Andorran FAF Denies UEFA Licences to Three Clubs Including UE Santa Coloma Over Financial Issues

The Andorran Football Federation (FAF) has denied UEFA licences for the 2026-2027 season to UE Santa Coloma, Rangers FC, and FC Penya Encarnada over financial shortfalls, barring them from European competitions. UE Santa Coloma, league runners-up qualified for Conference League preliminaries, decried the second-instance committee's decision as unfair and unequal treatment compared to other clubs.

In a statement released Monday evening, the club argued that its current leadership inherited a dire financial legacy from prior mismanagement, including piled-up debts and delayed payments. It claimed all dues to government bodies, players, and rival teams were settled by the 31 March deadline, with some payments exceeding requirements. "This right was earned on the pitch through the efforts of players, coaching staff, fans, board, and everyone working daily to defend the club's badge and history," the statement read. UE Santa Coloma called the ruling deeply unjust, overriding sporting merit with administrative measures that fail to account for its regularization efforts. The club is reviewing legal and sporting avenues with advisors, including a potential appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS/TAS), to protect equality and due process. It reaffirmed dedication to transparency and Andorran football's growth, anticipating an impartial external review.

Compounding woes, FC Santa Coloma and CF Esperança protested UE Santa Coloma's 3-0 win over Esperança in the final league match. The objection targets defender Èric Mateu, a reserve-team player who allegedly breached FAF rules under article 9.1a of section 1. Those stipulate that over-21 players from lower squads cannot feature in the senior side's last four rounds unless they have played at least five senior matches that season. Mateu had already appeared five times with UE Santa Coloma B. The Competition Committee will assess the claim Thursday, with a decision expected next week. A upheld protest would deduct six points from UE Santa Coloma, tying it with Rangers FC and leaving it one point ahead of FC Santa Coloma—both with one match left. This would secure European berths for FC Santa Coloma and Atlètic d'Escaldes regardless of the Copa Constitució final, while lifting Esperança to one point behind Carroi ahead of the relegation playoff. Carroi has asked its players to remain in Andorra, bracing for possible extra fixtures.

On Tuesday, general coordinator Juan Manuel López vented on social media, describing personal hostility since arriving in Andorra and accusing corruption from the federation to the hotel sector of threatening livelihoods. "This family deserves better, but corruption in this country's football—from the federation to the hotel industry—is pushing us to the brink," he wrote, denying personal enrichment motives and pledging to fight for the club's community.

Rangers FC, third-placed and backed by Mexican investor Grup MX like UE Santa Coloma, lost its licence amid three months of unpaid wages and hotel debts that nearly evicted the squad last week. No response has emerged. The FAF will stay silent until notifying UEFA next week, then publish details online.