Overview

• Joan Laporta told Barcelona’s General Assembly that UEFA considered excluding the club from next season’s Champions League, a threat he says was averted through talks.
• He said UEFA initially proposed a €60 million penalty, which was reduced to €15 million after the club argued it is not a public limited company and cannot raise capital.
• Football finance pressure has mounted after consecutive Financial Fair Play breaches, with Barcelona paying a €500,000 fine in 2024 before settling on the current €15 million figure.
• Laporta defended the controversial “levers,” describing them as temporary transfers that included ceding 25% of TV rights to secure liquidity and facilitate the 2022 signings.
• He reported a €2 million surplus, €994 million in revenue, and €259 million in sponsorships, and confirmed a revenue-driven Miami match against Villarreal that he said would also benefit LaLiga.