UEFA Investigating FFP Breaches: Latest Details and Reaction

UEFA announced seven clubs—Beskitas, Inter Milan, Krasnodar, Liverpool, Monaco, Roma and Sporting Lisbon—will be investigated for potential breaches of the association's Financial Fair Play regulations.

Oliver Kay of The Times passed along a UEFA statement on the matter:

The BBC reports the current rules state all clubs competing in Europe must record net losses of less than £35.4 million over the span of two years. It's an effort to ensure no side continues to overspend until it ends up in financial ruin.

As noted in the statement, points to the sharp decline in losses as a whole to showcase the standards are accomplishing the desired goal.

A few clubs have already responded to the claims. The BBC report included comments from Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who doesn't mind the investigation and states the club remains in favor of the FFP rules:

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It's obviously something that will be dealt with by the directors. It's something we're comfortable with because we're great advocates of Financial Fair Play. It's ongoing with the club.

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Roma released a statement through their official site:

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We support UEFA's efforts through Financial Fair Play to ensure financial stability in football–it is very much in line with our strategy and actions. Our current ownership took over a club in economic distress just three years ago and were very clear from the outset that our club would be run as a business in order to maximize economic success along with on-field performance.

We are very proud of the economic and competitive accomplishments achieved in a very short time and are even more optimistic about our future. We look forward to a dialogue with UEFA and are confident they will recognize our accomplishments and consider us a model for future investment in European football.

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The Press Association (via The Guardian) notes those clubs involved in the probe will be forced to provide more financial details. Clubs are allowed to maintain certain expenses such as youth development and stadiums outside of the final numbers, making it more complicated.

After the evaluations are complete, punishments could be handed down. Last year, Manchester City and Paris St-Germain were each fined £49 million along with other restrictions. It was also noted several clubs haven't yet received prize money for other violations of the rules:

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UEFA has also announced that prize money has been held back from five clubs—Bursaspor, CFR Cluj, Astra Giurgiu, Buducnost Podgorica and Ekranas—as a result of non-payments to other clubs, players and/or tax authorities.

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Based on the timeline in the statement, the investigation will continue at least through November before any final decisions are made public.

More information about the individual cases will be provided as details become available.