By Andrew Warshaw
February 18 – In a potentially significant ruling in terms of UEFA’s determination to make sure clubs balance their books, Galatasaray have won a landmark appeal to block a further investigation of their compliance with financial fair play.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last Friday upheld the Turkish club’s challenge against UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) which wanted to re-open an already settled case.
In June last year, UEFA and Galatasaray reached agreement whereby the club would achieve its forecast break-even deficit €20 million for the reporting period ending in 2019; and of €10 million for the reporting period ending in 2020. The club were subject to a fine of up to €15 million of which €6 million would be unconditionally held by UEFA from prize money due to them, with a further €9 million coming into force if it broke the terms of the agreement.
The club also agreed to limit the number of players registered for European competition to 21 and to limit its transfer spending.
Four months after the settlement agreement, however, the club was placed back under investigation and within a matter of days lodged an appeal with CAS.
CAS has now found in favour of Galatasaray saying that the UEFA investigation chamber had failed to meet the timelines set out in its regulations.
UEFA’s reaction was distinctly low-key and consisted of a short press release saying it had taken note of the CAS ruling but admitting that “as a consequence….the settlement agreement concluded between the CFCB Investigatory Chamber and Galatasaray AŞ on 13 June 2018 remains in force.”
“UEFA will analyse in detail the CAS Award and will consider implementing in due course any clarifications or amendments to its rules that may result from the CAS Award.”
Whether the CAS ruling will have a direct knock-on effect in other cases now seems sure to be scrutinised, not least when it comes to a similar situation with regard to Paris Saint Germain.
In November PSG filed an appeal to CAS against UEFA’s reopening of its investigation into their finances – four months after they were cleared of breaching the rules.
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