Barcelona has been given preliminary permission to play in the Champions League next season. UEFA, the governing body of European football, announced the move on Thursday, amid investigations into the Spanish club’s participation in a refereeing controversy.
“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 said in a statement.
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“FC Barcelona is obliged to keep the EDI informed of the progress of the ongoing investigations proactively. To provide the EDIs with all the documents and information they request. “
Barcelona was facing exclusion from European competition after being accused with corruption in March. The allegations concentrated on bribes made to former referee Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.
Enriquez Negreira denied that he ever favoured Barcelona in refereeing decisions. Barcelona, for its part, denies any wrongdoing and claims he was engaged as a “external consultant” who produced studies “related to professional refereeing.”
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The case has being investigated by UEFA. However, Barcelona has been granted temporary permission to compete in Europe’s elite league this season. However, because the legal proceedings are still ongoing, European football’s regulatory body has reserved the power to penalise the club in the future.
“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.” the statement added.
Last season, Barcelona was eliminated in the group stage of Europe’s top club championship. Manchester United then eliminated them from the Europa League. They have won the Champions League five times, most recently in 2015.
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