January 27 – UEFA will ban Sporting Lisbon from European competition for the next three seasons unless the Portuguese club can prove they have made outstanding payments by the end of the month.
Under a settlement agreement made on 26 November 2021, Lisbon were due to pay Italy’s Sampdoria an outstanding fee of €1.5 million, but that fee has not been paid according to UEFA.
The Lisbon club however denied they still owe Sampdoria and claimed that the situation has been regularised. “Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD hereby clarify that there is no risk of potential exclusion from European competitions and that it is committed, as always, to the defence of the Club’s best interests,” read a statement.
Lisbon has participated in European competition for the last eight seasons and returned to the Champions League in September as reigning Portuguese champions. They have drawn against Manchester City in the last 16.
Spanish club Real Betis will also be banned unless they can prove they have settled. UEFA said that Sporting and Betis each owe “overdue payables”, such as transfer fees to other clubs or salary required by their own players. Both clubs, along with Santa Clara, another Portuguese side, were initially handed the punishment in December 2021.
The clubs have also been fined €250,000 and €150,000 respectively.
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