AC Milan banned from Europa League 2019-20

The club spent 200 million euros ($225 million) on transfers in the summer of 2017, breaching the Financial Fair Play.

In a recent turn of events, AC Milan have been banned from European football for 2019-20 season. The ruling of Court of Arbitration for Sport declares that the Serie A club was found guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play.

The Union of European Football Associations(UEFA) accused AC Milan for several violations of the Financial Fair Play following their transfer activity of the past few seasons and the CAS have ruled it in UEFA's favour. Although the Rossoneri faced similar accusations prior to the 2018-19 season but were allowed to participate in the European competition.

Yet, the same leniency is not awarded this time.

"AC Milan is excluded from participating in UEFA club competitions of the sporting season 2019/2020 as a consequence of the breach of its FFP break-even obligations" the court ruled.

"The Adjudicatory Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body is invited to issue a Procedural Order, acknowledging the outcome of the present arbitration(s) and terminating the AC-01/2019 proceedings relating to the 2016/2017/2018 monitoring period, which have become moot."

#BREAKING AC Milan banned from European competition next season -- Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) pic.twitter.com/oZvFA0SwKi

— AFP news agency (@AFP) June 28, 2019

UEFA had found the club guilty in June 2018 of violating financial rules which mainly limits the club expenditure to the club's income only, in any given year.

Milan were knocked out of the group stage itself in the Europa League 2018-19 under Gennaro Gattuso

Their spot will thus be awarded to Torino, with Roma and Lazio having already qualified for next season. This will come as a huge blow to the club and new manager Marco Giampaolo.