Barcelona’s participation in the upcoming UEFA Champions League has been confirmed by UEFA, but the investigation into a controversial payment of over $7 million to a refereeing official may be revisited if new evidence emerges. The so-called Caso Negreira scandal has put Barcelona’s place in the prestigious tournament at risk, potentially jeopardizing the tens of millions of euros the club could earn by competing in the group stage.
According to court documents, Barcelona paid €7.3 million ($7.7 million) between 2001 and 2018 to the company owned by José María Enríquez Negreira, the former vice president of Spain’s football refereeing committee. As a result, prosecutors in Spain have formally accused Barcelona of corruption in sports, fraudulent management, and falsification of business documents. However, specific allegations of fixed games or influenced referees have not been presented since UEFA initiated its investigation in March.
UEFA competition rules stipulate that teams can be removed from European competition for one season if they are found to have participated in match-fixing, domestically or internationally, since April 2007. In addition to potential exclusion, further disciplinary measures could be imposed. Despite the allegations, UEFA has provisionally admitted Barcelona to participate in the Champions League, with a future decision on admission or exclusion still looming. The highly-anticipated group-stage draw is scheduled for August 31.
Barcelona’s Defense and Ongoing Legal Battle
Barcelona has vehemently denied any wrongdoing or conflicts of interest. The club insists that the payments made to Negreira’s company were for technical reports on referees and had no intention of influencing their decisions during games. Concurrently, Barcelona has a pending lawsuit against UEFA at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg over the failed Super League project in 2021. Barcelona, along with Real Madrid and Juventus, argues that UEFA’s monopoly control hinders competition from rival tournaments.
While UEFA has confirmed Barcelona’s spot in the upcoming UEFA Champions League, the ongoing investigation into the Caso Negreira scandal presents lingering uncertainty. Barcelona faces serious accusations of corruption, fraudulent management, and document falsification. The potential consequences, including exclusion from the tournament and other disciplinary measures, hang over the club’s participation. Barcelona maintains its innocence, asserting that the payments were for technical reports rather than a means to influence match outcomes. Furthermore, the legal battle with UEFA over the failed Super League project adds further complexity to the club’s situation. As all eyes turn to the Champions League group-stage draw, the football world waits to see how these investigations and legal battles will unfold and whether they will impact Barcelona’s journey in the tournament.
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