Auda Shocks FCSB: Romanian Giant's Massive Budget Not Enough to Avoid Defeat

Latvian club "Auda", last season's Latvian Cup winner, caused a major upset on Tuesday in the Europa League qualifiers, defeating Romanian champions FCSB 3-2 away in Bucharest. Auda took the lead three times during the match, and the hosts could only equalize in stoppage time, with Auda scoring the winner deep into added time.

FCSB, which considers itself the successor of the legendary "Steaua", endured a disastrous previous season. Although they qualified for the Europa League, they finished only 8th in the Romanian league, their worst result in 44 years. However, due to other clubs not receiving European licenses, FCSB won a playoff against Dinamo București to secure European football.

Despite the poor season, FCSB still boasts the largest wage budget in the Romanian league. According to federation data, their wage spending is 2.5 times the league median, 39% higher than the second-highest spender Rapid, and about 50% higher than champions Universitatea Craiova. In their 2025 financial report, FCSB reported revenue of almost €27.4 million, with €12.4 million from UEFA prize money and a wage budget of €14 million—up 59% from the previous year.

For comparison, Auda's total budget for the previous year was €3.5 million, with €2.9 million on wages. Latvia's richest club, Riga, had a budget of €10.9 million in 2025, while RFS had €7.6 million.

This summer, FCSB sold their star attacking midfielder Darius Olaru to Belgian side Union SG for €3 million, and also sold Adrian Şut to the UAE for €1.4 million. New signings include winger Emens Butuaū, bought for €1 million from French third-tier club Sochaux—he scored the second goal against Auda—and right-back Ronny Labonne on a free transfer. Both played in the French third division last season. Other arrivals are defender Dylan Batubinsika (DR Congo, from the Greek league) and midfielder Eddy Gnaoré (from Dinamo București). Several potential starters, including injured Romania internationals Mihai Popescu and David Miculescu, missed the match.

FCSB's eccentric president, Becali, publicly criticized the team's goalkeeper after the defeat.