The renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and Europol’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle, expands previous cooperation on match-fixing to cover a wider range of threats, from money laundering and illegal streaming to violent extremism and financial irregularities in transfers.

For clubs like Celtic and Rangers — both of whom regularly operate in the high-stakes environment of European competition — the agreement represents both a safeguard and a warning. UEFA and Europol’s focus on “suspicious transactions and activities around transfers of players, investment in clubs, and trading of football-related financial assets” places a sharper spotlight on financial transparency and compliance across all top clubs.

'Tighter Scrutiny on Finances and Transfers'

Celtic and Rangers have both expanded their commercial and financial operations in recent years, with major sponsorship deals, international scouting networks, and growing investment in youth and infrastructure. The new agreement ensures that such financial dealings — from player transfers to foreign investments — will face closer scrutiny to prevent money laundering or other forms of corruption.

While both clubs already comply with UEFA’s financial regulations, this enhanced cooperation between...