The verdict rendered by the UEFA Appellate Body pertaining to Barcelona’s participation in the 2023/24 UEFA club competitions is as follows:
- The procedures concerning FC Barcelona’s entry into 2023/2024 UEFA club competitions have been halted temporarily and could be resumed, either at the initiative of the Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors (EDI) overseeing the matter or upon their request.
- FC Barcelona has been provisionally allowed to take part in the 2023/2024 UEFA club competitions. A subsequent determination regarding their admittance or exclusion from the said competitions is still pending.
- It is incumbent upon FC Barcelona to proactively keep the EDIs apprised of the progress in the ongoing investigations and to furnish them with all the requisite documents and information upon request.
- The EDIs presiding over the case are extended an invitation to continue and conclude their inquiry, subsequently presenting a fresh report to the UEFA Appeals Body whenever they deem it appropriate to evaluate the admittance or exclusion of FC Barcelona.
The commencement of UEFA’s investigation into Barcelona was prompted by the discovery of a parallel inquiry initiated by the Spanish justice system concerning the so-called ‘Negreira Case. This investigation relates to a potential breach of the legal framework concerning payments made to José María Enríquez Negreira (amounting to €73 million), who served as the vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees from 2001 to 2018.
