Atletico Madrid hit by Uefa crackdown

9 May 2012 Atletico Madrid celebrate after winning the Europa League against Athletic Bilbao in Bucharest. Diego Simeone’s men easily beat their fellow Spaniards 3-0 thanks to a scintillating performance from Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, (GETTY IMAGES)

Europa League-winners Atletico Madrid were among 23 clubs to have prize money withheld as Uefa revealed the first sanctions under its Financial Fair Play rules.

Uefa said the clubs, who also include Qatari-owned La Liga side Malaga and Sporting Lisbon, were found to have "important" overdue payments to other teams, their own employees or social and tax authorities.

The European Clubs Association president, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "It seems that quite a few clubs have not understood the message [from Uefa]."