• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Barcelona Fined $500K for ‘Intentionally’ Misleading About PE Money

  • The Spanish club was found to have knowingly misreported financial information.
  • The fine is related to a deal to sell off future broadcast earnings to a U.S. investment firm.
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

FC Barcelona tried to solve its financial headaches by selling off some of its future earnings. It’s now going to have to pay a roughly $542,000 fine for how it accounted for that money.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed Barcelona’s latest appeal in a ruling published Friday. The fine was originally imposed by UEFA in July 2023, and the club lost its appeal to that body in November of that year.

Several factors, including strict LaLiga financial rules and the COVID-19 pandemic, left Barcelona in a sticky financial situation. As a quick-fix move to help dig itself out, the club made deals to sell 25% of its next 25 years of broadcasting revenue from domestic matches to Sixth Street, a U.S.-based investment firm.

UEFA said, and the CAS confirmed, that Barcelona “intentionally” misreported that money to overstate its “break-even results” by about $290 million.

The CAS also said UEFA gave Barcelona a chance to fix the error, which would’ve lowered the fine to about $86,000, but the club didn’t correct it.

The approximate $542,000 fine was “actually rather mild,” the CAS said. “The Panel finds that the intentional nature of the violation in conjunction with the major impact of an overstatement of Relevant Income in an amount of [about $290 million] in a single season make the infringement severe, justifying also a severe sanction,” the court ruled.

Barcelona has been trying to recover from a financial headache for almost a decade. Its spending on players rose just as the pandemic cut revenue, and left the club violating tight LaLiga rules around spending. As superstars like Lionel Messi and Gerard Piqué have left the club, and Barcelona has signed younger players, the wage bill has gone down. The sale to Sixth Street will hurt its revenue in the future, but it helped bring in about $330 million last year.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

On Location Gears Up for ‘104 Super Bowls in One Month’

The hospitality company curates events for the NFL, NCAA, FIFA, and more.
July 18, 2024; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State, speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum. The final day of the RNC featured a keynote address by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

At U.K. Sports Conference, Mike Pompeo Speaks Mostly About Trump

The former Trump official says he used to be a “mediocre power forward.”
Lionel Messi

Messi Near New Deal to Stay in MLS, Miami

His contract with Inter Miami was set to expire in December.
Eric Shanks

World Cup Will Be Fox’s ‘Biggest Undertaking’ Ever

The tournament is expanding from 32 to 48 teams.

Featured Today

FARMINGDALE, NY - SEPTEMBER 22: Cameron Young of Team USA hits his tee shot on the third hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup Practice Round at Bethpage State Park on Monday, September 22, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York.

U.S. Ryder Cup Players Will Be Paid. Not Everyone Is Pleased

Americans are receiving a $200,000 stipend, and not everyone is pleased.
Cheryl Reeve
September 21, 2025

How Cheryl Reeve Turned the Lynx Into the WNBA Gold Standard

Reeve has Minnesota six wins away from an unprecedented fifth WNBA title.
Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) during a college football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 13, 2025.
September 20, 2025

How Schools Are Skirting the New Salary Cap in College Sports

In the House settlement era, schools race to secure deals for players.
Adriunna Brown
September 18, 2025

Business Is Booming for WNBA’s Top Beauty Pros

A network of stylists is shaping how players look, feel, and perform.
Oct 13, 2024; London, United Kingdom; A general overall view of United States and British flags on the field during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL International Series game between the Chicago Bears and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

NFL Cools on Super Bowl Abroad As Vikings-Steelers in Ireland Looms

League officials downplay the immediate chance of staging the event internationally.
September 23, 2025

U.S. Ryder Cup Team Excited for Trump Visit As Details Emerge

U.S. captain Keegan Bradley is “deeply honored” that Trump is attending.
September 23, 2025

‘Robot Umpires’ Coming As MLB Approves Challenge System

Human umpires will remain behind home plate and call every pitch.
Sponsored

How Soccer Star Jozy Altidore Became a Buffalo Bills Owner

Jozy Altidore discusses building a business legacy off the field.
September 22, 2025

Dodgers First MLB Team to Draw 4 Million Fans Since 2008

The league’s perennial attendance leader sets a franchise record.
September 22, 2025

Christian Horner Could Return to F1 in 2026 After $100M Red Bull..

The team announced his official exit on Monday.
September 21, 2025

LPGA Scraps Rain-Soaked Arkansas Event, Prize Money Reduced to $2M

Excessive rain resulted in this weekend’s tournament course being unplayable.
September 21, 2025

A’ja Wilson’s Record 4th MVP Sets Stage for Free Agency, CBA Standoff

Wilson receives a $15,450 bonus for winning the award.