AC Milan, the Italian flagship club, has been excluded from participation in the forthcoming European League season. The International Court of Sport (CAS) announced the suspension of the Lombards for serious violations of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules on Friday in Lausanne.
Milan’s exclusion is the result of a settlement reached between the club and UEFA a few days before the CAS decision. In fifth place last season, the former Champions League winner would have qualified for the “small European Cup”.
As a result of the CAS decision, the files on all financial fair play proceedings have been closed between Italy’s 18-time champion and the European Association.
Milan had been found by UEFA inspectors to be in serious breach of the rules of sound financial management for the reporting periods 2015-2017 and 2016-2018.
In the first periods alone, Milan had recorded a minus of 255 million euros instead of the permitted loss of 30 million euros in game transfers.
Milan had successfully challenged the subsequent European Cup suspension at CAS, but on the basis of the results of further tests, the club agreed to the comparison. Otherwise, the Rossoneri would apparently have threatened even stricter sanctions.