefits derived from the great season made by Hansi Flick's team, together with the salary mass released through the 'exit operation' (Lenglet, Ansu...) and the pending income from the sale of the 475 VIP seats of the new Spotify Camp Nou are enough to close the 24/25 financial year with green numbers.

In addition, the club prioritizes returning to rule 1:1 before June 30 to register without problems the new contract of Lamine Yamal, the rest of the renewals and the reinforcements that arrive in summer, with Joan García being the first of them.

In any case, the 15 million fine, logically, will be a blow to the 'culé' finances, but less than computing in the section of 'extraordinary expenses'. Looking to the future, of course, Barça must resolve once and for all the mess of its audiovisual production company, today in the hands of up to five investors under Bridgeburg Invest.