The Impact of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Financial Fair Play Regulation on Audit Fees: Evidence from Spanish Football

Mercedes Mareque, Angel Barajas and Francisco Lopez-Corrales
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Mercedes Mareque: Department of Financial Economics and Accounting, Faculty of Business and Tourism, University of Vigo, Campus Universitario, s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain
Francisco Lopez-Corrales: Department of Financial Economics and Accounting, Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication, University of Vigo, Campus A Xunqueira, s/n, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain

IJFS, 2018, vol. 6, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: This paper analyzes whether the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations set by Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) have influenced the auditing fees charged to football clubs. In addition, it explores the determinants of audit fees. We used a two-sample t-test with equal variances to determine whether differences are present. After this, we carried out a panel data regression with the clubs fix effect to estimate the determinants of audit fees in football clubs. Our findings revealed an increase of audit fees after the implementation of FFP regulations. On top of that, audit fees were explained by the presence of foreign investors if the audit firm was one of the Big 4 and if the auditor was a woman. The regulation change has had an impact on the audit fees charged by auditors for their services. However, this increase may be compensated over future years given the improving financial situation of clubs; therefore, the auditors’ risk diminishes and subsequent audit fees may be reduced. UEFA should monitor audit fees as well as the quality of the audit reports, which have become crucial to obtaining the license to participate in UEFA competitions.

Keywords: football; audit fees; audit shopping; Financial Fair Play; UEFA; Z2; M41; M42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F2 F3 F41 F42 G1 G2 G3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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