UEFA has on Thursday officially granted Football Club Barcelona the provisional clearance to participate in the 2023-24 Champions League edition amidst refereeing controversy in Spain.
Was it ever in doubt that the Catalan giants will compete in Europe’s most prestigious club competition next season after qualifying, even as so as winners of the LaLiga ? Well, maybe YES.
The club had been under investigation since March following a complaint filed by Spanish Prosecutors over alleged payments Barcelona made from 2001 to 2018 totalling 7.3 million euros ($8.02 million) to firms owned by former refereeing official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.
Barcelona, who was crashed out in the group stages of the previous two Champions League campaigns is also under the watch of UEFA, for a potential violation of the body’s legal framework.
However, on Thursday, the governing body of European football released an official statement, clearing the five times Champions League winner to take part in the competition next season.
“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,” UEFA statement reads.
“FC Barcelona is obliged to keep the Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors (EDI) informed of the progress of the ongoing investigations proactively and to provide the EDIs with all the documents and information they request.
“The EDIs in charge of the case are invited to continue and finalise their investigation and to send a further report to the Uefa Appeals Body if and when they consider that the admission/exclusion of FC Barcelona should be assessed.”
Xavi’s side, having enjoyed a remarkable campaign in the last LaLiga season, which saw them blow away Real Madrid and others in a one horse race to the title will hope to improve their fortune in Europe this time around.
Potentially being named in Pot one also increases chances of reaching the round of 16 as they have avoided top teams like Bayern Munich, who has been nightmare for them in Europe lately.
Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
