The UEFA approved Barcelona’s participation in the next Champions League on Thursday but added that if more evidence comes to light, an investigation into the more than $7 million paid to a refereeing official could be reopened.
Barcelona’s spot in the Champions League group stage, worth tens of millions of euros (dollars) for winning the Spanish league last season, could have been at risk from the so-called “Caso Negreira” case.
According to court documents, Barcelona paid 7.3 million euros ($7.7 million) to the company of José Mara Enrquez Negreira, the former vice president of Spanish soccer’s refereeing committee, between 2001 and 2018.
Prosecutors in Spain have formally charged Barcelona with sports corruption, fraudulent management and falsification of business documents.
However, no clear allegations of manipulated games or influenced referees have come to light since UEFA opened its investigation in March.
Teams must be banned from European competition for one season if they are implicated in fixing any domestic or international game since April 2007 according to UEFA competition rules. Also, disciplinary punishments could also follow.
UEFA said Thursday that Barcelona is now “provisionally admitted to take part” in the Champions League though a “future decision on admission/exclusion” is still possible. On August 31, the Champions League group stage draw will takes place.