The European football governing body UEFA EFA has revealed its decision regarding FC Barcelona’s participation in the Champions League next season.
In response to Barcelona being accused of “continued corruption between individuals in the sports field” by the Barcelona provincial prosecutor’s office in March, UEFA opened its own investigation into the “Caso Negreira” Referees Committee payments controversy.
After it was discovered that the club had given money to Jose Maria Enrique Negreira, a former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees, this development occurred.
El Mundo claims that from 2001 to 2018, including the initial tenure of current club president Joan Laporta from 2003 to 2010, the Catalans paid Negreira about €7 million ($7.7 million).
Reports spread that Barca feared they would banned from the Champions League next season as punishment for the payments, which Laporta has continually protested were made honestly for consultation work.
On June 1, two UEFA EFA-appointed inspectors concluded that Barca should be frozen out of the elite competition.
UEFA announced that Barca are “provisionally admitted to participate in the 2023/2024 UEFA club competitions” with just over two weeks until many European leagues kick off. This means they can compete in the Champions League, which they have qualified for as La Liga champions for the first time in four years.
The body also stated that it reserved the right to decide again in the future whether to admit or exclude a team from participating in UEFA club competitions.
The Catalans have also been instructed to give the Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors (EDIs) of UEFA “all documents and information they request” and to keep them “proactively informed of the progress of ongoing investigations.”
The ‘Caso Negreira’ has not been available to Barca.
Laporta and Barca’s head coach Xavi Hernandez, who has ambitions for his squad to compete on the continent after back-to-back group exits over the last two seasons, will be relieved by the news.
Currently, Barca will be one of the 32 clubs present at the Champions League draw ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on August 31 at 18.00 CET.
