AC Milan have been excluded from playing in UEFA competitions for the next two seasons in which they qualify for breaching UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) regulations.
Milan, who had qualified for the Europa League next season, were referred to UEFA’s adjudicatory chamber in May after failing to provide sufficient evidence of their financial stability moving forward, with doubts raised after their owner, Li Yonghong, took out a substantial loan that is due to be repaid by October.
A meeting in Nyon, Switzerland, on Tuesday to discuss the case led to the adjudicatory chamber imposing the heaviest sanction yet on a club from one of Europe’s top five leagues — Spain, England, Italy, Germany or France — and excluding Milan from its competitions.
Milan have the opportunity to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. A final decision would be sought urgently by Milan and UEFA since the second qualifying round for the Europa League begins on July 29.
If the ruling stands Atalanta would qualify directly for the Europa League group stage, and Fiorentina would consequently take Atalanta’s place in the Europa League qualifying rounds.
Ben Gladwell reports on Serie A, the Italian national team and the Bundesliga for ESPN FC, UEFA and the Press Association. @UEFAcomBenG.