Malaga have been banned from taking part in the next European competition they qualify for by the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB).
The Andalusians, who have reached the Last 16 of the Champions League this season in their first ever participation, have been under investigation by the CFCB since September due to unpaid debts. Prize money was withheld at the time. Atletico Madrid were also implicated, but were cleared in November.
That prize money has now finally been released, but that is small consolation for Manuel Pellegrini’s side given the punishment it has come hand in hand with.
“The club is excluded from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which it would otherwise qualify in the next four seasons (i.e. 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17),” read the UEFA statement published a short while ago.
“In addition, Málaga will be excluded from a subsequent UEFA competition for which it would otherwise qualify (in the next four seasons) if it does not prove, by 31 March 2013, that it has no overdue payables towards football clubs or towards employees and/or social/tax authorities, in accordance with the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations.
“Málaga has also been fined €300,000. The prize money withheld on 11 September 2012 (as a conservatory measure) will be released.”
Other clubs sanctioned with fines and/or bans in today’s announcement include Rapid and Dinamo Bucharest, Partizan Belgrade and Hajduk Split.
