NYON, Switzerland (AP) — After season of confusionAmerican-owned French soccer club Marseille has been threatened with a one-year ban from European competition and a 10 million euro ($11.5 million) fine.
UEFA imposed sanctions It is carried out by an expert committee that monitors the finances of all clubs participating in competitions such as the Champions League. This monitoring system was once called Financial Fair Play.
Marseille, majority owned Frank McCourtThe former Los Angeles Dodgers owner failed to meet the financial targets agreed with UEFA during the last monitoring session, UEFA announced.
UEFA admitted that Marseille had been affected by a “significant and unexpected collapse in domestic broadcasting revenues”.
However, Marseille will be prevented from taking part in the next European competition they are eligible for unless “the club complies with its football revenue targets for the 2026-27 season”.
Marseille missed out on qualifying for the next Champions League and finished 5th in Ligue 1 that season. Coach Roberto De Zerbi has been fired.President Pablo Longoria stepped down and fans protested over the direction of the 1993 European champions.
Marseille’s expected prize money from UEFA for qualifying for next season’s Europa League would normally be half of the estimated 50 million to 60 million euros (approximately $57 million to $69 million) they would earn for qualifying for this season’s Champions League.
UEFA’s additional sanctions mean Marseille will be able to reduce the number of senior players they can register with their Europa League squads.
In a separate case, UEFA fined Roma a total of 6 million euros (approximately 690 million yen) for failing to meet financial targets agreed in previous settlement negotiations. Rome also has an American owner.the Friedkin family.
For the past two decades, Italian clubs and the Serie A league have struggled to keep up with the revenue growth of their rivals, particularly in England’s Premier League.
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