The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ordered UEFA to change their punishment on AC Milan for failing to meet Financial Fair Play regulations.
The Italian side were banned from European competition for two years by UEFA after running up a mountain of debt which allowed them to qualify for the 2018/19 Europa League.
CAS agreed that Milan were guilty of breaking the rules but upheld the club’s appeal against the severity of the sanction.
Court of Arbitration for Sport annuls UEFA decision to exclude AC Milan from UEFA club competitions on basis that sanction not proportionate. In particular, the current financial situation of the club is now considered to be better following the recent change in club ownership. pic.twitter.com/PFpEySqXfN
— Lombardi Associates (@LombardiAssocs) July 20, 2018
The decision will allow Milan to play in the Europa League but they can now be subject to a fine or a restriction on their squad size.
Milan are now owned by a Chinese consortium and finished last season in sixth place in Serie A.
UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations are designed to provide something of an even playing field to ensure that clubs don’t overspend in the hope of being able to recover their losses through prize money from UEFA competitions.
CLICK HERE for the CAS ruling.