A friction clutch, in particular multidisk friction clutch, includes a wear compensation device arranged in the pressure force path of a diaphragm spring which forms the principal clutch spring. The wear compensation device is arranged between the diaphragm spring and a pressure plate which is rotatably fixed and axially movably arranged in a clutch housing. The wear compensation device has at least one pair of compensation elements that are axially expandable under the urgency of a spring element. The diaphragm spring is arranged so that it is liftable off of the compensation elements. The pressure plate is prestressed in the release direction by a ventilating spring system having a prestrssing force that is greater than the axial spreading force of the wear compensation device. A ventilating distance-limiting device is active between the pressure plate and the clutch housing and automatically readjusts to a predetermined fixed ventilating distance clearance when wear occurs in the clutch. A compensation distance-limiting stop fixed to the clutch housing limits the spreading movement of the wear compensation device when the ventilating distance clearance of the ventilating distance-limiting device has been used up. The compensation limiting stop is mounted on the compensation element of the wear compensation device which bears against the diaphragm spring.