June 7 – UEFA’s pledge to crack down on clubs who fail to meet financial fair play regulations has snared its latest victim with Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade banned from next season’s Champions League for failing to pay their debts.
The 1991 European champions were judged “in breach of a number of provisions of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations,” UEFA said in a statement.
Clubs must show they have paid player salaries, transfer fees and taxes before being granted a license to enter UEFA competitions.
UEFA’s licensing system pre-dates Financial Fair Play but has been given greater clout in recent months to hit clubs who overspend.
Red Star have 10 days to file an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport but the punishment will come as a bitter blow since they were due to make their first appearance in Europe’s top competition for seven years – in the second qualifying round.
To rub salt in the wound, Serbia’s league runner-up Partizan, Red Star’s arch-rival, stands to grab the Champions League berth instead.
Serbia’s football association also faces UEFA sanctions for granting Red Star its license.
“An investigation against the Football Association of Serbia (FSS) might be opened within the coming days by the chief investigator for alleged breaches of the club licensing regulations,” UEFA said.
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