UEFA withholds prize money to 23 clubs, including Floriana FC (updated)

The UEFA Club Financial Control Body's investigatory chamber announced today that 23 clubs involved in 2012/13 UEFA club competitions - including Floriana - have had their prize money temporarily withheld pending further investigation.

As part of the first measure of the financial fair play requirements included in the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations 2012, the clubs participating in 2012/13 UEFA club competitions had to provide information regarding the status of any overdue payables as at 30 June 2012. Following its last meeting in August 2012, the CFCB investigatory chamber reported that important overdue payables towards other clubs, and/or towards employees or social/tax authorities existed in 23 cases.

These cases involve the following 23 clubs:
FK Borac Banja Luka (BIH), FK Sarajevo (BIH), FK Željezničar (BIH), PFC CSKA Sofia (BUL), HNK Hajduk Split (CRO), NK Osijek (CRO), Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP).

Málaga CF (ESP), Maccabi Netanya FC (ISR, FK Shkendija 79 (MKD), Floriana FC (MLT), FK Budućnost Podgorica (MNE), FK Rudar Pjevlja (MNE), Ruch Chorzów (POL), Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR), FC Dinamo Bucureşti (ROU), FC Rapid Bucureşti (ROU), FC Vaslui (ROU), FC Rubin Kazan (RUS), FK Partizan (SRB), FK Vojvodina (SRB), Eskişehirspor (TUR) and Fenerbahçe SK (TUR)

The CFCB investigatory chamber will continue its investigations and request these clubs to provide an updated situation as of 30 September 2012 with regards to overdue payables towards other clubs, employees and social/tax authorities, UEFA said.

This conservatory measure will remain into force until all identified balances have been settled in full or until a final decision by the CFCB adjudicatory chamber is taken.

Floriana FC secretary general Dione Borg is hopeful the situation will return to normal soon.

“These are all back-dated issues the new committee is dealing with,” he said.

“We were surprised to hear the news from UEFA though as we’re putting all our efforts to see the club back to normal.

“In fact, we’ve had meetings with the Malta FA to discuss the matter more profusely and we’ve also settled some of the pending payments. If things stay this way we should clear our club with UEFA very soon.”