Rangers have been been placed on a UEFA watchlist for Financial Fair Play where they will need to provide additional information to European football’s governing body.
The Gers will be closely monitored by UEFA regarding their finances alongside a host of English clubs including Chelsea, Leicester, Man City and West Ham.
These four clubs and Rangers had avoided punishments previously due to “exceptional COVID deductions and consideration of historical financial results”.
They were joined by a host of other European sides including the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, Sevilla and Napoli but the clubs have been warned that these exceptions no longer apply.
Rangers on Financial Fair Play watchlist
This means that all clubs affected by the Financial Fair Play watchlist will be monitored closely by UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body.
All the information has been detailed in a Twitter thread by Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris.
A statement reads:
“Finally, the CFCB First Chamber also observed that another 19 clubs that took part in the 2021/22 UEFA club competitions, namely Borussia Dortmund (GER), Chelsea FC (ENG), FC Barcelona (ESP) , FC Basel 1893 (SUI), 1.FC Union Berlin (GER), Fenerbahçe SK (TUR), Feyenoord (NED), Leicester City FC (ENG), Manchester City FC (ENG), Olympique Lyonnais (FRA), Rangers (SCO ), Real Betis Balompié (ESP), Royal Antwerp FC (BEL), Sevilla FC (ESP), SS Lazio (ITA), SSC Napoli (ITA), Trabzonspor AŞ (TUR), VFL Wolfsburg (GER) and West Ham United FC (ENG), were able to technically fulfil the break-even requirement thanks to the application of the COVID-19 emergency measures and/or because they benefited from historical positive break-even results (T-3 and T-4).
“The CFCB First Chamber reminded these clubs that as from financial year 2023 these exceptional COVID deductions and consideration of historical financial results will no longer be possible. These clubs were further asked for additional financial information and will be monitored closely in the upcoming period. The goal of course is that the clubs’ overall financial situation is in compliance with the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Sustainability Regulations– Edition 2022 in coming years.”
Interestingly, eight clubs have been fined by UEFA despite the historical and COVID protections including the likes of Inter Milan, Juventus and Paris Saint Germain.
This Financial Fair Play news also comes at an interesting time for Rangers, who are expected to post positive financial results for the latest period.
The club has received sizeable fees for the sales of Nathan Patterson, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey whilst the run to the Europa League Final, increase in commercial revenue, and qualification for the Champions League have raked in a substantial amount of cash.
Rangers fans are also frustrated with a perceived lack of transfer business in the summer despite this income and the next set of results will be telling regarding any potential connection.
Meanwhile, a leading Rangers club insider has dropped a major hint regarding the future fee attached to a loanee taking Ibrox by storm.