The UEFA Executive Committee has approved a new set of financial regulations, known as the Club Licensing and Financial Sustainability Regulations. This reform replaces the older “fair-play” rules and centers on limiting a club’s wage bill to a defined share of income, with a three-year transition period to help clubs adjust.
This marks UEFA’s first major overhaul of its financial framework since 2010, when the original rules were introduced to drive financial sustainability through solvency, stability, and strong cost control. The latest changes seek to tighten oversight and create clearer benchmarks for responsible spending across European clubs.
The regime will take effect starting in June, with a phased rollout that UEFA stresses will be gradual over three years. The aim is to provide clubs with ample time to adapt, particularly since the rules will cap what can be spent on player salaries, transfers, and manager fees in relation to overall income.
Under the new framework, staff costs and several other expense categories will be brought under tighter control to curb excessive spending on players and transfers. UEFA has emphasized that the spending cap will be 70 percent of a club’s income, though reports indicate a staged approach before reaching that level in the mid-2020s. The regulator has promised periodic checks and predefined sanctions for violations to maintain discipline.
In addition, the regulation introduces the “Soccer Earnings Rule,” a metric designed to balance outcomes with financial inputs. This rule emphasizes equity in results and requires that funding be supported by sustainable capital contributions, with positive financial footing as a baseline.
On solvency, the rules set clear expectations around overdue debts. A new framework ensures that clubs, players, staff, tax authorities, and UEFA itself adhere to quarterly payment checks. Persistent delays will invite stronger measures aimed at creditor protection and financial stability for the broader ecosystem.
Furthermore, the package introduces enhanced requirements related to the benefits of football and strengthens the former break-even standards to provide more financing capacity for clubs. The calculation of football profits is aligned with a breakeven approach, with acceptable deviations increasing from lower to higher thresholds over the transition period. These measures are designed to ensure fair value in club transactions, closer balance among clubs, and reduced debt levels.
Ceferin: “It will help us protect football”
The UEFA president reaffirmed that the initial fiscal reforms of 2010 achieved their central goal, lifting European football from a precarious financial edge and transforming how clubs are governed. He noted that industry developments and the pandemic’s lasting economic effects underscored the need for a comprehensive reform and a new financial sustainability framework.
Ceferin highlighted ongoing collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders from across European football to shape these measures. He stated that the changes are intended to help clubs meet new challenges, safeguard the game, and prepare for potential shocks ahead. The reforms are also aimed at encouraging solid investment and building a more durable financial model for European football.
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