Barcelona will not be banned from the Champions League this summer over corruption allegations.
The Catalans have been embroiled in an alleged scandal that has rocked Spanish and European football, with it being alleged that the club had made a series of payments totaling £6.4 million to the former vice-president of the club’s technical committee. referees (CTA) of the Spanish FA, Jose Maria Enriquez. Negreira’s personal companies, DASNIL and NILSAT.
The club was accused of corruption over the payments, alleging that Negreira, then vice-chairman of the Spanish Referees’ Commission, carried out actions ‘in return for money’ that ‘resulted in Barcelona being favored in the decisions of the referees’ . ‘.
On the warpath as he tries to clear Barcelona’s name amid ongoing financial concerns surrounding the club, Joan Laporta met with Aleksander Ceferin this week to discuss matters.
According to Sporta Spanish publication, the summit between the pair went well, covering everything from the refereeing scandal to the European Super League.
Joan Laporta met with UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin to discuss the Negreira scandal, among other things
The head of UEFA described the alleged scandal as “very serious”.
Laporta reportedly traveled to Slovenia, Ceferin’s native country, with the aim of clearing the air and laying out Barcelona’s case that they had not made improper payments to influence referees.
The article claims that after the meeting, UEFA plans to keep a low profile as they assess their options and take a long look at the process.
UEFA will reportedly wait until next season before handing out any punishment, awaiting what the courts have to say about the Catalan club’s case.
Barcelona themselves would understand that nothing will happen any time soon, meaning their impending La Liga title celebrations can continue undisturbed, knowing their entry into next season’s Champions League is secure for now.
There is said to be unrest about punishing a club of Barcelona’s stature without the backing of a court ruling, despite Ceferin’s strong words coming to light in the aftermath of the scandal.
Xavi’s team is successful on the field, but it remains difficult outside
Spain’s prosecutor has accused the club of maintaining a relationship with Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira (an Elche fan pictured with a message reading ‘Negreira give me your jersey’)
“As far as I know, the situation is extremely serious,” he said. “So serious that in my opinion it is one of the most serious [ones] in football since I’ve been doing it.’
Barcelona will not be penalized by the Spanish football authorities with a statute of limitations, meaning penalties can only be handed out for offenses within three years.
“It will not be possible for Barcelona to receive disciplinary sanctions,” said La Liga chief Javier Tebas. “Five years have passed and (the time to hand out) these kinds of sanctions expire after three years.
It’s not sporty, but it’s criminal. The public prosecutor is investigating the facts to see whether there is match fixing by individuals.’
Laporta has tried to make it clear through a series of interventions over the past month or so, dating back to early March, that Barcelona did not pay referees to favor them.
“They have nothing because there is nothing,” he said. “What they have done is magnified a situation where one of the people linked to these companies was a former referee and former vice president of the Referees’ Technical Committee.
“He didn’t have the capacity to change the results of a game because he didn’t appoint the referees.”
On Monday, he unleashed an astonishing diatribe in which he made the highly charged link between Real Madrid and General Franco’s regime, which ruled Spain between 1938 and 1973.
Barcelona chief Joan Laporta defended his club by going on the offensive against Real Madrid
“I want to refer to the presence of a club, in itself, as a private accusation in the process. A club that says it feels disadvantaged,” he said.
“A club that has always been in favor of referees’ decisions. It is considered the regime’s team.
“Because of their proximity to political and economic power. I think it’s worth remembering that most of the presidents of the CTA have been ex-members, ex-players or ex-directors of Real Madrid for seven decades.
‘For 70 years, the people who appointed those who had to do justice on the pitch were ex-partners, ex-players or ex-directors of Real Madrid. In some cases all at once.”