That UEFA would not "go soft" was now in the air, but the harsh ruling by the Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) still hurts clubs and fans.
Milan will remain out of the European cups for a year due to failure to comply with the rules of financial fair play for the three-year period 2014-2017. The permanence of the Chinese Yonghong Li as reference shareholder would also have weighed on the decision.
“The adjudicatory chamber of the Club Financial Control Body (CFCB), chaired by José Narciso da Cunha Rodrigues, has taken a decision on the AC Milan case following the referral of the head of the CFCB investigation chamber for violating the rules of the fair financial play, in particular for the violation of the break-even rule - reads a note - The club will not be able to participate in the next UEFA club competition for which it is qualified in the next two seasons (only one competition in the 2018/19 season or in the 2019/20 season, in case of qualification)".
AC Milan will be able to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne within 10 days.
