Italian top-flight club Parma said Tuesday they expect to be deducted points as punishment for having been late in paying salaries.

The club was barred from this season's Europa League due to their financial problems, despite having qualified through their league position last season.

They finished that campaign owing 300,000 euros ($375,000).

Parma said Tuesday they were "certain" that they would be "deducted points" but insisted they would "all legal means to have the penalty reduced to a minimum."

The club said their problems were only related to "liquidity" and came about because they are in the process of being sold to one of "numerous interested parties in Italy and abroad".

That deal was supposed to be finalised by November 10 so the new owners could pay the outstanding salaries, but that was delayed.