[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, the European Union will tighten regulations on money laundering in football starting from July 2029. Proposed by the European Commission in 2024, the initiative initially excluded football, yet the European Parliament deemed it necessary to bring the sport under supervision. Football is a global industry worth 59 billion US dollars annually, two-thirds of which is generated within Europe. The EU has set up the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA). Though it holds no direct governing power, the body will oversee EU member states in establishing or designating existing bodies to conduct supervision over the football sector. Football clubs, agents and players all fall under regulation. In particular, they are required to declare seemingly inflated sums including transfer fees, commissions and bonuses, which may involve fraudulent practices. Sponsorship deals will also be reviewed by local regulators and AMLA to prevent unreasonably high sponsorship payments.
The editor believes that UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules serve similar purposes, yet the EU intends to impose far stricter restrictions. This concerns not only how sponsorship revenue is obtained, but also the origin of funds and the reasons behind occasionally inflated financial figures.