Barcelona allowed to play Champions League amidst refreeing scandal: UEFA

By India Today Sports Desk: The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has provisionally authorised Barcelona’s participation within the upcoming Champions League season, regardless of ongoing investigations right into a refereeing scandal involving the Spanish membership. The allegations, filed by Spanish prosecutors in March, concern funds amounting to 7.3 million euros ($8.02 million) made by Barcelona to firms owned by former refereeing official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira between 2001 and 2018.

A court docket in Barcelona has agreed to research the case, and UEFA has additionally initiated a proper investigation into potential violations of its authorized framework by the membership. In a press release, UEFA mentioned, “FC Barcelona is provisionally admitted to take part in the 2023-24 UEFA club competitions. A future decision on admission/exclusion from the UEFA club competitions is reserved.”

The soccer governing physique additional said that Barcelona should maintain the Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors (EDI) up to date on the progress of the continued investigations and supply all requested paperwork and data. The EDIs have been instructed to proceed their investigation and submit an extra report back to the UEFA Appeals Body in the event that they deem it essential to reassess Barcelona’s admission or exclusion.

Barcelona, who have been eradicated on the group stage of final season’s Champions League and subsequently knocked out of the Europa League by Manchester United, have gained the Champions League 5 occasions, with their most up-to-date victory in 2015.

FC Barcelona have been hit with a number of controversies over the previous few years, which have largely been monetary in nature. Barcelona have been hit with a recent controversy throughout their rebuild final yr, being accused of paying off referees. The membership this yr offloaded a number of very long time gamers – Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to be able to revamp their monetary standing.